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Glossary
TAPI
Abbreviation of Telephony Application
Programming Interface, TAPI, intro-
duced in 1993 as the result of joint
development by Microsoft and Intel, is a
standard for applications connecting a
PC running Windows to telephone
services. TAPI defines standards for
simple call control and for manipulating
call content.
Telephony
The science of translating sound into
electrical signals, transmitting them, and
then converting them back to sound; that
is, the science of telephones. The term is
used frequently to refer to computer
hardware and software that performs
functions traditionally performed by
telephone equipment.
Tel Lines 1, 2, 3, or 4
A jack or plug-in on the back panel of
TalkSwitch which can accept a RJ-11
plug from either a telephone line or PBX
system. A single line telephone cable can
be plugged into this jack and will
become a usable TalkSwitch Line.
Telephone Keypad
The collection of push buttons on a
touchtone telephone.
Telephone Wall Jack
A wall outlet for a standard telephone
jack.
Terminal Adapter
A device that allows analog devices to be
used on ISDN (digital) lines. Terminal
Adapters are somewhat similar to
modems.
Touchtone telephone
A push-button telephone which emits
distinctive (DTMF) tones as different but-
tons on the keypad are pressed.
Two Line Telephone
A telephone which allows you to make
and receive calls on two separate
telephone lines.
TX/RX
An acronym for transmit and receive.
USB
Short for Universal Serial Bus, the USB
connection supports more bandwidth
than a serial or parallel connection.
Virtual Extension
A telephone or other communications
device not physically connected to
TalkSwitch as an extension, but which
provides the same functionality. In
general, the term 'virtual' distinguishes
something that is merely conceptual
from something that has physical reality.
TalkSwitch's Remote Extensions are
virtual extensions.
Voicemail (Call Answer)
A service provided by TalkSwitch or
telephone companies which gives callers
the opportunity to leave a message when
your extension or telephone line is busy
or unanswered.
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