10BaseT

A 10-Mpbs Ethernet local area network protocol that runs over twisted pair wiring.

Admin Portal

An optional Dashboard tab linking administration windows where you perform moves, adds, changes, build phone routing configurations and more.

ADSL

ADSL modems attach to twisted pair copper wiring. ADSL is often provisioned with greater downstream than upstream rates (hence "asymmetric"). These rates are dependent on the distance a user is from the central office and may vary from as high as 9 Mbps to as low as 384 Kbps. See DSL, HDSL, IDSL, RADSL, SDSL, VDSL, xDSL.

Asynchronous Transmission

Data transmission of one character at a time to the receiving device, with intervals of varying lengths between transmittals. See also synchronous transmission.

ATM

A protocol that packs digital information into 53-byte cells (5-byte header and 48-byte payload) that are switched throughout a network over virtual circuits. Its ability to accommodate multiple types of media (voice, video, data) makes it a likely player for full service networks based on ADSL and VDSL.

Binding

Attaching a phone to an IP port on an access device.

Bit

A single unit of data. See byte and gigabyte.

Best Effort

Connection speeds are not guaranteed. They will depend on many factors including conditions on the Internet at any given time. Although there are no throughput guarantees, everything will be done to provide the fastest connection conditions will allow.

Byte

A compilation of bits usually equal to seven bits in accordance with ASCII standards. See bit and gigabyte.

Cat 5

A Category of Performance for inside wire and cable systems. Various gauges supporting applications requiring a carrier frequency of up to 100 MHz.

Convergence

Combining of voice, WAN and ISP services on a single connection.

Click-to-Call

Using the Dashboard to call another party from your phone.

Collaboration

Ability to share information with a group of individuals having a common goal. A feature of the CovadDashboard.

Conferencing

Joining together different participants into a voice or data conference. A feature of the Covad Dashboard.

Covad

COmbined Voice And Data See Convergence, DSL, & Managed Voice.

Dashboard

Covad's online tool for management of all your communication needs, accessible from anywhere via the Internet. - See the Dashboard Demo.

DID Phone Number

Direct Inward Dialing - A DID phone number is a regular 10 digit telephone number (e.g. 416-499-3043) that allows an outside caller to dial a phone number that will ring directly to a specific party instead of calling a main phone number. Each workstation is assigned a direct phone number.

Directory

Covad's free 411 database from the Covad Dashboard - look up person, company or telephone number nationwide.

Download

The process of receiving information files from another system through a network.

DSL

A proven technology that takes advantage of standard copper telephone lines to provide secure, reliable, high-speed Internet access. This is a general term for any local network loop that is digital in nature.

Dynamic IP

Addresses are randomly assigned at various times to PC or IP telephone.

ELEC

Generally, a larger corporation or organization (e.g., university) that operates as its own local exchange carrier (LEC) as a means of obtaining better carrier rates for itself, possibly selling services to others for a profit. ELECs could be considered a subset of CLECs. See also LEC, CLEC and ILEC.

Find Me

Establishes rules for sending callers to various telephones based on your defined priorities, can be selected from the Dashboard's "How to Reach Me" setting or from telephone. A feature of the Covad Dashboard.

Gigabyte

A billion bytes of data.

HDSL

The oldest of the DSL technologies, HDSL continues to be used by telephone companies deploying T1 lines at 1.5 Mbps and requires two twisted pairs. See DSL, ADSL, IDSL, RADSL, SDSL, VDSL, xDSL.

Hunt Group

Directs incoming calls to a group of users in series.

IDSL

IDSL provides up to 144-Kbps transfer rates in each direction and can be provisioned on any ISDN capable phone line. Compared to ADSL and other DSL technologies, IDSL can be deployed to users at much further distances from the central offices, as well as to users who are not served directly from the central office but rather indirectly through DLCs (digital loop carriers) and other technologies. See DSL, ADSL, HDSL, RADSL, SDSL, VDSL, xDSL.

ILEC

A new term that describes traditional local telephone companies that, prior to deregulation of the telephone industry, had the exclusive right and responsibility to provide local telephone service. ILEC delineates these service providers from the new competitive providers (CLECs) and enterprise providers (ELECs). The term "local exchange carrier" (LEC) is used as the generic term for all three. See LEC, CLEC, and ELEC.

Internet

The world's largest computer network. The Internet originated from a research effort initiated by the U.S. Government and was initially used to connect defense contractors and U.S. universities. Today, its nature is more commercial, and it is becoming the preferred method of linking businesses and individuals' computers to one another.

Instant Conferencing

Using Dashboard to instantly conference up to 10 participants. A feature of the Covad Dashboard.

Instant Messenger

Instantly send secure, short text messages to buddies in your company. A feature of the Covad Dashboard.

ISDN

ISDN provides standard interfaces for digital communications networks and is capable of carrying data, voice, and video over digital circuits. ISDN protocols are used worldwide for connections to public ISDN networks or to attach ISDN devices to ISDN-capable PBX systems (ISPBXs).

Latency

Time for data or computer information packets to get from one location to it desintation. The lower this number the better.

LEC

A local telephone company (either a Bell Operating Company [BOC] or an independent [e.g., GTE]) that traditionally had the exclusive, franchised right and responsibility to provide local transmission and switching services. Prior to divestiture, the LECs were called telephone companies or telcos. With the advent of deregulation and competition, LECs are now known as ILECs
(incumbent LECs). See CLEC, ELEC and ILEC.

Managed Voice over IP

Voice service over a network on which the voice service provider can control quality of service. This loop can be a managed T1 or managed SDSL connection. With a managed network (last mile loop and core network) there is no perceivable difference in voice quality between a traditional voice call and a VoIP call. For VoIP service over an unmanaged network (the carrier cannot control quality of service on the network) sound quality and connection quality are inconsistent. See also Unmanaged Voice over IP

Modem

MOdulator/DEModulator. Equipment that converts digital signals to analog signals and vice versa. Modems are used to send data signals (digital) over the telephone network, which is usually analog.

NIC

The circuit board or other form of computer hardware that serves as the interface between a computer (or other form of data terminal equipment) and the communications network; in DSL, a common NIC is an Ethernet NIC, which serves as the interface to the DSL modem from the computer.

PBX

Private Branch eXchange - Telephone switching equipment located at a business's premises and used to connect the business's private telephone network and the public telephone network.

POTS

Plain Old Telephone Service - Used to refer to the regular old-fashioned telephone system. It is also referred to as PSTN, or Public Switched Telephone Network.

PSTN

Public Switched Telephone Network. Often used to refer to the entire national or global telephone infrastructure, this is more accurately used to refer to the local telephone service provider. It is also referred to as POTS, or Plain Old Telephone Service.

Quick Dial

Dashboard window allowing you to call any number from any phone via your PC. A feature of the Covad Dashboard.

Quick Launch

Dashboard icon installed in your systems tray allowing for one-click access into your dashboard. A feature of the Covad Dashboard.

RADSL

Using modified ADSL software, RADSL makes it possible for modems automatically and dynamically to adjust their transmission speeds. This often allows for good data rates for customers residing greater distances from the CO. See DSL, ADSL, HDSL, IDSL, SDSL, VDSL, xDSL.

Redundancy

Having one or more backup systems available in case of failure of the main system.

Remote Click to Call

Using the Dashboard to call another party from any phone. A feature of the Covad Dashboard.

Router

Physical device for connecting customer networks over Internet connections; an interface between two networks.

Scheduled Conferencing

A log in conference call for up to 25 participants via Covad's Dashboard. Use the MEET tab to schedule the conference with Voice or Data participation A feature of the Covad Dashboard.

Service Office

Office of connecting or concurring carriers from which interstate communications services are furnished.

Static IP

Fixed IP address permanently assigned to your PC or IP phone.

Synchronous Transmission

Data transmission using synchronization bytes, instead of start/stop bits, to control the transmission. In DSL, video streams are considered to be synchronous in nature. See asynchronous transmission.

T1

A digital transmission link with a capacity of 1.544 Mbps. T1 uses two pairs of normal twisted wires, the same as found in most residences. T1 normally handles 24 voice conversations, each one digitized at 64 Kbps. But, with more advanced digital voice encoding techniques, it can handle more voice channels. T1 is a standard for digital transmission in the United States. T1 lines are used to connect networks across remote distances.

Unmanaged Voice over IP

Customer-provided computer communication network service for which bandwidth, latency and quality of sound is not guaranteed at any time (e.g. Cable or ADSL). See also Managed Voice over IP

Upload

The process of transmitting information files from your computer to another through a network.

VDSL

The newest of the DSL technologies, VDSL can offer speeds up to 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream. Similar to SDSL, the gain in speed can be achieved only at short distances. These maximum speeds can be achieved only up to 1,000 feet. Sometimes also called broadband digital subscriber line (BDSL). See DSL, ADSL, HDSL, IDSL, RADSL, SDSL, xDSL.

Voice Over IP

Instead of old-time circuit-switched networks Voice over IP uses Internet Protocol (IP), where calls are broken into informational "packets" and then sent over data networks and reassembled upon arrival. This more efficient method of transport results in potentially lower costs compared to traditional phone calls that tie up all of the capacity on a copper phone line. See also Managed Voice over IP, Unmanaged Voice over IP, latency, latency, convergence, Covad

XDSL

The generic term for the suite of digital subscriber line (DSL) services, where the "x" can be replaced with any of the letters that represent one of the various types of DSL technology (ADSL, HDSL, IDSL, MDSL, RADSL, SDSL, VDSL). See also DSL and definitions for ADSL, HDSL, IDSL, MDSL, RADSL, SDSL, VDSL.