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 V 
     vertical, volts 
  
 v & h mileage 
     The vertical and horizontal mileage between two points is a  
 geometrically computed approximation of the actual airline miles  
 between two points. Central offices have an assigned set of v & h  
 coordinates. 
  
 v h coordinates 
     Vertical and horizontal grid points used to determine straight-line  
 mileage between locations. Used for mileage-sensitive product pricing. 
  
 V Series 
     A group of ITU-TS recommendations governing data transmission over  
 telephone lines. 
  
 V.11 
     ITU-T Rec. V.11 describing Electrical characteristics for balanced  
 double-current interchange circuits operating at data signalling rates  
 up to 10 Mbit/s. 
  
 V.17 
     The CCITT standard for fax transmission at 14,400bps. 
  
 V.21 
     The International Consultative Committee for Telephone and Telegraph  
 (CCITT) standard for 0-300 bps, full-duplex, dial-up modems. 
  
 V.22 
     The International Consultative Committee for Telephone and Telegraph  
 (CCITT) standard for 1200-bps, full-duplex, dial-up or leased-line  
 modems. 
  
 V.22bis 
     The International Consultative Committee for Telephone and Telegraph  
 (CCITT) standard for 2400-bps, full-duplex, dial-up modems. 
  
 V.23 
     The International Consultative Committee for Telephone and Telegraph  
 (CCITT) standard for 600- and 1200-bps, dial-up modems. 
  
 V.24 
     The International Consultative Committee for Telephone and Telegraph  
 (CCITT) list of definitions for interchange circuits between data  
 terminal equipment (DTE) and data circuit terminating equipment (DCE). 
  
 V.25 
     The International Consultative Committee for Telephone and Telegraph  
 (CCITT) standard for dial-up automatic calling or answering equipment. 
  
 V.25bis 
     Automatic calling and answering equipment on the PSTN.  
  
 V.26 
     The International Consultative Committee for Telephone and Telegraph  
 (CCITT) standard for 2400-bps, leased-line modems. 
  
 V.26bis 
     The International Consultative Committee for Telephone and Telegraph  
 (CCITT) standard for 1200- and 2400-bps dial-up modems. 
  
 V.26ter 
     The International Consultative Committee for Telephone and Telegraph  
 (CCITT) standard for 2400-bps, full-duplex, dial-up modems. 
  
 V.27 
     The International Consultative Committee for Telephone and Telegraph  
 (CCITT) standard for 4800-bps, leased-line modems. 
  
 V.27bis 
     The International Consultative Committee for Telephone and Telegraph  
 (CCITT) standard for 2400- and 4800-bps, leased-line modems. 
  
 V.27ter 
     The International Consultative Committee for Telephone and Telegraph  
 (CCITT) standard for 2400- and 4800-bps, dial-up modems. 
  
 V.28 
 The International Consultative Committee for Telephone and Telegraph  
 (CCITT) standard for the electrical characteristics of interchange  
 circuits. 
  
 V.29 
 The International Consultative Committee for Telephone and Telegraph  
 (CCITT) standard for 9600-bps, point-to-point, four-wire, leased-line  
 modems. 
  
 V.32 
 The International Consultative Committee for Telephone and Telegraph  
 (CCITT) standard for 9600-bps, two-wire, duplex, leased- and dial-up  
 line modems. 
  
 V.32 terbo 
 An industry standard for dial-up modem communications of 19.2 Kbps. 
  
 V.32bis 
 The International Consultative Committee for Telephone and Telegraph  
 (CCITT) standard for 14.4K-, 12K-, 9600-, 7200-, 4800-bps, dial-up line  
 modems. 
  
 V.33 
 The International Consultative Committee for Telephone and Telegraph  
 (CCITT) standard for 14.4K-bps, point-to-point, four-wire, leased-line  
 modem connection. 
  
 V.35 
 The International Consultative Committee for Telephone and Telegraph  
 (CCITT) standard for data transmission at 48K-bps using 60-180KHz  
 wideband circuits. 
  
 V.42 
 The International Consultative Committee for Telephone and Telegraph  
 (CCITT) standard for error-correction. CCITT V.42 is primarily used in  
 Hayes' LAPM specification and Microcom's MNP level 4. 
  
 V.42 compatible 
 Modem that follows all the V.42 specifications, except for LAPM error  
 control (uses MNP instead). 
  
 V.42 compliant 
 Modem which follows all the V.42 specifications, and uses LAPM error  
 control or MNP error control. 
  
 V.42bis 
 The International Consultative Committee for Telephone and Telegraph  
 (CCITT) standard for real-time, 4-to-1 data compression with Hayes'  
 LAPM error correction protocol. CCITT V.42bis is based on British  
 Telecom's Lempel-Zev (BLT2) algorithm. 
  
 V.54 
 The International Consultative Committee for Telephone and Telegraph  
 (CCITT) standard for modem loop backs. 
  
 V.fast 
 A name for modems capable of data speeds up to 28.800 bits per second. 
  
 VAB 
 See voice answer back. 
 voice answer back (VAB) 
  
 vacant code intercept 
 Routes all calls dialed with an unassigned first digit to: the  
 attendant, a busy signal, a "reorder" signal, or a recording. 
  
 vacant number intercept 
 Routes calls of unassigned numbers to the attendant, a busy signal, or  
 a recording. 
  
 VADS value-added data network 
 See value-added network (VAN) 
  
 valid transmission timer 
 In fiber-distributed data interface (FDDI) networks, a device that  
 measures the period between valid transmissions on a ring. It helps to  
 detect excessive ring noise, token loss, and other faults. 
  
 validation 
 1) The formal process of reviewing or examining a single data element  
 value, a requirements specification, a user interface, an  
 implementation design, plan, schedule, budget, or similar system  
 element, confirming that it is acceptable for use. 2) The process of  
 searching for and eliminating errors. 3) Insuring that the payment  
 method given in an Operator Services call is acceptable and meets all  
 billing criteria void of line restrictions. 
  
 validity check 
 A test of the quality of transmission. 
  
 value-added carriers 
 Vendors that add special features to services purchased from other  
 carriers and resell the service. 
  
 value-added network (VAN) 
 A communications network that provides such additional features as  
 message switching and protocol handling. VAN sometimes refers to  
 packet-switched networks with protocol conversion to correct dissimilar  
 system interface capability. See other common carrier and specialized  
 common carrier. value-added network service (VANS) 1) A communications  
 company that uses e common carrier networks for transmission, but  
 supplies enhanced data features by way of specialized equipment.2) A  
 data transmission network that routes messages according to available  
 paths, assures that the message will be received as it was sent and  
 provides for user security, high speed transmission and conferencing  
 among terminals. 
  
 VAN 
 See value-added network. vanity number A specific 800 or local  
 telephone number that may spell a significant word or message with  
 assigned alpha characters.  
 value-added network (VAN) 
  
 VANS 
 See value-added network service. 
  
 VAPC 
 See vector adaptive predictive coding. 
 vector adaptive predictive coding (VAPC) 
  
 Vaporware 
 Products announced but not yet commercially available. Often used by  
 suppliers to lock users in with the promise of great things to come.  
  
 variable 
 A quantity that can assume any of a given set of values. 
  
 variable-length record 
 A record whose length depends on other related records. 
  
 VAX 
 See Virtual Address eXtension (VAX) 
  
 VC 
 See virtual circuit or virtual container. 
 virtual circuit (VC) 
 virtual container (VC)  
  
 VCA 
 See voice connecting arrangement (VCA) 
  
 VCC See virtual channel connection. 
 virtual channel connection (VCC) 
  
 VCI See virtual circuit identifier. 
 virtual circuit identifier (VCI) 
  
 VCR See video cassette recorder. 
 video cassette recorder (VCR) 
  
 VDT 1) video display terminal; see cathode ray tube. 2) See video dial  
 tone. 
 cathode-ray tube (CRT) 
 video dial tone (VDT) 
  
 VDU 
 See visual display unit (VDU) 
  
 vector adaptive predictive coding (VAPC) 
 An audio coding algorithm primarily for use at the lowest transmission  
 aggregate bit rates. 
  
 vendor independent messaging (VIM) 
 Standard for the application interface to e-mail from Lotus,  
 WordPerfect and others. It will include MAPI compliance.  
  
 verified account codes 
 A finite list of carrier-verified, predefined account codes. 
  
 VERONICA 
 See Very Easy Rodent-Oriented Netwide Index to Computerized Archives  
 (VERONICA) 
  
 Vertex 
 A provider of tax jurisdiction rate tables and related software. 
  
 vertical redundancy check (VRC) 
 In ASCII-coded blocks, the parity test (even or odd) performed on each  
 character in the block. See parity check. 
 parity check 
  
 Very Easy Rodent-Oriented Netwide Index to Computerized Archives  
 (VERONICA) 
 A search tool, like Archie, that searches text in Gopher menus. 
  
 very high frequency (VHF) 
 1) The frequencies between 30 MHz and 300 MHz. 2) The television  
 channels between 2 and 13. 
  
 very large scale integration (VLSI) 
 Over 10,000 transistors per chip See large scale integration. 
 large scale integration (LSI) 
  
 very low frequency (VLF) 
 The frequencies below 30 KHz. 
  
 very small aperture terminal satellite (VSAT) 
 A terminal used in individual corporate communications. VSAT consists  
 of one master earth station (MAS) and numerous two-way satellite  
 terminals. VSAT technology is widely used by oil companies and other  
 multinational firms for nationwide data, voice, and fax transmission. 
  
 VF 
 See voice frequency (VF) 
  
 VF access 
 Voice frequency access is an option on DS-0. 
  
 VG 
 See voice grade (VG) 
  
 VGA 
 See video graphics array (VGA) 
  
 VGDF 
 See voice-grade data facility. 
  
 VGE 
 See voice grade equivalent 
  
 VGF 
 See voice grade facility (VGF) 
  
 VHF 
 See very high frequency (VHF) 
  
 via net loss (VNL) 
 The lowest loss, in decibels, at which a trunk facility can operate.  
 Contributing factors are echo, crosstalk, noise, and singing. 
  
 VidCap 
 Microsoft's Video For Windows program to capture video input to ram or  
 hard disk memory. 
  
 video 
 1) Animated image transmission, storage, and display. 2) The portion of  
 the frequency spectrum used for TV signals. A signal with a bandwidth  
 of approximately 5 MHz is generated from TV scanning. 
  
 video capture board 
 An expansion board you put inside a PC that allows you to capture a  
 single frame from an NTSC source and save it on your hard disk. 
  
 video cassette recorder (VCR) 
 An analog magnetic recording and playback machine. Generally used for  
 recording and viewing full-motion video. 
  
 video conference 
 A conference between two or more remote locations with live, animated  
 image transmission and display. Two-way video conferencing allows both  
 locations to see the people and presentation materials at the other  
 location. 
  
 video conferencing 
 Video conferencing introduces new requirements to the ordinary transfer  
 of video information. The first requirement is guaranteed minimum  
 latency, because to sustain a moving image, the next frame of  
 information must get to the other end soon enough to avoid image  
 freeze. In practice, the image information is highly compressed and the  
 effects of delayed information in a video sequence is less than the  
 effect on voice transmission. The second requirement is  
 synchronization. Video conferencing includes voice and other media such  
 as electronic chalkboard. It is important that the sound replay matches  
 the image. Equally, when an image is written on the pad, the  
 information on the electronic chalkboard should appear at the same  
 time. The third requirement is broadcast capability. An efficient  
 method of transmitting to multiple sites simultaneously is required  
 when the conference involves more than two parties. 
  
 video conferencing standards 
 ITU-TS H.261 was the standards watershed. Announced in November 1990,  
 it relates to the decoding process used when decompressing  
 videoconferencing pictures, providing a uniform process for codecs to  
 read the incoming signals. Originally defined by Compression Labs Inc.  
 Other important standards are H.221: communications framing; H.230  
 control and indication signals and H.242d: call set-up and disconnect.  
 Encryption, still-frame graphics coding and data transmission standards  
 have still to be developed.  
  
 video dial tone (VDT) 
 1) Provides video to offices and houses without affecting the content  
 of the video signal. 2) The visual counterpart to basic exchange  
 service audio dial tone whereby video information is switched over a  
 public network. As with audio dial tone, VDT can be used to connect one  
 or more locations for the transmission and exchange of visual and  
 auditory information. 
  
 video disk 
 A record-like device that is capable of storing large amounts of audio  
 and video data. 
  
 Video for Windows 
 A software program that lets users play video on their PC without  
 additional hardware. 
  
 video graphics array (VGA) 
 The standard IBM PC video display. Provides medium resolution text and  
 graphics. VGA pixel resolution is 640X480. 
  
 video pass through 
 A television or other video source connected to the computer to play  
 video on the computer screen. 
  
 video server 
 An audio and video file server with hard disk capacities often measured  
 in the terabytes, connected to LANs and WANs with high-speed facilities  
 like ATM or fiber-distributed data interface (FDDI) . Usually uses  
 H.320, MPEG or Motion-JPEG video compression. Used for training on  
 demand to the desktop and many other purposes including marketing and  
 entertainment. 
  
 video signal 
 The electromagnetic frequency needed to transmit moving pictures,  
 requiring one to six MegaHertz. 
  
 video-on-demand 
 A technology that allows individuals to retrieve, via a television set  
 or a computer, video material stored in a remote database when one  
 wants it (i.e., on demand). The material, which can include films,  
 training videos, or any other video information, can be viewed (at any  
 time) by an individual and manipulated with VCR-like controls (i.e.,  
 pause, rewind, fast forward). The same material can also be viewed  
 simultaneously by different people in different locations, allowing  
 them to watch the same or different portions of the video at the same  
 time. 
  
 Video1 
 The default video compression algorithm in Microsoft's Video For  
 Windows. Can produce 8 or 16 bit video sequences. 
  
 videotex 
 An information service that uses a slightly modified domestic  
 television receiver in conjunction with a normal public telephone line  
 to provide an interactive, computerized data-retrieval service for  
 homes and offices. Synonym: viewdata 
  
 viewdata 
 See videotex 
  
 VIM 
 See vendor independent messaging. 
 vendor independent messaging (VIM) 
  
 Vines 
 Banyan Systems' Virtual Networking operating system is based on Unix  
 system V. This network operating system provides transparent  
 communication across heterogeneous networks and is more expansive in  
 concept, although attracting far fewer users, than Novell's NetWare.  
  
 Virtual Address eXtension (VAX) 
 1) Digital Equipment's computer systems. 2) The family of DEC computers  
 that host Hekimian's REACT 2000 Operations Support System. 
  
 virtual channel connection (VCC) 
 The basic unit of switching in BISDN. Set up between two end users  
 through the network, and a variable-rate, full-duplex flow of  
 fixed-size cells is exchanged over the connection. 
  
 virtual circuit (VC) 
 A communications channel that provides for the transport of  
 asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) cells between two or more endpoints  
 for the purpose of user-user, user-network, or network-network  
 information transfer. The connection may use different circuits during  
 a transmission, but behaves as a dedicated path. 
  
 virtual circuit identifier (VCI) 
 In cell relay systems, VCI permits networks to assign a fixed route for  
 all frames between network end-points by simple "table look-up"  
 procedures. 
  
 virtual collocation 
 The provision of service in a manner intended to provide many of the  
 benefits of an actual, or physical, collocation. This is used primarily  
 to refer to collocation in a local exchange carrier (LEC) office. The  
 customer generally can select the type of equipment used in the central  
 office, but the equipment is owned and maintained by the LEC. 
  
 virtual company 
 A company built on the basis of teleworking with limited central office  
 administration. Made possible by improved communications and groupware  
 software, it is a phenomenon of the future.  
  
 virtual container (VC) 
 SDH defines a number of Containers, each corresponding to an existing  
 plesiochronous rate. Information from a plesiochronous signal is mapped  
 into the relevant container along with control information known as the  
 "path overhead". The container plus path overhead form a VC.  
  
 Virtual LAN 
 A logical rather than a physical LAN comprising workgroups drawn  
 together for business reasons or for a particular project irrespective  
 of each member's actual location. Members are likely to belong to  
 several such LANs as their job function dictates. Such LANs await the  
 maturity of high-speed transmission technologies such as ATM before  
 they can exist in any viable form.  
  
 Virtual Memory System (VMS) 
 One of the computer operating systems for Hekimian's REACT 2000 OSS. 
  
 virtual private line 
 Service that is functionally equivalent to a private line, but which  
 uses common circuits rather than dedicated circuits. Includes AT&T's  
 Software Defined Network (SDN) service, MCI's Vnet, and Sprint's  
 Virtual Private Network (VPN). 
  
 virtual private network (VPN) 
 A switched network with special services such as abbreviated dialing,  
 which allows customers to call between offices in different area codes  
 without dialing all eleven digits. Carriers are enhancing VPN service  
 offerings by bundling inbound and outbound services under one package.  
 This means customers can take advantage of larger volume discounts. See  
 software-defined network and virtual private line. 
  
 virtual reality (VR) 
 VR is technology that lets the user navigate and view a  
 three-dimensional world in real time with six degrees of freedom  
 (6DOF). The 6DOF represent the software's ability to define and the  
 hardware's ability to recognize six types of movement:  
 forward/backward, up/down, left/right, pitch up/down, angle left/right,  
 and rotate left/right. Virtual reality replicates physical reality and  
 is defined by interactivity and enhanced by interfacing. The visual  
 interface may be a head-mounted display (HMD) or cave automatic virtual  
 environment (CAVE), either of which replaces the normal view of space  
 with a virtual space that changes with movement. A virtual space can  
 simulate real space or a set of 3-D objects overlaid on real space.  
 Applications include architectural walk-throughs and flight simulation.  
 VR represents a new way for humans to interact with computers. It  
 replaces familiar output and input devices (monitors, keyboards, mice)  
 with hardware designed to take advantage of the way humans interact  
 with the physical world. The software places the user inside  
 interactive, three-dimensional "virtual worlds" populated with beings  
 and objects that react to user input. virtual storage address See  
 memory location. 
 memory location 
  
 virtual teams 
 Ad hoc groups of users formed to solve particular problems without  
 taking them away from their desks. A useful option made feasible with  
 groupware.  
  
 virtual telecommunications access method (VTAM) 
 A mainframe software interface to data communications devices. VTAM is  
 used by IBM's system network architecture (SNA). 
  
 Virtual Telecommunications Network Service 
 Integrated service packages provided by AT&T under Tariff 12. 
  
 virus 
 A destructive computer program that replicates itself throughout a  
 network. Viruses can delete files, create erroneous data, slow system  
 operation, and prevent applications from saving files. See worm. 
 worm 
  
 visual display unit (VDU) 
 A device, such as a television screen, which produces a visible display  
 of data. It is usually equipped with a keyboard to allow communication  
 with a computer. A hard copy of the images produced on the screen may  
 be reproduced using a printer. 
  
 visually-impaired attendant service 
 A service that extends normal visual signals onto an attendant console  
 with special tactile devices and/or audible signals, allowing a  
 visually impaired person to function as an attendant. 
  
 VLF 
 See very low frequency (VLF) 
  
 VLSI very large scale integration 
 See large scale integration (LSI) 
  
 VMS 
 See Virtual Memory System (VMS) or voice message service (VMS) 
  
 VNL 
 See via net loss (VNL) 
  
 voice answer back (VAB) 
 Provides voice responses to inquiries made from telephone-type  
 terminals. The audio response is composed of a limited, digitized voice  
 vocabulary, prerecorded on a magnetic drum or disk file and produced by  
 an audio response unit and a computer. 
  
 voice band 
 See voice-grade channel 
  
 voice connecting arrangement (VCA) 
 An interface arrangement that accommodates the connections of  
 non-carrier provided voice terminal equipment to the public switched  
 telephone network. VCAs are provided by a telephone company 
  
 voice digitization 
 The conversion of analog voice signals into binary or digital signals  
 for transmission or storage. 
  
 voice frequency (VF) 
 Any frequency in the 300-3,400 Hz range that reproduces the voice with  
 reasonable fidelity. 
  
 voice grade (VG) 
 An access line suitable for voice, low-speed data, facsimile, or  
 telegraph service. A line with a frequency range of about 300-3000 Hz. 
  
 voice grade channel 
 A channel or line offering the minimum bandwidth suitable for voice  
 frequencies, usually 300bit/s to 3.4Kbit/s.  
  
 voice grade equivalent 
 The usable capacity of a digital circuit divided by 64 Kbps, as in the  
 number of DS-0 channels that can be derived from the circuit. 
  
 voice grade facility (VGF) 
 A circuit designed to direct distance dialing (DDD) network standards,  
 that is suitable for voice, low-speed data, facsimile, or telegraph  
 service. 
  
 voice grade line 
 See voice grade channel 
  
 voice mail 
 An automatic answering service with the ability to record and replay  
 messages. Unlike simple answering machines, voice mail uses a  
 programmable computer system with options such as temporary call  
 routing, monitoring, and reporting. 
  
 voice mail box 
 The assignment of one user or number on a voice mail system. 
  
 voice mail module interface 
 A feature that facilitates voice message recordings for later  
 retrieval. 
  
 voice message service (VMS) 
 A leased service that allows a telephone user to access a voice mail  
 system and leave a message for a particular person. 
  
 voice paging 
 See paging 
  
 voice paging access 
 Gives attendants and telephone users entry to loudspeaker paging  
 equipment. 
  
 voice print 
 Used like a fingerprint, a voice print identifies an individual by the  
 individual's unique voice pattern. 
  
 voice recognition 
 A program that learns to recognize a human voice and acts on the spoken  
 commands. 
  
 voice response (VR) 
 The handling of calls by a computerized voice. For example, an operator  
 may hand off a call to a voice response system, which will provide a  
 customer with information. (See personalized response system.) 
 personalized response system (PRS) 
  
 voice response unit (VRU) 
 A device that is able to produce a spoken message from a selection of  
 stored words. 
  
 voice store-and-forward (VSF) 
 A private branch exchange (PBX) feature that permits the storage and  
 system-remote retrieval of messages. 
  
 voice synthesis 
 computer-generated voice 
  
 voice-activated dialing 
 A telephone feature that allows the user to dial a number by speaking  
 the number into the telephone. 
  
 voice-grade channel 
 A channel with bandwidth equivalent to a telephone channel obtained  
 through the public telephone network. Voice grade channels are suitable  
 for transmission of speech, digital or analog data, or facsimile. Voice  
 grade channels generally have a frequency range of about 300 to 3000  
 Hz. 
  
 voice-grade data facility (VGDF) 
 A circuit with an approximate bandwidth of 300Hz to 3400Hz, suitable  
 for data transmission, remote metering, supervisory control, and  
 miscellaneous signaling purposes. 
  
 voice-grade device 
 A communications channel that is usually 4000Hz, and can pass voice  
 sounds in the band 300Hz to 3000Hz. 
  
 voice-grade facility (VGF) 
 A circuit designed to direct distance dialing (DDD) network standards.  
 VGF is suitable for voice, low-speed data, facsimile, or telegraph  
 service. 
  
 volume 
 An individual cartridge or reel of tape used in backup operations.  
 Often the data does not fit on one volume. In that case, multiple  
 cartridges or reels are used.  
  
 volume control 
 A control that allows the ringing, monitor, and handset volumes to be  
 adjusted. 
  
 VPN 
 See virtual private network. 
 virtual private network (VPN) 
  
 VR 
 See virtual reality (VR) or voice response (VR) 
  
 VRC 
 See vertical redundancy check (VRC) 
  
 VRU 
 See voice response unit (VRU) 
  
 VSAT 
 See very small aperture terminal satellite (VSAT) 
  
 VSF 
 See voice store-and-forward. 
  
 VTAM 
 See virtual telecommunications access method (VTAM) 
  
 VTNS 
 See Virtual Telecommunications Network Service 
 
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