Words and Acronyms For GlobalTel Agents and Customers Definitions for the Computer, Internet, Marketing, and Business.

See also these Internet glossaries:

A

ASP
ASP is the file extension of, "active server page".

Analog
Analog technology transmits a voice signal as a series of pulses, similar to radio signals. As compared to digital transmissions of voice signals, analog is more vulnerable to eavesdropping and cloning. Because of its high-speed data delivery, PCS is less prone to interference from hills, traffic or tunnels.

Analog cellular service
The original and most common method of wireless phone service. Analog cellular is rapidly being replaced by cheaper and higher-capacity digital wireless technologies.

B

Bandwidth
The amount of data that a transmission line can carry, usually measured in bits per second (bps). A high-bandwidth internet connection such as a t-1 line, DSL or cable modem can transfer millions of bits per second (megabits per second, or mbps), while standard pc modems transfer thousands of bits per second (kilobits per second, or kbps).

Banner Ad
The amount of data that a transmission line can carry, usually measured in bits per second (bps). A high-bandwidth internet connection such as a t-1 line, DSL or cable modem can transfer millions of bits per second (megabits per second, or mbps), while standard pc modems transfer thousands of bits per second (kilobits per second, or kbps).

Bit
The basic unit in a binary numbering system, representing either zero or one and corresponding to the two possible positions of a switch in an integrated circuit (open or closed).

Bookmark
A marker or address that identifies a web site or web page. Most web browsers, such as netscape navigator and Microsoft internet explorer (which calls them favorites), allow users to save and organize bookmarks as a convenient way to mark web sites for future reference.

Boot (or reboot)
The process of starting (or restarting) a PC. The term boot drive or boot disk refers to the disk drive from which the computer loads its operating system.

BPS (bits per second)
Common measure of data transmission speed.

Broadband
A high-speed transmission medium. T-1, isdn, DSL and cable modems are broadband media. Besides downloading web pages more quickly, broadband can also transmit high-quality streaming video.

Bug
A programming error that causes computer software to malfunction. The term originated when a wayward insect caused a short circuit in the eniac, the world´s first electronic digital computer.

Byte
A unit of data composed of eight bits. A single byte usually represents an individual text character or symbol.

C

Cable Modem
A device that sends and receives data over a cable television system. Cable modems can receive data at 500kbps or more -- approximately 10 times faster than a standard analog modem. Uploads, however, are often limited to 128kbps.

Cache
The memory for the browser to record the last pages that were visited. Pages are commonly retrieved by hitting the "back" button.

Callback
A service in which the call direction is reversed to take advantage of lower pricing from one end. For example, if a telephone customer in Japan wants to place a call to a friend in Australia using callback he would dial his access number in the USA, hang up and wait a few seconds for a callback from the USA. By calling his access number in the USA and hanging up, he has triggered his callback company’s switch to call him at his telephone number in Japan. When he answers his callback he has a USA dial tone, and is using the USA telephone system to make his call to Australia at low USA rates. Most callback companies are based in the USA since USA rates are the lowest in the world. The callback industry was founded by IDT Corp., of Hackensack, New Jersey, in 1991. It was recognized and sanctioned as an industry by the FCC on June 15, 1995. Callback enables customers to avoid high telephone rates charged in any country. They can also avoid hotel surcharges on phone calls.

Call-forwarding
An optional telephone system feature that lets users forward incoming calls to another phone number.

Call-waiting
An optional phone service that lets users temporarily interrupt their conversations to accept another call.

Cancellation fee
a fee for breaking a service contract. Many cellular phone service contracts impose a cancellation fee for ending the contract before its completion.

CDMA (see also GSM and wCDMA)
Code division multiple access – a type of mobile phone narrow band technology based on 900 MHZ radio waves, developed by Qualcomm of san Diego California, USA, which holds patents on it. The system is used in the USA and in North America for mobile phones. The system is in competition with GSM – technology, which sets the standard for mobile phones in Europe, and much of Asia. Being adopted by China. It is a civilian application of a system originally developed for military communication. Qualcomm's CDMA is one of a number of technology standards that have been developed to power the next generation of handheld devices.
CDMA is a digital spread-spectrum modulation technique Used mainly with personal communications devices such as mobile phones. CDMA digitizes the conversation and tags it with a special frequency code. The data is then scattered across the frequency band in a pseudorandom pattern. The receiving device is instructed to decipher only the data corresponding to a particular code to reconstruct the signal.
Early in 2000, China Unicom, China's second-largest telecommunications provider, signed an agreement to create a national mobile phone network based on Qualcomm's CDMA technology. Those plans were then cancelled, and a decision was made to set up a facility to build a CDMA network, but to let the market determine the future of the CDMA based system.
See also: spread spectrum, frequency spectrum, s-CDMA

Cellular telephone service
Cellular telephone service - the most common method of wireless phone service. Sometimes Used to refer to all wireless phones, regardless of the technology they use

Convergence
The concept of having all network data and voice traffic run through a single connection based on Internet Protocol (IP). Since early 2000, networking and telecommunications equipment companies, including Lucent Technologies and Cabletron Systems, have preached this concept of convergence.

Copyright
An exclusive ownership interest in an artistic or literary work. The term "literary work" now includes computer software and other information stored in electronic form.

Corporation
A form of organization that provides its owners and shareholders with certain rights and privileges, including protection from personal liability. Corporations may take a number of forms, depending on the goals and objectives of the founders. Types include c, s and nonprofit corporations. Corporations are regarded as "persons" in the eyes of the law and may thus sue and be sued, own property, borrow money and hire employees.

D

Database
Database - a computer program that helps users organize information. Databases range from simple collections of rows and columns (similar to a spreadsheet) to complex systems that process and manipulate millions of records in a variety of ways.

DHTML
DHTML (dynamic hypertext markup language) - dynamic html is an umbrella term Used to include html and related technologies such as cascading style sheets (CSS) and JavaScript that bring animation and other interactivity to web pages.

DIALTONE
A tone employed in a dial telephone system to indicate to the calling party that the equipment is ready to receive dial or tone pulses.

DIAL-UP
A Dial-Up connection uses a modem through the phone network to connect to the Internet - a way to access an internet service provider by dialing the provider´s phone number through a standard modem The phone network is sometimes called POTS, for plain old telephone service. Typical dial-up connection speeds are 28.8K, 33.6K and 56.6Kbps. The current generally accepted base dial-up speed is 56.6Kbps.
Although relatively slow compared to newer technologies such as cable modems and DSL, dial-up accounts are still the most common type of internet access.

DIGITAL
Characterized by discrete states.

DNS (domain name system)
An internet database that translates between numeric IP addresses and text-based domain names. When users type www.globaltel.com into their web browser, for example, the request goes to a DNS server that translates the name into the appropriate numeric IP address.

Domain Name
Domain name - the text-based URL or address of a web site. Domain names usually consist of several different segments. The name www.globaltel.com, for example, includes the generic "www" and ".com" identifiers, along with the unique name "globaltel".
What is a Domain Name?
Your Domain Name is your identity on the Internet. It is like having your own phone number. Essentially, Domain Names serve as routing addresses on the Internet. Each Domain Name corresponds to its IP address - for example, the Domain Name associated with 207.22.70.35 is verio.com.

DSL ( ADSL, HDSL, etc.)
xDSL - The DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line. The 'x' stands for any number of variations on the technology. The most common in the United States is Asymmetric DSL, or ADSL. The Asymmetric designation means that the technology provides different upload and download speeds. A variant called HDSL, for High bit rate DSL, is already widely used to provide T1 lines. The DSL technology makes it possible to use the excess capacity in standard copper telephone lines to carry network traffic. The speed varies, depending on how far the user is from the nearest switching station. It can theoretically provide up to 8Mbps, but more typically provides something less than 2Mbps. The fastest telephone Internet dial-up, or narrowband connection, is 56K and takes one minute to open the average Web page. The average DSL connection is 800K and opens that same page in about five seconds.

DSL (digital subscriber line)
A family of telecommunications protocols designed to allow data communications over standard telephone lines at speeds up to 1.5mbps -- about 30 times faster than a standard 56kbps modem. DSL service lets users receive voice and data transmissions simultaneously over the same phone line, allowing "always on" internet access.
DSL - Digital Subscriber Line. A network access technology that delivers always on, high-speed Internet access. DSL is designed to take advantage of that portion of the bandwidth which is not used by voice. There are many different types of DSL. The most common are ADSL, SDSL and IDSL.

DTMF
DUAL TONE MULTI-FREQUENCY (DTMF): Audible tones generated by push-button telephone (touchtone phones) to dial telephone numbers, conform to North American telephone standards. These are generated by pushbutton telephones to dial telephone numbers, as well as to provide control or data input to voice processing systems.

E

Encryption
The translation of plain-text data, such as an email message, into an unreadable code in order to ensure its safe transmission over the internet. To read encrypted data, you must have software that allows you to decrypt it. There are several different types of encryption, the most popular form is called public-key encryption.

Ethernet
The most common method for transferring data over a LAN. Ethernet now comes in three varieties: 10baset operates at speeds up to 10mbps; 100baset, or fast Ethernet, runs at up to 100mbps; and gigabit Ethernet, which runs at up to 1gbps.

Extended service area
The portion of a wireless phone service carrier’s coverage area where customers may be charged long distance and/or roaming fees.

Extranet
An intranet that is open to certain external users, such as suppliers and business partners. These external users may log onto an extranet in a one-way relationship or they may connect their own intranet with the host intranet, creating a two-way relationship.

F

FAQ
FAQ (frequently asked questions) - a list of questions and answers related to a particular software application, web site or issue, FAQs are intended to help users get answers to their questions without overburdening human support staff.

Firewall
What is a network firewall? - software that protects a private network, such as a LAN or an intranet, from intruders or unauthorized traffic. Firewall software usually screens traffic by IP address or other traits, admitting certain types of traffic while blocking others.
A firewall is a system or group of systems that enforces an access control policy between two networks. The actual means by which this is accomplished varies widely, but in principle, the firewall can be thought of as a pair of mechanisms: one which exists to block traffic, and the other which exists to permit traffic. Some firewalls place a greater emphasis on blocking traffic, while others emphasize permitting traffic. Probably the most important thing to recognize about a firewall is that it implements an access control policy. If you don't have a good idea of what kind of access you want to allow or to deny, a firewall really won't help you. It's also important to recognize that the firewall's configuration, because it is a mechanism for enforcing policy, imposes its policy on everything behind it. Administrators for firewalls managing the connectivity for a large number of hosts therefore have a heavy responsibility.

FTP
File transfer protocol. A common method of moving files between two internet sites. FTP is a special way to log into another site for the purpose of retrieving or sending files. For example, GlobalTel distributes marketing files to its agents by putting them on its FTP site; agents then download them from the FTP site at their convenience.
FTP operations require special software that is built into the most popular web browsers and that is also available in a number of stand-alone applications. Web site builders need to know how to use FTP to upload files to the web host computer.

G

GIF
Gif (graphics interchange format) - one of the two most common graphics formats on the web. (jpeg is the other.) Gif images are Used mostly for line art, logos and similar types of graphics.

GSM (see also, CDMA & wCDMA)
GSM (Global Systems for Mobiles). There are two major technologies for mobile phones and the wireless industry. GSM is the technology for mobile-phones which is predominant in the European system for wireless. It may become predominant in China, the third largest telecom market after the US and Japan. CDMA (Code Diversion Multiple Access), is the predominant technology in North America. A third rival to these two phone network technologies is wCDMA (which see).
The audio encoding subset of the GSM standard is best known to computer users because its data compression and decompression techniques are also being used for web-phone communication and encoding wav and aiff files. See also: aiff, codec, wav

H

Home coverage area
The portion of a wireless carrier’s coverage area where customers are charged the lowest rates for calls and pay no roaming or long distance charges. Also called local coverage area.

Host
A generic term that refers to any computer providing information or services to others. The term originated with large mainframe computers that acted as a "host" to a set of terminals. Now, however, it may refer to a web server that functions as a host to web browsers, a file server that acts as a host to other computers on a local area network and so on.

HTTP
Abbreviation for Hypertext Transfer Protocol. In the World Wide Web, a protocol that facilitates the transfer of hypertext-based files between local and remote systems.

HTML
Abbreviation for Hypertext Markup Language. One of the foundations of the web, html is a text-based language Used to describe the structure and layout of a document -- headlines, paragraphs, table elements and so on. It is The computer language used to design World Wide Web sites. It is the set of standards that lets web servers and browsers communicate with each other.
Hyperlink
Web developers use HTML to create hyperlinks that a user clicks on to view another web page. Hyperlinks can appear as graphics or as areas of differently colored or underlined text.

I

Internet
A cooperatively run, globally distributed collection of computer networks that exchange information via a common set of rules for exchanging data (Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol or TCP/IP).
A network of networks, built upon a set of widely Used software protocols that links millions of computers around the world. Services such as email and the web use the internet to transfer data.

Internet Service Provider
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are companies that complete the dial-up connection between your computer's modem and the Internet so that you can "surf" or browse the Web, read newsgroups and send/receive e-mail. The relationship between the customer's ISP and the customer's computer is like the one between the long distance company and the telephone: a customer needs both to connect to the rest of the world.

Intranet
An intranet is a web site created by a business, which posts its own company information in a secure part of the Internet that only employees or other authorized users can reach. Intranets are generally protected by firewalls.
A private corporate network built with internet-based protocols and software applications.

Invoice
A bill prepared by the seller of goods or services. Invoices tell purchasers how much they owe.

IP
IP - Internet Protocol uses a set of rules to send and receive messages at the Internet address level.

IP Address
A numeric address devices use to find one another on the network and to exchange information. Every device connected to the internet has an identifying IP address. Most internet users never see an IP address; instead, they use text-based domain names, which are easier to remember.

ISDN
Integrated Services Digital Network. The plain old telephone system doesn't handle large quantities of data, and the phone companies realized this a long time ago. So the ISDN spec was hammered out in 1984 to allow for wide-bandwidth digital transmission using the public switched telephone network. Under ISDN, a phone call can transfer 64 kilobits of digital data per second. But it's not always easy to adopt.
A set of communications standards that enable a single wire to carry data, voice and video transmissions at the same time. ISDN uses existing analog phone lines to provide faster internet access (up to 128kbps, or twice as fast as a 56k modem).See also: POTS, T1

ISDN (single/dual)
Integrated Service Digital Network. ISDN was designed for digital data and voice transmission. ISDN can have two 64Kbps channels--one for voice and one for data. The two channels can be combined to provide up to 128Mbps.

ISP (internet service provider)
Companies that provide access to the internet, either via dial-up access numbers or a dedicated service such as DSL. Many ISPs also offer web hosting, domain name registration and other services. There are thousands of ISPs, ranging in size from tiny local providers to giant corporations such as America online.

J

JPEG (joint photographic experts group)
One of the two most common image types Used on the web. (gif is the other.) Jpeg is Used mostly for photographic reproductions. Also referred to as jpg.

K

Kbps (thousands of bits per second)
A measurement of data transfer rates.

Kilobit
One thousand bits. Abbreviated as kb.

Kilobyte(KB)
1024 bits (Approximately 1/2 page of plain text)

L

LAN (local area network)
A geographically limited communications network linking computers, printers and other devices. Ethernet is the most common means of creating a LAN.

Logo
A symbol that a company uses to represent itself or its brand.

M

Macro
A program that records a series of keystrokes, commands or other steps. Macros let users automate repetitive actions, such as running a series of identical formatting commands on a large number of documents.

Mbps (millions of bits per second)
A measurement of data transfer rates.

Megabit
One million bits. Abbreviated as mb.

Megabyte (MB)
A measurement of volume equaling 1,024,000 bits.

Mpeg (moving pictures experts group)
A common file format for sending audio and/or video over the internet.

Multimedia
Information that combines different types of content, such as text, images, animation, video and audio.

N

NIC (network interface card)
A piece of hardware that fits into an expansion slot on a computer and allows it to communicate with other computers over a network.

Numeric messaging/paging
A service that lets a pager receive pages and messages containing numeric information.

P

Pager
A pocket-sized radio receiver Used to receive callers´ phone numbers or short messages. Pagers emit an audible signal or vibrate (or both) when they are triggered.

Password
A personal identification confirmation code employed by subscribers to prevent unauthorized access to a voice service system.

PDF (portable document format)
PDF (portable document format) - adobe system's PDF file format delivers print-quality documents in downloadable form. Although PDF is a proprietary format, it is the de facto standard for delivering documents in which formatting is essential, such as business forms and schematics.

PPP (point-to-point protocol)
A set of standards that lets computers connect to the internet through a telephone connection. Most dial-up internet connections are now based on PPP instead of the older, less reliable slip protocol.

Public-key encryption
This popular form of internet-based encryption includes two elements: a public key and a private key. An individual creates a public key and sends it to people with whom they exchange email. Recipients then use this public key to create coded messages for the sender. When someone receives a message encrypted with their public key, they use a secret private key to decode the message.

R

RAM (random access memory)
Chips in a computer that store frequently Used information, allowing the CPU to access it quickly. But data stored in ram is erased when the computer is turned off. Ram is usually measured in megabytes of storage capacity.

Roaming
Using a wireless phone outside the home service area defined by the service provider. Roaming often incurs higher per-minute rates as well as daily access fees and long distance charges.

ROM (read-only memory)
Memory chips that permanently store data. A hardware or software vendor usually programs a computer's ROM. The software necessary for a computer to start, including the bios, is usually stored in ROM.

S

S/MIME(secure/MIME)
A special version of the common MIME email protocol that supports encryption. All the major browsers and email programs support s/mime, allowing using users to trade encrypted email even if they use different email clients.

Search Engine
Software that indexes web pages and allows users to search for particular keywords. Public search engines such as Lycos, Alta Vista and excite constantly index web sites and add information about these sites to their databases. Many individual web sites also use their own built-in search engines. Directories such as yahoo are not search engines -- they use human researchers to categorize web sites.

Server
A computer on a network that offers shared hardware or software resources to multiple users. The term may apply in a general sense to a computer that "serves" shared files or applications over a LAN, or it may apply to a computer running a specific application, such as a web server or mail server.

Service charge
The charge for providing a service.

SMS
Short Message Service is the ability to receive text on your phone in the form of an alert or an alphanumeric page.

SMS MO
This is a short message that can be "mobile originated" or entered directly from your handset's keypad. It allows the ability to customize a note or reply to a text message.

SPAM
Slang term for unsolicited commercial email. "spamming" people with unwanted commercial email solicitations is considered unethical and it is now illegal in several U.S. states. Most ISPs will terminate a user’s account if they use it to send SPAM. The best defense against SPAM is to report it to the spammer’s ISP.
If you've been "spammed" by someone you don't know, don't reply to the sender, complain to the sender's ISP. Just send an email to the ISP using the email address: "abuse@Yahoo.com, or Abuse@AOL.COM, or Abuse@MSN.com, etc.
How do you find out whom to contact? Look at the domain. This is the part after the "@" sign in an email address or the last part of the server name in a URL. For example, the URL of http://www.yahoo.com has a domain of "Yahoo.com."
When reporting spam include the original message headers along with your message. Email headers show specific details regarding the source provider, path, originating program, and destination of the message which is not shown within the TO: and FROM: address fields of the email.
Unfortunately, "spammers" use a variety of techniques to mask the actual point of origination such as forging information to make it appear as though the email originated from a domain that is well recognized across the Internet. As with any widely recognized domain name, many "spammers" intentionally forge the email headers to make it appear that the email originated from an email account other than the one they are using.
Information in the header is very helpful when investigating Spam.
Spam legislation has not yet been enacted at the federal level. In the 106th Congress (1999-2000), the House of Representatives passed the Unsolicited Electronic Mail Act of 2000 (H.R. 3113). The "CAN SPAM" Act of 2000 (S. 2542) was a companion bill to H.R. 3113, although it differed from the House bill in significant respects. Several other spam-related bills were also introduced in the 106th Congress.
For updates see:  http://www.spamlaws.com/federal/summ107.html
For more information see:  http://abuse.yahoo.com/, and  http://spamcop.net/ .

Switch
Any mechanical or solid-state device that opens or closes circuits, changes parameters, or select paths or circuits.

T

TCP/IP (transmission control protocol/internet protocol)
These two communications protocols form the foundation of the internet, allowing any two computers that support tcp/ip to communicate with one another.

Telnet
An internet-based protocol for connecting to a remote host or server. Telnet was once the main way to access other computers over the internet, and it supported a variety of text-based email, file transfer, chat and information retrieval programs.

Toll-free call
A telephone call which is free to the caller, but billable to the recipient. In North America it is Used with the 800 and 888 system. Internationally it is Used with the UIFN and UTFN systems which also use an 800 number. In the USA, 800 has meant toll free for more than 25 years.

Traffic
The flow of calls and messages across a telecommunications network, or to a PBX, or to a voice processing system.

Trojan horse
A program that appears to serve a legitimate purpose but actually performs a destructive or unauthorized activity. Trojan horses differ from viruses mainly in that they do not replicate themselves.

U

URL (uniform resource locator)
The computer address of a World Wide Web page. A web address for a website. The text address that allows users to find a particular web site or web page. The links on web pages also consist of URLs, which are embedded in the html code on the page. URLs comprise of a domain name followed by the file path to a particular file on that domain's web server.