Prepaid World Index Glossary
| All-A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z |
| Access Gateway - - Equipment used to provide the
electronic "bridge" from the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to an
Internet protocol (IP) network. |
| Account Codes - - Also known as Project Codes or
Bill-Back Codes. Account Codes are additional digits dialed by the calling
party that provide information about the call. Typically used by hourly
professionals (accountants, lawyers, etc.) to track and bill clients, projects,
etc. |
| Agent - - A person or organization that acts on behalf
of another. In the telecommunications industry, Agents typically are
independent individuals or companies that market the services of a carrier as
if they were employees of that carrier. |
| 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. Normally 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, password or other method (i.e., verifying that customers
are who they say they are). |
| 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. |