A

Asterisk

Open-source framework for developing communications programs. What it can do is turn a computer into a communications service. It can power PBX, VoIP gateways and custom devices.

Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)

Designed for networks that handle both high-throughput data traffic (file transfers or uploads) and real-time content, like voice and video.
 

Automatic Funds Replenishment

Set your account to automatically replenish funds (using your credit card) when your balance gets below a certain amount specified by you. We also have the ability to add a backup credit card if the primary card fails or declines.
 

Automatic Number Identification (ANI)

Can be confused with Caller ID or call display. ANI is a telecommunications feature in which the network can determine the origination telephone number on toll calls for purposes of charging or billing. It contains two different features; information dig-its, which identifies class of service and the party’s calling billing telephone number.
 

B

Billing and Usage

Vitelity is 100% pre-paid. At the time of signup, you will provide a credit card in which we will charge your card an initial $35 pre-pay (to create an initial positive account balance). Once you have access to your account management portal you will be able to deposit money into your account using your credit card or Pay Pal at any time. You must maintain a positive balance in order to continue service with Vitelity. See the Auto Replenishment and Notifications information on this page for information on how to keep your account funded.
 

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)

Bring your own device refers to the customer using his/her own device on their VoIP network. Enterprises and VoIP providers allow you to use your own tablet or smart-phone on a VoIP network, instead of using issued equipment.
 

C

Calling Name Delivery (CNAM)

This refers to the name associated with the number calling. CNAM displays the caller’s name, in addition, to the phone number to identify a caller.
 

Call Detail Records (CDR)

The call detail record is recorded by the telephone exchange or other telecom equipment that shares characteristics specific to a single-instance of a phone call or other form of communication handled by facility or device.
 

Call Forwarding

Call Forwarding is quick and easy within the Vitelity user portal. Don’t have a SIP device or PBX? No problem! You can forward any of our local and toll free voice numbers (including international) to a valid 10-digit NANP (North American Numbering Plan) number. Note: Forwarding costs usually include two call paths and the rate is based on the sum of those two call paths.
 

Call Peering

Commonly referred to as VoIP peering. Call peering is forwarding a call from one Internet Telephony Provider to another using VoIP technology. The advantages to call peering are better quality voice calls and cost savings.
 

Codec (Coder/Decoder)

Software programs that contain algorithms required to covert and encode signals to either analog or digital formats. Codecs can also be used in data streams to accomplish the same tasks of converting analog/digital signals to the desired output. Codec Examples are G.711 which samples a 64kbps channel at 8-bits/sample using PCM. G.729 is an industry standard codec that allows for more calls in limited band-width.
 

Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC)

In the United States, a CLEC is a telephone company that is in direct competition with another existing business. The new CLEC tries to provide its own network back-bone and switching capabilities.
 

Carrier Access Billing Services (CABS)

A system that is used by network access providers to bill communication service providers for their customer’s access to their services or network facilities.
 

D

Direct Inward Dial (DID)

This can also be referred to as direct dial-in (DDI) and it’s a feature offered by telecommunication companies. A company can offer its customers individual phone numbers for each person or workspace within a company. These dials work within their customer’s PBX systems.
 

Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency Signaling (DTMF)

In-band telecommunications system using the voice-frequency band over telephone lines between equipment and other devices and switching centers. DTMF, first developed in the Bell System, is now known as Touch-Tone.
 

E

ENUM

This was developed by the International Telecommunication Union to be a standard used by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). ENUMs uses the domain naming system (DNS) to plot telephone numbers to web addresses, also known as Uniform Resource Locators (URL). ENUMs can then be used in Internet communications and VoIP networks.
 

E.164

An international number plan for public telephone systems. Each assigned number is assigned a country code, national destination code and subscriber number. These numbers can contain up to 15-digits. This helped develop a blueprint for countries to create their own international phone numbers.
 

G

G.711

A high bit rate (64 Kbps) ITU standard codec. It is the native language of the modern digital telephone network. Although formally standardized in 1988, the G.711 PCM codec is the granddaddy of digital telephony. Invented by Bell Systems and introduced in the early 70′s, the T1 digital trunk employed an 8-bit uncompressed Pulse Code Modulation encoding scheme with a sample rate of 8000 samples per second. This allowed for a (theoretical) maximum voice bandwidth of 4000 Hz. A T1 trunk carries 24 digital PCM channels multiplexed together. The improved European E1 standard carries 30 channels.
 
There are two versions: A-law and U-law. U-law is indigenous to the T1 standard used in North America and Japan. The A-law is indigenous to the E1 standard used in the rest of the world. The difference is in the method the analog signal being sampled. In both schemes, the signal is not sampled linearly, but in a logarithmic fashion. A-law provides more dynamic range as opposed to U-law. The result is a less ‘fuzzy’ sound as sampling artifacts are better suppressed.
 
Using G.711 for VoIP will give the best voice quality; since it uses no compression and it is the same codec used by the PSTN network and ISDN lines, it sounds just like using a regular or ISDN phone. It also has the lowest latency (lag) because there is no need for compression, which costs processing power. The downside is that it takes more bandwidth then other codecs, up to 84 Kbps including all TCP/IP overhead. However, with increasing broadband bandwidth, this should not be a problem) then other codecs, up to 84 Kbps including all TCP/IP overhead. However, with increasing broadband bandwidth, this should not be a problem.
 

G.729

G.729 is an ITU standard codec. It offers toll quality speech at a reasonably low bit rate of 8Kbps. However, it is a rather “costly” codec in terms of CPU processing time, therefore some VoIP phones and adapters (notably the Linksys/Sipura/Cisco brands) can only handle one G.729 call (channel) at a time. This can cause calls to fail if the user attempts to use three-way calling, or place simultaneous calls on both lines of a two-line device, and G.729 is the only allowed codec. Use of this codec in a product requires licensing. Licenses can be purchased from a company that re-sells G.729 licenses such as Digium.
 

Global System For Mobiles (GSM)

A compressed speech codec that uses a sample rate of 13kbps.
 

I

Inbound Caller ID

Inbound CNAM lets you see the name of the person or company who is calling before you answer. We use several national telecom databases to lookup the name before we send the call to your device. We now offer CNAM as a flat-rate monthly fee versus the standard per “dip” or lookup charge. Note: CNAM is only provided if the caller’s name is listed in the national database.
 

Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (ILEC)

Telephone companies that were providing local service when the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was signed. The ILECs are the former Bell Systems responsible for delivering local exchange services in a specified region. When you hear someone mention a telephone provider, that’s an ILEC.
 

Inter-Asterisk Exchange Protocol (IAX)

This is an Asterisk-based communication protocol for implementing collaborative user-sessions, using audio and/or video. IAX supports any type of codec.
 

Internet Protocol Private Branch Exchange (IP-PBX)

It’s a private branch exchange that can provide audio, video and instant messaging capabilities using the Internet for its internal network and connects with the Public Switched Telephone Network for telephone communication. It can assist organizations to manage long distance costs and manage their intranet.
 

Internet Telephony Service Provider (ITSP)

A type of telecommunications provider that offers digital communication based on Voice over Internet Protocol. These services are delivered via the Internet using a wide-array of signaling and multi-media protocols. ITSPs are commonly referred to as VoIP providers.
 

International service

By peering with some of the world’s largest telecom providers we can provide coverage to most destinations on the globe. We do not use “black” or “grey” carriers so call quality is superior. Note: All outbound international calls are billed in 30/6 second increments. Wholesale A-Z rates are also available.
 

ISP

An acronym for Internet Service Provider. A company that provides access to the Internet using dial-up, DSL or via cable/fiber lines.
 

J

Jitter

In the VoIP world, jitter is the variance in time between voice/data packets arriving which can be caused by network congestion or changes in the routing of the data.
 

L

Label Switch Router (LSR)

Located in the middle of a Multiprotocol Label Switching network and it’s responsible for switching labels used to route packets.
 

Latency

Also known as lag, is the time between the instant a voice packet is transmitted and the moment it reaches its destination. The longer the delay, echo is introduced.
 

Local Number Portability (LNP)

You may port your existing Local, Toll Free or fax number to Vitelity from your current provider. As long as your number is located in one of our 13,500+ local rate centers, you can move it to our network. As an 800/SMS RESPORG, Vitelity can also port any Toll Free number. Actual porting times may vary but you should expect 3-4 weeks on average to have your number ported.
 

Local Access and Transport Areas (LATA)

Common term within the telecommunications industry and it’s represented by a geographical area of the United States. A LATA represents an area in which a Regional Bell Operating Company is allowed to offer exchange of telecommunications and exchange access services. LATA boundaries are determined by markets and not along states or area codes.
 

Local DID Service

Local DID numbers from Vitelity are available in 95% of the USA (including Hawaii and Alaska), Canada and Puerto Rico. We support over 13,500 rate centers and inventory over 450,000+ local DIDs which can be provisioned instantly though our user portal or API.
 

Local Exchange Routing Guide (LERG)

A database of the first six digits of a telephone number. This is updated regularly and provides data for directing telephone calls over a PSTN. It also IDs what local company the number belongs to.
 

Local Number Portability (LNP)

This refers to the ability of a customer of record for an existing land, or mobile line, that’s assigned by a local exchange carrier to reassign the number to another carrier (Service Provider Portability), location (Geographic Portability) or change the type of service (Service Portability). There could be limitations in geographic portability based on service coverage and the technology availability.
 

Low Balance Notification

You can setup our billing system to notify you via email when your account balance gets below a certain amount.
 

M

Minute Rounding aka Billing Increments

All domestic calls (USA, Canada, and Puerto Rico) are rounded to the nearest six second (6/6). International calls have a thirty second minimum once connected and then are rounded to the nearest six second (known as 30/6). For example, a 30 second call to a USA number would be billed for 36 seconds and a 20 second call to Africa would be billed at 30 seconds.
 

Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO)

A wireless communications service provider that owns the infrastructure it’s using to provide the service to its customers. In order to obtain rights to use the network, it enters into an agreement with the network operator to acquire access to the services at wholesale rates and sets its own prices.
 

Mobile Virtual Network Enabler (MVNE)

A company that provides network infrastructure and services to a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO). The MVNE has no contact or a relationship with customers but are provider of the platform and services.
 

Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)

It’s a mechanism for high-performance telecommunications or VoIP networks that direct data from one network node to the next, based on path labels rather than network addresses
 

N

Network Operations Center (NOC)

A Network Operations Center (pronounced like knock) is one or more locations from where the monitoring and control takes place over a computer or satellite network.
 

O

Open Source

An approach to the design, development and distribution of software, offering practical accessibility to a software’s source code.
 

Outbound Caller ID

Outbound Caller ID with Name allows you set the name people see on their caller ID when you make outbound calls. There is a one-time charge of $10 for each DID number that is published to the national CNAM (aka LIDB) database. Note: It may take up to thirty days for outbound caller ID name to become active on the network.
 

Over the Top Communication (OTT)

This type of digital communication refers to the delivery of audio, video or other media over the Internet without multiple systems or providers in control of the distribution of the content. The provider is not responsible, or in control, of the viewing abilities or copyrights and other redistribution of the content.
 

P

Person-to-Person (P2P)

Also known as peer-to-peer computing is a distributed application architecture that assigns and distributes tasks between online peers.
 

Power Over Ethernet (POE)

Any type of network or network system which pass the power along with the data using Ethernet cabling, allowing just one cable to provide data and electric to access points or IP devices.
 

Private Branch Exchange (PBX)

A telephone exchange that serves a business or office with many lines that incorporate a variety of systems from small key systems to large-scale private exchanges.
 

Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)

PSTNs are aggregates of the global circuit-switched telephone networks operated by national and regional telephony operators. They provide infrastructure and service for public telecommunications. The PSTNs can comprise of telephone lines, fiber optic cables, and cellular networks among other means. They are all connected by switch centers, thus allows for communication with one another by phone or other device.
 

R

Real-Time Communications (RTC)

A relatively new communication medium. Using the W3C WebRTC standard, it uses Internet components, like HTML5, to allow peers to share web content in real time.
 

S

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)

A signaling protocol used to control digital communications, such as voice or video calls, over the Internet using Internet Protocols.
 

Short Message Service (SMS)

A text messaging service component of phone, web or mobile communication systems. In order for devices to exchange these shorter messages, SMS uses basic communication standards to allow the exchange between fixed line or mobile devices.
 

SIP Endpoints/ Sub Accounts

Need to register more than one VoIP device or a customer’s device to the Vitelity network? No problem. With our Sub Accounts feature you can add unlimited peering end points such as ATA’s, PBX’s, or Softphones with just a few clicks of a mouse. We support both IP-based peering as well as registration-based peering. Note: CDR’s (Call Detail Records) for each peering endpoint can be filtered for quick and easy billing/reconciliation.
 

SIP Termination service

Outbound SIP termination is available for dialing most destinations worldwide. Our blended retail termination rate for US48 (lower 48 states), Hawaii, and Canada services is 1.44¢ per minute; this includes all local or long distance calls. Wholesale customers get deeper discounts on the blended rate but also have access to a competitive NPA-NXX termination rate deck.
 

Supported Signaling Protocols

SIP (Vitelity default) – Session Initiation Protocol is a signaling protocol used to create, manage and terminate sessions in an IP based network. A session could be a simple two-way telephone call or it could be a collaborative multi-media conference session. This makes it possible to implement services like voice-enriched e-commerce, web page click-to-dial or Instant Messaging with buddy lists in an IP based environment. Don’t worry if you don’t know about these services. You don’t need to know them before you learn about SIP.
 

T

Toll Free DID Service

Inbound Toll Free service is available for dialing from the within the USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, Caribbean, and Guam. Vitelity keeps thousands of Toll free numbers in stock for its customers to order and activate instantly. In addition, as an 800/SMS RESPORG, we can port your current toll free numbers to the Vitelity network. Note: We do not charge for outbound toll free.
 

V

Voicemail Service

Voicemail is available (at no extra cost) on all Vitelity accounts at no extra charge. When a voicemail is received, a recording of the message (in .WAV format) will be emailed to the subscriber’s email address on file. In addition, we now offer voicemail transcription or voice mail to text service as an option. Our powerful transcription engine will accurately take the content of the voicemail and then convert it to text so you can read it within your email client.
 

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP)

The method in which voice communication and digital media sessions are delivered through the Internet. Other common terms are IP telephony, Internet telephony and broadband telephony.
 

411 Directory Assistance

411 Directory Assistance service is available by dialing any area code then 555-1212 or by dialing 411 directly on the Vitelity network. Please note that 411DA may not be available in all areas. Charges for 411DA calls are billed at 99 cents (USD) per call.