COMMON VOIP TERMS

A Phone Line Key on a phone designates individual lines, varying between 2 to 12 keys depending on the model, and can be used for managing multiple calls and as speed dials.

Double NAT occurs when two devices perform Network Address Translation, common in situations where data passes through two routers, causing issues with VoIP services.

Voicemail Greetings are audio messages heard by callers before leaving a voicemail, often indicating the receiver's unavailability and instructions for a callback.

Rate Centers are geographical areas within the North American Calling Plan that determine local versus long-distance call classifications and allocate phone numbers.

DTMF (Dial Tone Multi-Frequency) Tones are the distinct frequencies generated by each key on a phone's dial pad, used in telephone systems for signal transmission.

A Router directs data between internal network devices and the internet, often providing IP addresses and Wi-Fi connectivity, and includes basic firewall protection.

Packet Loss measures the percentage of data packets not reaching their destination, impacting audio quality in VoIP by causing missing audio patches.

Latency, similar to ping, measures the time it takes for a computer message to reach its destination and return, affecting conversation flow in telecommunications.

Jitter quantifies the variability in ping times, affecting the sequential arrival of voice data and potentially causing audio disruptions in VoIP calls.

This indicates a port request rejection, often for specific reasons outlined by the FCC, such as contractual or technical limitations.

A Call Announcement is an audio message that plays before a phone starts ringing, ensuring the caller hears the message even if the call is quickly answered.

Call Centers in VoIP are systems where callers are queued to wait for available agents. These queues are dynamically managed, ensuring efficient call distribution based on agent availability and other factors.

VoIP, short for Voice over Internet Protocol, enables audio transmission over the internet. Unlike traditional phones that use copper lines, VoIP offers more flexibility, superior audio quality, and is often more cost-effective.

A Conference Call allows three or more people to participate in a call simultaneously, either via SIP-compatible phones or a separate conference bridge service.

Codec, short for "Compression Decompression," is a technology that compresses and decompresses audio for transmission, determining audio quality in calls.

Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) in VoIP represents newer telecom service providers, established post-1996 Telecommunications Act, utilizing existing infrastructures to provide competitive alternatives.

In VoIP, a Channel is a unit representing part of the maximum number of simultaneous in-use items, like call capacity in trunking or IVR systems.

Calling Line ID, similar to Caller ID, shows the calling number on the receiver's phone, aiding in basic call screening and can sometimes be managed by users.

A Call Queue is a line of callers waiting for an agent in a call or contact center environment, with features for managing call order and monitoring queue status.

A Call Path refers to the capacity to handle calls in a hosted service, often equating to the number of users or extensions available in a system.

A Call Group is a set of phones that receive calls to a single number or extension, utilizing different distribution methods for call management.