Calling cards glossary
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, I, L, M, N, O, P, R, S, T, V, W
Account Codes are additional digits dialed by the calling party that provide information about the call. Usually used by the hour professionals such as accountants, lawyers, buisness consultants etc. to track and bill clients, projects.
Access number
It 10 or 11 digits number you dial to use pre paid calling
cards. This number is usually a Toll Free number beginning with 1-800,
866, 877 or 888. Some prepaid phone cards also have Local Access numbers
that are local for particular territories and areas.
Alternate Access
A form of local access where the provider is not the LEC, but is authorized
or permitted to provide such service.
Alternate Access Carriers
Local exchange carriers in direct competition with the RBOCs. Typicall
found only in the larger metropolitan areas. Examples are Teleport and
Metropolitan Fiber Systems.
Alternative Operator
Services Operator services provided by a company other than a LECRBOC
or AT&T that is authorized to provide such service.
ANI
See Automatic Number Identification.
Authentication
Process of verifying with certainty the identity of a valid subscriber
or ITSP through the use of a unique user identification number (UIN),
password or other method.
Authorization
Process of allowing a subscriber or ITSP a certain monetary credit or
time amount of IP Telephony. Authorization is the granting of permission
to provide users the service they are requesting.
Authorization Number
same as PIN.
Automatic Number Identification Originating Number
1. The number associated with the telephone station(s) from which switched
calls are originated (or terminated).
2. A software feature associated with Feature Group D (and optional on
Feature Group B) circuits. ANI provides the originating local telephone
number of the calling party. This information is transmitted as part of
the digit stream in the signalling protocol, and included in the Call
Detail Record for billing purposes.
3. ANI may also be used to refer to any phone number.
Billing Account Number Used by telephone companies to designate a billing
account, i.e., a customer or customer location that receives a bill. A
customer may have any number of BANs.
Banded Rates
Tariffed rates which may be changed by the carrier within a specified
range. Frequently, state commissions require notice to the commission
prior to each change. Banded rates are being used less frequently today.
Billing Account Number
BAN Used by telephone companies to designate a customer or customer location
that will be billed. A single customer may have multiple billing accounts.
Bill-To-Room
A billing option associated with Operator Assisted calls that allows
the calling party to bill a call to their hotel room. With this option,
the carrier is required to notify the hotel, upon completion of the call,
of the time and charges.
Bong
An interactive signal that prompts the originating end user to enter
additional information. For example: 1010555 Bong (Enter Destination)
Bong (Enter Billing information) Also used to denote a sucharge particularly
in the calling card industry.
BTN
- Billing Telephone Number The phone number associated, for billing purposes,
with the Working Phone Number.
Bypass
Access an IEC other than the customer's Equal Access carrier by dialing
10+CIC Code.(e.g. Bypass to WorldCom by dialing "1010555"). See Walkthrough,
CIC Code
Record of a placed call. A CDR includes the time the call was placed
and the duration of the call.
Calling Card
A telecommunication credit card for using a long distance carrier when
the customer is away from their home or office (ANI).
Callingcard
Same as a phone cardor calling card.
Carrier
A telecommunications provider which owns switch equipment.
Carrier Identification Code - CIC
A three digit number used with Feature Groups B and D to access a particular
IEC's switched services from a local exchange line. One or more CIC codes
are assigned to each carrier. (i.e. there may be multiple CICs per ACNA).
See Bypass
Casual Calling
Allow any ANI (including undefined ANIs) to access a given carrier. For
example, if the originator is calling from a non-coin phone, they may
dial 1010555+destination number and have the call routed through WorldCom
and billed to the originating phone
Casual Customer
Any person or organization that dials any CIC Code. (Not necessary to
presubscribe to the carrier.)
Class of Service - COS
A special limitation on what numbers can and cannot be called. International,
809, 809 + Canada, 48 contiguous states, etc.
Clipping
Situation where the system cuts off the first part of the first word
in a sentence. (Not to be confused with choppiness -- which is a packet
loss).
Coin Phone
A coin-operated pay phone with restricted access to some services (e.g.
International calling). Coin phones have subclasses of Public, Semi Public,
and Private.
Collect
A call that is paid for by the receiving/destination phone number. Requires
approval/authorization of the person being called.
Common Carrier
A carrier that holds itself out as serving the public (or a segment thereof)
indifferently (i.e., without regard to the identity of the customer and
without undue discrimination). Common carriers may vary rates based on
special considerations and may in fact serve only a small fraction of
the general public.
Connection Fee
This fee applies to calling card's balance every time
when the connection is established. The charge varies depending on country
a person is calling to. Connection fee reduces the advertised number of
minutes on the phone card. Our phone cards don't have a connection fee.
A fee charged on every call that is made.
Contract
A legally-binding agreement between a vendor and a customer to provide
Products, Services or Features in a specified quantity and quality, for
a specified price, during a specified period of time.
Contract Tariffs
Services and rates based on contracts negotiated with individual customers,
but theoretically available to all customers. AT&T has filed several hundred
contract tariffs.
Country Code
Two or three digit codes used for International calls outside of the
North American Numbering Plan area codes. Dial: 011 + country code + city
code + local phone number) (e.g. "011 + 91 + 22 + 123- 4567" 91 = India,
22 = Bombay). See country
codes.
CSC code
Credit/Debit card security code (CSC) is the last 3 digits printed on
the back of the Credit/Debit card, typically in the signature field after
your account number.
Customizable PIN
A PIN that gives you the ability to choose the specific numbers or character
sequence.
Cut-Through Dialing
"10"+CIC+" #" followed by an AuthCode for IntraLATA calls.
Phone Number Lookup Service
DAL - Dedicated Access Line
A non-switched circuit from the customer to a carrier.
DDD - Direct Distance Dialing
Any switched telecommunication service (like 1+, 0++, etc.) that allows
a call originator to place long distance calls directly to telephones
outside the local service area without an operator.
Deactivation
A request to terminate service or the process of terminating service.
Default Carrier
Your regular Dial-1 carrier. Call 1-700-555-4141 to find your default
carrier.
Destination number
The number you want to call. For international phone
calls it begins with "011" then country code and the number; for domestic
calls it begins with "1" then area code and the number.
Dial To Place
A Call On A Switched Network. The term "dial" is obsolete - based on
rotary dial phones and electromechanical relay switches (which are nearly
non-existent in modern telephone systems.) Touch Tone service recognizes
dual tones that are generated as each telephone key is pressed. Where
Touch Tone service is not available, telephones and switches electronically
"pulse" signals that emulate the older rotary dial telephones. The terms
"place" a call or "originate" a call are more accurate than "dial".
Dial Tone
Ready To Place/Originate A Call. When the off hook indication is received
at a central office, a dial tone signal is sent to the originating caller
on a switched network to indicate that the switch is ready to accept a
number.
Dialer
Equipment that pulses out a standard dial protocol signal.
Digital
A device or method that uses discrete variations in voltage, frequency,
amplitude, location, etc. to encode, process, or carry binary (zero or
one) signals for sound, video, computer data or other information. For
example, a digital clock displays the time as discrete numeric values,
rather than angular displacement of analog hands. Digital communications
technology generally permits higher speeds of transmission with a lower
error rate than can be achieved with analog technology. When analog signals
are received and amplified at each repeater station, any noise is also
amplified. A digital signal, however, is detected and regenerated (not
amplified). Unlike amplification, any noise (less than a valid signal)
is eliminated by digital regeneration.
Directory Assistance - DA
An information service whereby operators assist customers in obtaining
the telephone number(s) they wish to call.
The provision of one-plus capability to interLATA competitors of AT&T.
Customers should be able to reach the carrier of their choice by dialing
1+ the long-distance number. The MFJ and the FCC require local exchange
carriers to provide equal access (most central offices now have this capability).
Equal Access may also refer to a more generic concept under which the
BOCs must provide access services to AT&T's competitors that are
equivalent to those provided to AT&T.
FCC - Federal Communications Commission
Regulates interstate communications: licenses, rates, tariffs, standards,
limitations, etc. Appointed by U.S. President.
FCC Tax
It may be deducted from calling card balance for each
phone call made. It varies from 0% to 15%. For example, if the rate is
5 c/min and the tax is 10%, phone cards balance will be reduced for $1.10
for 20 minutes phone call.
Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)
European protocol used for encoding digital cellular phone transmissions.
Interexchange Carrier - IXC - IEC (IEC is preferred). A company providing
long-distance phone service between LECs and LATAs.
IEC - Interexchange Carrier
IC - IXC (IEC is preferred). A company providing long-distance phone
service between LECs and LATAs.
Interexchange
Communication between two different LATAs.
InterLATA
Communication between Local Access Transport Areas. 1982 MFJ requires
LECs to use an IEC for InterLATA services.
International calling card
Card providing service between multiple countries. See more about international
phone cards.
International Telecommunications Union (ITU)
Organization in Geneva that evaluates and approves proposed standards
for making telecommunications products work together.
Internet Service Provider (ISP)
Company that offers its customers accesses to the Internet. Internet
Telephony Service Provider (ITSP) Company that offers its customers the
ability to make phone calls over the public Internet.
Interstate
Between multiple states. Interstate communications are regulated by the
FCC.
IntraLATA
Communication within a Local Access Transport Area. 1982 MFJ allows LEC
to handle these calls without an IEC.
Intrastate
Communication within a single state. Intrastate communications are regulated
by each state's PUC.
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)
Phone line service whose technology offers more bandwidth more economically;
it is therefore better suited for Internet telephony and video applications.
ISDN uses multiple channels for data and voice.
IXC
1) Interexchange Carrier (IEC is preferred). A company providing long-distance
phone service between LECs and LATAs. 2) Interexchange Circuit. A circuit
that connects PoPs. Jitter Difference in arrival time of packets sent
at the same time but traveling different routes. LATA Local Access Transport
Areas (200 in the U.S.). A geographic service area defined in the AT&T
Modified Final Judgement. The RBOCs (baby Bells) and GTE are restricted
to operations within, but not between, LATAs. Long distance service within
a LATA is provided by the LEC. Service between LATAs is provided by an
IEC. LATAs are represented by a 3-character code, and there are 164 of
them across the country.
See Local Exchange Carrier
LEC BAN - Billing Account Number
3-digit number appended to the billing phone number used as the LEC customer
number. Groups all ANIs for a customer.
LEC Billing
Arrangement whereby the Local Exchange Carrier invoices the customer
for some or all telecommunications services.
LEC Card
The billing arrangement which enables the caller to bill calls to an
authorized calling card issued by a local exchange carrier.
LEC Charges
Charges that are the responsibility of the local exchange carrier.
Letter Of Agency - LOA
A document that authorizes changing the service provider. (See RespOrg,
800 Portability)
Local Access
Local Loop. The connection from a subscriber to the Central Office. The
portion of a circuit connecting the LEC's CO with the customer's premise
equipment across the local network. Local Access Provider Any organization
that is authorized to provide local access. (May or may not be the LEC.)
Local Access number
This is a local telephone number for particular areas.
This number is used as an access number for certain prepaid calling cards.
Local Access Numbers are used to reduce costs and provide better rates
for customers.
Local Area Network (LAN)
Number of computers connected together to form one network. Local Exchange
Carrier - LEC The local or regional telephone company that owns and operates
lines to customer locations and Class 5 Central Office Switches. LECs
have connections to other COs, Tandem (Class 4 Toll) offices and may connect
directly to IECs like WorldCom, AT&T, MCI, Sprint, etc. Local Exchange
Service Local phone calls.
Long Distance Carrier
A company providing long-distance phone service between LECs and LATAs.
Message Toll Service - MTS Pay-by-the-minute switched long distance services.
Includes conventional long distance and measured WATS.
This
fee is deducted from phone card balance if there is still enough balance.
It is not charged on your credit card. Calling card provider starts charging
a maintenance fee within 24 hours after the first phone call is finished,
it is usually deducted by midnight according to the Eastern Standart time.
It value varies, on our website its not higher than 69 cents. The maintenance
fee can be applied every month, every two weeks, or every week. Most calling
cards on our website dont have maintenance fee.
North American "Area Codes." (3 digits: 2-to-9, 0-or-1, 0-to-9. Middle
digit to expand soon)
A call that is placed through a human or automated operator (0+).
Operator Service Provider - OSP - OS Provider
The vendor that supplies operator service.
Outbound
Outward Sending - Call Originating - Dialing Out
A public or private telephone that accepts coins or encoded credit cards,
can be located outdoors and indoors. Our Calling cards can be used from
any public payphone in the Continental USA.
Payphone Fee
Additional charge per call if if call is made using a payphone, normally
collected for the owner of the payphone.
Payphone Surcharge
This surcharge applies to calling card balance for each call made from
a payphone.
Permanent PIN
Each time when you add money to a calling card you refill the same PIN
number. Only refillable calling cards have permanent PIN number.
Personal Identification Number (PIN)
Personal unique security codes that callers use to access their accounts.
More about instant PIN's.
Person-to-Person
Operator assisted phone call - only billed if the specified person is
available.
Phone card
Same as a calling card.
Phonecard
Same as a calling card.
PIN Free Access
When you buy a refillable calling card, you register your phone number
with us. When you dial from registered phone, after entering the Access
number the telecom switches automatically, recognizing your number, and
you dont have to enter a hard-to-remember PIN.
PIC - Primary Interexchange Carrier
The IEC that 1+ calls are routed to. Specified by ANI.
PIC Charges
A LEC charge for changing the PIC. Often paid by the new IEC. If a LEC
sends a PIC charge to a customer, the new IEC will typically credit the
customer's account.
PIC Freeze
A PIC Freeze prevents the long distance from being switched for the specified
ANIs. Useful to prevent slamming, or the unauthorized switching of long
distance services.
PIC Request
A request record sent to a LEC asking for an ANI to be activated, deactivated
or changed in some way.
PIC Response
A response record sent by a LEC (corresponding to a previous PIC Request)
with response code that indicates whether the request was performed. (Some
LECs return non-standard PIC Response codes.)
Point Of Presence - POP
The physical access location interface between a local exchange carrier
and an Interexchange Carrier fiber network. The point to which the telephone
company terminates a subscriber's circuit for long distance service or
leased line communications.
Point-To-Point
Non-switched, dedicated communication circuit.
Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)
Protocol to access the Internet using dial-up connections.
POP
See Point Of Presence
POTS
Plain Old Telephone Service
Prepaid Phone Card
A plastic or paper card that allows a person to pay for long distance/local
phone calls in advance. See more about prepaid
calling card.
Primary Interexchange Carrier
The long distance company that is automatically accessed when a customer
dials 1+.
Private Line
Uses dedicated circuits to connect customer's equipment at both ends
of the line. Does not provide any switching capability (unless supported
by customer premise equipment). Usually includes two local loops and an
IEC circuit.
Provisioning
The process by which a requested (ordered) service is designed, implemented
and tracked (providing the subcomponent parts).
Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)
The regular, "old-fashioned" telephone network.
PUC - Public Utilities Commission
The agency regulating intrastate phone service.
A recurring fixed charge for IEC or LEC service at the lowest level.
A local loop may have multiple rate elements associated with it, which
make up the fixed portion of the monthly bill. For example: Local Access,
Local Mileage, Entrance facilities, Channel Termination, Interexchange,
etc. Rates and Tariffs Standards published by AT&T, OCCs,LECs, and IECs
that define service availability, cost and provisioning procedures.
Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP)
Protocol that improves Internet telephone calls by adding special information
to the voice data packets to help programs reassemble them more efficiently.
Refillable calling card
Refillable - rechargeable calling (or phone) card that offer the following
additional opportunities: refill opportunity, PIN-Free access, Permanent
PIN, unlimited expiration period, balance transfer option.
RBOC Regional Bell Operating Company
Bell operating companies set up after the AT&T divestiture. Rebiller
See Reseller
Recharge Code
A set of numbers on a calling card used to add additional funds, usually
the last several digits of a PIN.
Rechargeable Calling Card
A phone card used which can be refilled with units by the addition of
funds to the calling card account without the purchase of a new card or
a new PIN.
Reuseable Calling Card
A phone card used which can be refilled with units by the addition of
funds to the calling card account without the purchase of a new card or
a new PIN.
Regional Bell Operating Companies - RBOC
One of the seven "Baby Bell" Companies created by the 1982 Modified Final
Judgement that specified the terms of the AT&T Divestiture. The
seven RHCs include: NYNEX, Bell Atlantic, Bell South, Southwestern Bell,
U.S. West, Pacific Telesis, and Ameritech. "RBOC" is sometimes used informally
to refer to the Regional Holding Companies defined in the 1982 MFJ. (See
Bell Operating Companies - There are 19 BOCs).
Regulators
FCC, PUC, Federal Courts (e.g. MFJ), etc.
Reseller - Also known as Rebiller
A long-distance carrier (IEC) that does not own a network, but leases
bulk capacity and resells portions of it at a higher rate.
Residential Customer
An individual (non-business) telephone system subscriber.
Responsible Organization - R/O - Resporg
With 800 Portability, the Number Administration Service Center (NASC)
allows the RespOrg to make changes such as carrier, termination, 800 call
routing (by time of day, location.) A Letter Of Agency (LOA) must be on
file to change the RespOrg for each customer/account.
Rounding
This is the basic unit for phone call duration calculation. The normal
minute rounding for prepaid phone cards is one minute. Some calling cards
have two and three minutes rounding.
Serial Line Interface Protocol (SLIP)
Protocol to access the Internet using dial-up connections.
SIP
Session Initiation Protocol it's basic signaling protocols for VoIP
Slam
An end user that is PICed without their permission. An RBOC Slam Fee
must be paid for each slam.
Smart Card
A plastic phone-card with a stored cash value in a micro-chip inside
the card.
SMS
Service Management System, also Short Message Service, also Simple Message
System, also Simple Message Service
SMS call
You send SMS and get connection between two phones.
SMS Customer Record
All information related to one 800 number.
SMS refill
Send SMS and refill you calling cards - add funds
Speed Dialing
A service to abbreviate and accelerate frequently dialed numbers.
State Tax
A collection of tax types that each state is allowed to charge. Tax jurisdiction
(which state can charge tax for a call) is based on the two-out-of-three
rule: where it originates, where it terminates, where it is being billed
to - if two match, that state can charge the tax.
Surcharge
An additional charge on top of a base rate for a specified reason. A
fee charged against the card usually to cover the companies costs.
Switch
A device (like a DMS-250 or a PBX) that responds to originator signals
and dynamically connects the caller to the desired communication destination.
Switched Access
Nondedicated local access between the customer's premise and the serving
wire center which is interconnected to the company's point-of-presence
for origination or termination of service.
Switched Access Service
A class of LEC services that provides the link from the customer's premise
to the IEC PoP for switched circuits.
Switched Resellers
Resellers that utilize their own switching hardware (and sometimes their
own lines) and the lines of other IXCs to provide long-distance service
to its subscribers. They provide their own billing and service.
Switched Services
All dial up long-distance services including conventional residential
and WATS (most have incremental use charges). (See Message Toll Service)
Switching Fee
A per-line fee (usually around 5$) imposed by the LEC to reprogram their
switching system to change your default carrier. Subscribers must usually
pay this fee when switching to a reseller.
Switchless Reseller
A reseller of long-distance services that does not utilize any of its
own lines, or (switching) equipment. All actual service and equipment
is handled by the IXC. Billing is usually done, by the reseller themselves,
to the customer.
A public document filed with the FCC or a PUC that outlines services
and rates. Usually, all customers are offered the same rate for a specific
service, based on published constraints.
Telecard
Same as a phone card or calling card.
TDD
Telecommunications Device for the Deaf
Telephone Company
The local or regional telephone company that owns and operates lines
to customer locations and Class 5 Central Office Switches. Telcos have
connections to other COs, Tandem (Class 4 Toll) offices and may connect
directly to IECs like WorldCom, AT&T, MCI, Sprint, LDDS, etc.
Termination gateway
The computer equipment configured with certain hardware and software,
which provides the electronic "bridge" from an IP network to the PSTN
to connect to the destination telephone. Third Party Billing Use of an
outside service bureau for bill processing such as: call rating, customer
invoicing, collections, etc.
Time of Day Routing
Route calls based on the time the call originates. (e.g. direct morning
calls to East Coast operators and afternoon calls to West Coast operators,
etc.). SMS/800 supports 15 minute time intervals.
Toll
A rated call (Contrast CDR - unrated call detail record). Tolls appear
on the Invoice Detail.
Toll Call
A call with incremental use (minute-by-minute) charges. (Often through
a Class 4 Toll Office). Toll Fraud A crime in which a "hacker" obtains
telecommunication services by: breaching computer security, using or selling
stolen long-distance credit-card codes, or, accessing a PBX and using
its communication facilities illegally. Toll Fraud is estimated to cost
U.S. companies $1.2 billion/year.
Toll Free Access number
It 11 digits telephone number beginning with 1-800, 866, 877 or 888 you
need to dial to use prepaid calling cards.
Calling cards expiration period, which starts after the first phone call
was made. On our website We offer cards with limited and unlimited expiration
period (at least one refill in 6 month required for unlimited cards).
Value Added Reseller (VAR)
Company offering services other than the core service. For example, a
company who sells computers and offers training, service, and on-going
maintenance is considered a VAR.
Vanity Number
A specific 800 or 888 number (may spell something).
Verified Account Codes
See Account Codes. A finite list of carrier-verified, predefined Account
Codes.
Vocoder
Compresses a digital signal and then decompresses it. (Also known as
coder.)
Voice Mail
An automatic answering service with the ability to record a message.
Unlike simple answering machines, Voice mail uses a programmable computer
system with options such as temporary call routing, monitoring and reporting,
etc.
Voice Mail Box
The assignment of one user/number on a voice mail system.
VoIP
Voice over Internet Protocol also called Broaband telephony is the routing
of voice conversations over the Internet or through any other IP-based
network. It's allow make phone calls from PC (personal computer) to phone
PC-to-phone and PC-to_PC
WATS - Wide Area Telephone Service
Flat rate, or special rate pay-by-the-minute (measured) billing for a
specified calling area. May be outbound or inbound (e.g. 800).
Wide Area Network (WAN)
Number of computers connected together to form one network over several
locations. Could be made up of several LANS all connected together across
the world for example.
Web call
Connect two phones anywhere in the world. You just complete form in Internet
browser and get connection. As distinct from VoIP you talk phone-to-phone.
Wireless
Radio waves, cellular, satellite, microwave, etc. Wireless
recharge service.
WNP
Wireless Number Portability.
WTN
Working Telephone Number.
