Terminologies
What is WWW?
www is shorthand for the World Wide Web. It’s the Internet facility that allows everyone to browse web sites.
What is ADSL?
Asymetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) is the most common way of delivering broadband internet services over existing copper telephone lines. The word Asymetrical refers to the difference between upload and download speeds, with the upload speed often being a fraction of the download speed. Typically ADSL speeds in Australia start at 64kps upload and 256kbps download, with increasingly higher speeds now available with the newer ADSL2+ standard. Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) for the delivery of symmetrical broadband services over existing copper lines are also available, although these tend to be much more expensive and so generally used only by businesses.
What is Broadband?
Broadband is a widely used term for the various types of high-speed, high-bandwidth Internet services, including ADSL and DSL. Broadband services have the capacity to carry voice, video, and data simultaneously.
What is PSTN?
The Public Switched Telephone Network or PSTN is the global telephone network which allows people to speak to each other by dialing numbers on their phones. The PSTN today comprises thousands of networks all over the world, each linked or “interconnected” together providing people the universal ability to call each other anywhere. atpNET is part of this global PSTN; our customers can make and receive calls from anywhere in the world.
What is SIP Protocol?
Session Initiated Protocol or SIP is an international communications open standard for making and receiving phone calls over the internet. It is used by atpNET and all other broadband phone companies to connect customers’ equipment to the phone network via broadband. To the customer themselves, the protocol is transparent. You just use the phone in the same old way and make sure your VoIP equipments (such as VoIP phone and adapter) supports SIP.
What is IAX2 Protocol?
Inter-Asterisk Protocol or IAX is the software protocol for interconnecting computers running the Asterisk IP PBX (Private Branch Exchange - a Business Phone System).
atpNET offer IAX2 connections for customers using Asterisk. In fact the $0 plan is an ideal way to connect to other Asterisk users free of charge.
atpNET’s parent company ATP is the Australian Distributor for Asterisk & Digium, making atpNET the experts choice for Asterisk connection into the internet space. Digium, Inc. of the USA is the creator, developer and maintainer of Asterisk and provides fully Australian approved cards which permit connection of any Asterisk server direct to the phone network. These cards are available in Australia from ATP or an ATP Reseller.
What is Asterisk?
Asterisk is the World’s leading Open Source IP PBX, telephony switching engine and telephony applications toolkit. It seamlessly interconnects phone calls between the new VoIP telephony standards and the old phone networks standards. Offering flexibility unheard of in the old world of telephony dominated as it was by proprietary communications, Asterisk empowers developers and integrators to create innovative advanced communications solutions.
What is a SIP URL?
A SIP URL is an address which looks a bit like an email address but can be used to make phone calls over the internet just in the same way as a phone number is used with the traditional phone network. With SIP devices, whether it’s a Softphone on your PC or a VoIP Phone, there is usually a facility which allows you dial a SIP URL.
What is Ring All or Hunt Group?
The standard set-up with a Virtual PBX is ring all. For an additional small monthly rental fee, users can upgrade to “Hunt Groups” which define which users answer particular call selections.
What is FXS and FXO?
Foreign eXchange Station (FXS) and Foreigh eXchange Office (FXO) are the two ways to connect to Analogue Telephone Adaptor (ATA) devices or Digium Analogue Line Cards. Physically, FXS / FXO ports are just the connectors on the analogue device, which allows you to connect a telephone (FXS) or a phone line (FXO).
What is a PBX?
Private Branch eXchange (PBX) is a device which provides local telephone connection within a business premises. However, PBX’s typically provide a whole range of advanced features and functions, while achieving cost savings by allowing many people to share resources such as phone lines, as well as making internal calls without the need for a charged phone call. PBXs connect to the public network using phone lines or trunks. These phone lines can now be analogue, digital or VoIP. Covering all bases, atpNET will soon offers Business PBX’s, Personal PBX’s and Hosted PBX’s.