Convergence Glossary

Making sense of Convergence, VoIP and Internet Service Provider terms

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) - a common internet connection where downstream is faster than upstream

Bandwidth - this is how much information can be sent through an internet connection and is measured in bits.

Convergence – how communication media such as electronic media, telecommunications and broadcast media which originally worked as separate entities in different industries, have moved to a combination of different media types on one platform. For example PC’s with Internet TV and Voice over IP (VoIP), and mobile devices such as PDA’s and smart phones that have the similar functionality.

Downstream - sending information from the internet to an end user's computer.

Firewall - a mix of hardware and software that typically seperates a LAN into 2 or more parts to avoid security issues. There is usually a firewall between a company's LAN and the internet.

Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) - also called Unified Communications, means both the delivery of multiple services via one platform (eg. IP) and the delivery one specific service (eg. email) over multiple platforms. The services that constitute convergence are internet, voice, mobile, applications and content. True convergence is far more intelligent than a single billing relationship with a consumer or a series of isolated services offered under a generic marketing identity

Gateway - A device that connects one network to another, where the two networks use different protocols.

Hosted IP PBX - In a hosted IP PBX system, the PBX is located remotely and managed by the telephone or Internet service provider.  Communications (voice, data and video) are sent over the Internet. The customer pays for a service as opposed to buying hardware, software and maintaining it themselves. This system is centralised, more flexible and scalable.

Internet Protocol (IP) – A standard used for communicating data across a network or over set of interconnecting networks (e.g. over the Internet).

Internet Protocol Private Branch Exchange (IP PBX) – The new generation of PBX which uses the Internet to carry information. It works as a telephone system which sends voice, data and video content over a data network.

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - An Internet service provider is a company that maintains a server connected to the Internet, and provides a connection to the Internet for users. Along with Internet access, an ISP may provide web hosting and email.

Local Area Network (LAN) - a network of 2 or more computers within a confined area - usually an office or a single building.

Packet Switching – Data and voice is sent through a network, and although it seems as if the data is being sent/received in a continuous stream of data, this data is broken up into small pieces. Each piece is sent across the network to the destination device. Pieces of data from the same file may be sent via different paths and devices to get to the destination.

Private branch exchange (PBX) - A telephone exchange used within an organisation in place of a public telephone service provider.  These systems incorporate connections from the end users’ telephone, fax or computer to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) using trunk lines.  The system is in effect a private communications network for use within organisations.

Public switched telephone network (PSTN) - The network of all public circuit-switched telephone networks in the world.

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) – A standard protocol for transferring multimedia data such as video, voice calls, instant messaging and virtual reality over a network.

Simple Mail transfer Protocol (SMPT) - the most prevalent method of sending emails

Softphone - A software program that you can use on a standard PC with Internet access to make telephone calls.

Streaming - this means you are playing a file (video, radio) as it is downloaded from the internet. This differs from downloading where a file is fully transfered from the internet to your computer before viewing it. 

Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) – A Simple Mail Transfer Protocol used to transfer e-mail between Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. It is the system that networks use to communicate with each other on the Internet.

Upstream - sending information from an end user's computer to the internet.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) – The delivery of voice communications over the Internet or other Internet Protocol networks. Also known as IP telephony. 

VoIP PBX – another name for IP PBX.

Wide Area Network (WAN) - This connects multiple LANs or individual computers located in different geographic areas.

If there are any terms you would like to be added or expanded on, please contact us.