e-wisdom.com glossary » Long Distance

Landline

e-wisdom.com editors — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:11:26 +0000

Refers to a traditional wired phone line that travels through solid medium, such as a metal-based wire. Traditional home phone service is often referred to as “landline” phone service.

Bundling

e-wisdom.com editors — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:47:59 +0000

The act of grouping together a number of different telecommunications services, such as long distance landline phone service, wireless cell phone service and Internet access. Services are typically “bundled” and offers at a discounted rate to the potential customer.

e-wisdom.com editors — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:34:23 +0000

Personal Identification Number. A secret series of numbers that typically serve as a password to gain access to certain services, such as a calling card, or to gain access to specific features of a service.

Virtual Calling Card

e-wisdom.com editors — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:31:01 +0000

Also known as “virtual phone card.” A type of calling card that has no physical form and only exists in an electronic form. Typically, a person can purchase a virtual calling card online and then details of how to use the virtual calling card, including access numbers, account numbers, PINs, etc., are delivered via email.

Caller ID

e-wisdom.com editors — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:47:17 +0000

A feature that displays the names and phone numbers of incoming callers on the cell phone or home phone screen. In order to use called ID features, your phone must be equipped to display the information.

Call Forwarding

e-wisdom.com editors — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:46:23 +0000

A feature offered by a phone company or wireless carrier in which incoming calls are able to be transferred to another phone number specified by the user.

Voice over Internet Protocol

e-wisdom.com editors — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:17:15 +0000

VoIP. A term used to refer to the technology used to transmit voice over a network using the Internet Protocol. A method for taking analog audio signals (what you hear on a traditional phone) and turning them into digital data that can be transmitted over the Internet.

Universal Service Fund

e-wisdom.com editors — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:13:56 +0000

USF. A federal program adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that helps provide affordable telecommunications services for low-income customers and customers in rural areas. It also provides discounts on Internet access for eligible schools, libraries and rural health care providers. Telecommunications carriers are required to pay into this federal program.

Universal Connectivity Charge

e-wisdom.com editors — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:13:14 +0000

UCC. A fee, usually a percentage of a customer’s total phone bill, charged to customers by some carriers to recover the cost of paying into the Universal Service Fund (USF).

Toll Free Number

e-wisdom.com editors — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:11:25 +0000

A toll free number allows the person or company receiving a call to pay for the call, rather than the caller. Currently, any phone number beginning with 800, 888, 877 or 866 is a toll free number. This type of number is often used for a comany’s customer service line or in other situations where it is beneficial for the receiver to pay for the call, raller than the caller.