VoIP Glossary
Explore a list of the most important terms around VoIP, SIP, Softphones and more.
A
ACD
ACD (Automatic Call Distribution) intelligently routes incoming calls to available agents based on predefined rules.
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APaaS
APaaS (Application Platform as a Service) provides cloud-based tools to develop, deploy, and manage application lifecycles.
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Auto-provisioning
Auto-provisioning automatically configures VoIP endpoints with server settings, credentials, and preferences.
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C
Call Analytics
Call analytics collects and analyzes phone call data to provide actionable business intelligence insights.
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Call Anchoring
Call anchoring keeps business call routing and policy control centralized in network infrastructure.
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Cloud PBX
Cloud PBX hosts your business phone system in the cloud, eliminating on-premise hardware.
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Codec
A codec encodes and decodes audio or video for efficient transmission over IP networks.
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CPaaS
CPaaS (Communications Platform as a Service) enables businesses to embed real-time communication features into their applications.
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E
F
G
I
IMS
IMS is a telecom core architecture that supports services like VoLTE and VoWiFi.
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IP PBX
An IP PBX routes calls using Internet Protocol rather than traditional telephone switching.
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IVR
IVR (Interactive Voice Response) lets callers navigate menus using voice or keypad input.
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L
N
O
OTT
OTT (Over-the-Top) services deliver voice, video, and messaging over the internet without carrier involvement.
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Open White Label
Open White Label is a white-label softphone license that lets a single branded app serve customers across unrelated domains, removing the single-parent-domain restriction of a standard White Label license.
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P
PBX
A PBX (Private Branch Exchange) is a private phone system that routes calls within an organization.
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Provisioning
Provisioning sets up VoIP accounts, configures endpoints, and activates services for subscribers.
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Push Notifications
Push notifications are alerts sent to a user's device from an app server, even when the app isn't actively open.
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Q
R
RCS
RCS (Rich Communication Services) is the modern messaging standard replacing SMS with rich media features.
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Rich Messaging
Rich messaging (RCS) extends SMS with multimedia content, read receipts, and interactive features.
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RTP
RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol) delivers audio and video streams during VoIP calls.
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S
SBC
An SBC (Session Border Controller) secures, routes, and manages VoIP traffic at network edges.
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SIP
SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) is the signaling standard used to establish, manage, and terminate VoIP call sessions.
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SIPIS
SIPIS (SIP Instance Server) maintains SIP registration on behalf of mobile devices and triggers push notifications so VoIP apps can ring even when closed or backgrounded.
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Softphone
A softphone is a software-based phone app that makes VoIP calls from computers, smartphones, and tablets.
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SRTP
SRTP encrypts VoIP media streams, protecting voice and video from eavesdropping.
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STUN
STUN enables VoIP endpoints behind NAT to discover their public IP for call connectivity.
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U
UCaaS
UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service) consolidates voice, video, messaging, and collaboration tools into a single cloud platform.
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UCM 3.0
UCM 3.0 emphasizes native dialer and SIM/eSIM integration while coexisting with OTT UC apps.
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Unified Communications
Unified Communications (UC) merges voice, video, messaging, and collaboration into one platform.
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V
VoIP
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) enables voice calls to be made over the internet instead of phone lines.
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VoIP Push
VoIP push notifications wake sleeping softphone apps to receive incoming calls reliably.
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VoLTE
VoLTE is carrier voice delivered as IP traffic over LTE networks.
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VoWiFi
VoWiFi allows voice calling over Wi-Fi while maintaining carrier service behavior.
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W
WebRTC
WebRTC enables real-time voice, video, and data communication directly in web browsers.
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What is SIP trunking?
SIP trunking connects an on-premise PBX to VoIP services over the internet, replacing traditional phone lines.
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White-Label Softphone
A white-label softphone is a fully brandable VoIP app that providers deploy under their own name.
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5G
5G is the fifth generation of wireless mobile network technology, delivering faster speeds, lower latency, and greater capacity.
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ACD
ACD (Automatic Call Distribution) intelligently routes incoming calls to available agents based on predefined rules.
Learn more →
APaaS
APaaS (Application Platform as a Service) provides cloud-based tools to develop, deploy, and manage application lifecycles.
Learn more →
Auto-provisioning
Auto-provisioning automatically configures VoIP endpoints with server settings, credentials, and preferences.
Learn more →
BYOD
BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) lets employees use personal smartphones and laptops for work communications.
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Call Analytics
Call analytics collects and analyzes phone call data to provide actionable business intelligence insights.
Learn more →
Call Anchoring
Call anchoring keeps business call routing and policy control centralized in network infrastructure.
Learn more →
Cloud PBX
Cloud PBX hosts your business phone system in the cloud, eliminating on-premise hardware.
Learn more →
Codec
A codec encodes and decodes audio or video for efficient transmission over IP networks.
Learn more →
CPaaS
CPaaS (Communications Platform as a Service) enables businesses to embed real-time communication features into their applications.
Learn more →
DID
DID (Direct Inward Dialing) gives each user a unique phone number routed over shared VoIP trunks.
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E.164
E.164 is the ITU-T standard for international telephone number formatting used in VoIP systems.
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eSIM
eSIM is a built-in digital SIM that allows remote activation of cellular plans without a physical card.
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Firewall Traversal
Firewall traversal enables VoIP calls to pass through restrictive firewalls and NAT devices.
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FreePBX
FreePBX is an open-source management interface for Asterisk PBX, widely used by VoIP providers.
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G.711
G.711 is the foundational VoIP codec delivering uncompressed toll-quality audio at 64 kbps.
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G.729
G.729 is a bandwidth-efficient VoIP codec that compresses voice to 8 kbps with good quality.
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HD Voice
HD Voice uses wideband audio codecs to deliver richer, clearer voice calls over VoIP.
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IMS
IMS is a telecom core architecture that supports services like VoLTE and VoWiFi.
Learn more →
IP PBX
An IP PBX routes calls using Internet Protocol rather than traditional telephone switching.
Learn more →
IVR
IVR (Interactive Voice Response) lets callers navigate menus using voice or keypad input.
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Jitter
Jitter is the inconsistency in packet arrival times that causes choppy or distorted VoIP audio.
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Latency
Latency is the round-trip delay in voice data transmission, directly impacting VoIP call quality.
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LinkUp
LinkUp by Acrobits is a turnkey white-label softphone app for VoIP service providers.
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MOS
MOS (Mean Opinion Score) rates perceived voice quality on a 1-to-5 scale.
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NAT Traversal
NAT traversal allows VoIP signaling and media to work correctly behind NAT routers.
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Number Porting
Number porting lets subscribers keep their phone number when switching VoIP providers.
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Open White Label
Open White Label is a white-label softphone license that lets a single branded app serve customers across unrelated domains, removing the single-parent-domain restriction of a standard White Label license.
Learn more →
OTT
OTT (Over-the-Top) services deliver voice, video, and messaging over the internet without carrier involvement.
Learn more →
PBX
A PBX (Private Branch Exchange) is a private phone system that routes calls within an organization.
Learn more →
Provisioning
Provisioning sets up VoIP accounts, configures endpoints, and activates services for subscribers.
Learn more →
Push Notifications
Push notifications are alerts sent to a user's device from an app server, even when the app isn't actively open.
Learn more →
QoS
QoS (Quality of Service) prioritizes VoIP packets on a network to ensure clear, uninterrupted calls.
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QR Provisioning
QR provisioning lets users scan a code to instantly configure their softphone with VoIP account settings.
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RCS
RCS (Rich Communication Services) is the modern messaging standard replacing SMS with rich media features.
Learn more →
Rich Messaging
Rich messaging (RCS) extends SMS with multimedia content, read receipts, and interactive features.
Learn more →
RTP
RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol) delivers audio and video streams during VoIP calls.
Learn more →
SBC
An SBC (Session Border Controller) secures, routes, and manages VoIP traffic at network edges.
Learn more →
SIP
SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) is the signaling standard used to establish, manage, and terminate VoIP call sessions.
Learn more →
SIPIS
SIPIS (SIP Instance Server) maintains SIP registration on behalf of mobile devices and triggers push notifications so VoIP apps can ring even when closed or backgrounded.
Learn more →
Softphone
A softphone is a software-based phone app that makes VoIP calls from computers, smartphones, and tablets.
Learn more →
SRTP
SRTP encrypts VoIP media streams, protecting voice and video from eavesdropping.
Learn more →
STUN
STUN enables VoIP endpoints behind NAT to discover their public IP for call connectivity.
Learn more →
TLS
TLS encrypts SIP signaling, protecting call metadata and credentials from interception.
Learn more →
UCaaS
UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service) consolidates voice, video, messaging, and collaboration tools into a single cloud platform.
Learn more →
UCM 3.0
UCM 3.0 emphasizes native dialer and SIM/eSIM integration while coexisting with OTT UC apps.
Learn more →
Unified Communications
Unified Communications (UC) merges voice, video, messaging, and collaboration into one platform.
Learn more →
VoIP
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) enables voice calls to be made over the internet instead of phone lines.
Learn more →
VoIP Push
VoIP push notifications wake sleeping softphone apps to receive incoming calls reliably.
Learn more →
VoLTE
VoLTE is carrier voice delivered as IP traffic over LTE networks.
Learn more →
VoWiFi
VoWiFi allows voice calling over Wi-Fi while maintaining carrier service behavior.
Learn more →
WebRTC
WebRTC enables real-time voice, video, and data communication directly in web browsers.
Learn more →
What is SIP trunking?
SIP trunking connects an on-premise PBX to VoIP services over the internet, replacing traditional phone lines.
Learn more →
White-Label Softphone
A white-label softphone is a fully brandable VoIP app that providers deploy under their own name.
Learn more →
ZRTP
ZRTP negotiates encryption keys directly between VoIP endpoints for true end-to-end security.
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