Distinctive ring service: A phone company service that provides two or three phone numbers on a single line. Each number has a different (distinctive) ring pattern. Equipment designed to work with the service can handle calls according to the ring pattern. A fax with distinctive ring recognition, for example, can be programmed to only answer when the fax number has been dialed.
Dual keypads: Some cordless phones will have a keypad on the cordless handset and a keypad on the charging base as well -- thereby allowing the base to be used as an additional telephone. See also Keypad
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Earmuff: On a headset, the foam or leather pad that covers the ear portion of the headset for comfort. Usually replaceable as needed.
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FAX: short for "facsimile," a method for transmitting text and graphics over a phone line. Also refers to the equipment for doing so and the output thereby produced.
Full Duplex: With respect to speakerphones, refers to the ability for both parties to speak at the same time without clipping of the signal. Most speakerphones are half duplex -- the line needs to "turn around" after one party stops speaking before the other party can speak, which can lead to a disjointed, unnatural cadence to the conversation. Some newer products have a digital duplex speakerphone that gives a more natural sound than half duplex units.
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Greeting(s): see Announcement(s)
Gigahertz: 1,000,000,000 (1 billion) hertz. see also Hertz.
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Half Duplex: see Full Duplex
Handset: The part of the telephone you hold in your hand, esp. with reference to a cordless phone, the cordless handset.
Headset: A telephone device worn on the head (like headphones) that plugs into an existing telephone to provide "handsfree" service. There are also cordless headsets that operate independently of a phone or in conjuction with an existing phone to allow the user mobility while carrying on a phone conversation.
Hertz: Wireless devices operate at various frequencies, expressed in Hertz, KiloHertz (1000 Hertz), MegaHertz (1,000,000 Hertz), or GigaHertz (1,000,000,000 Hertz).. Wireless telephone devices operate in the multiple-megahertz range.
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Intercom: With respect to cordless phones, refers to the capability to call between the handset and the base of the same phone. Intercom can be one-way or two-way. With respect to business telephones and phone systems, refers to the ability to call from one phone to another within the same system.
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Jog dial: A recent innovation on some digital cameras, fax machines, answering machines, and other products that allows quick access to information and menus through a dial that can be quickly operated with one hand. Used to scroll through speed-dial lists, access menu items, etc.
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Keypad: On a telephone, this refers to the set of pushbuttons used for dialing. See also Dual keypad
Keyphone: Also "key system phones." Business telephones specially engineered to work with a particular telephone system. Each manufacturer designs its own keyphone models which work only with that manufacturer's phone systems. Keyphones usually have buttons for accessing outside lines and buttons for special features such as transfer, conference, hold, etc. Some keyphones have speakers for handsfree operation and LCD displays.
Key system: Loosely an electronic telephone system. More specifically, the type of phone system where each phone has special buttons for line appearances and special feature access keys.
Kilohertz: 1,000 (1 thousand) hertz. see also Hertz.
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LCD (Display): Liquid Chrystal Display. A view screen included on some telephones and answering machines which gives useful operational information. On a telephone, for example, it may show the date, time, number dialed, and call duration. If the phone has caller ID, it may also show the name and number of each incoming call. A "backlit" LCD has built-in lighting, which makes it more visible under inadequate room lighting. A multi-line LCD will be able to show more information at one time than a one-line display.
Lucent Technologies: Spun off from the equipment manafucaturing and research divisions of AT&T;, Lucent is a world leader in new technology. Also a leader in production of small/home office business telephones, cordless phones, answering machines, and telephone systems for all size businesses. Referred to on our web site as either AT&T; or Lucent. See also AT&T;
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Mailbox(es): With respect to answering machines, refers to the capability of segregating incoming messages into several (usually 4) cubby-holes. The caller can "press 1 to leave a message for Mary, press 2 to leave a message for Bill" etc. Mailboxes may in turn have their own greetings or not, depending on the answering machine. Machines with mailboxes usually offer users the ability of playing messages from a particular mailbox when calling in remotely for messages.
Megahertz: 1,000,000 (1 million) hertz. see also Hertz.
Message transfer: An answering machine feature that will call the owner at a remote location (for example, a car phone or pager) to let them know they have new messages. Also known as "Pager Call."
Modem: A contraction of "modulate" and "demodulate," the two processes that a modem uses to transmit and receive data over a phone line.
Monitor set: See Speakerphone
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NiCad batteries: see Battery technology
Nickel Cadmium batteries: see Battery technology
Nickel Metal Hydride batteries: see Battery technology
Noise-cancelling: With respect to headsets, refers to special microphone and/or circuitry that reduces background noise transmitted by the headset user. Recommended for headset use in noisy areas.
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One-touch speed-dial: A feature that allows the user to dial a speed-dial number by pressing only one button. Contrasted with speed-dial where the user has to press some sort of speed-dial recall button followed by a 1 or 2-digit speed-dial location number. See also Speed-dial
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Page/find: A button on cordless phones that makes the handset ring so you can locate it when it's misplaced.
Pager call: See Message transfer.
Panasonic: One of the world's largest manufacturers of consumer electronics products. One of the foremost makes and innovators in the cordless telephone, answering machine, and commercial telephone system markets.
PBX: Originally stood for "private branch exchange." Loosely an electronic business telephone system capable of handling several lines and several phones. See also Key system
Plain paper: With respect to fax machines, indicates those that can use regular copier paper rather than the more expensive and fragile thermal paper. Faxes received on a plain paper machine are usually sharper and last longer when stored.
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Quick-disconnect: On a headset, refers to a special plug that allows the user to quickly connect/disconnect the headset to/from the telephone it is attached to. Allows user to walk around the office w/o actually removing the headset (looks chic in the lunchroom).
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RJ-11: Phone company jargon for the usual 4-conductor phone jack with the two center pins live.
Room monitor: An answering machine feature that allows the owner to call in remotely (eg while on vacation) and listen to sounds in the room where the answering machine is located.
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Speakerphone: Allows the user to have a coversation handsfree. Speakerphone has a loudspeaker and a microphone. A one-way speakerphone or monitor phone has a speaker, but no microphone, allowing the user to hear but not talk back. Some cordless phones will be listed as having a "speakerphone on the base;" this feature allows use of the base as a telephone for receiving calls even when the cordless handset is elsewhere. If we list a cordless phone as having "dual keypads" or a "speakerphone with keypad on the base," then the base unit can receive and originate calls handsfree.
Speed-dial: A feature found on most phones allowing the user to store and then later recall frequently-dialed numbers. Most phones have 10-20 speed-dial capacity and some business feature phones may have 30+ speed-dial capacity. See also One-touch speed-dial
Surge protector: A device used to protect electrical/electronic equipment from power surges. Not just for protecting the AC electrical line, some newer units can also protect equipment against surges coming in via the phone line, cable TV line, ISDN lines, etc.
All surge protectors are not alike, differing in the amount of surge they can absorb and how quickly they can react to a surge. Engineering and manufacturing quality are also an issue. Look for surge protectors with a lifetime warranty on the protector and a damage insurance warranty on the connected equipment.
Phone Source recommends AC and phone line protection on cordless phones, answering machines, computers, modems, and other expensive electronic gear.
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Telephone: A device, invented in 19th-century Boston, which has revolutionized communications.
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Ultra Charge:A feature of recent-model Panasonic cordless phones that shortens the battery re-charging time, usually to between 3 and 4 hours.
Uniden: Maker of the first commercially-available cordless phone. An innovator in cordless phone technology and 900 MHz technology. Makers of police scanners and radar detectors.
Uninterruptible power supply: see UPS
UPS: An uninterruptible power supply, basically a battery pack and charging unit that can keep electronic equipment running during a power failure. Strongly recommended for computers and voicemail systems.
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Vtech: A pioneer of 900 MHz cordless phones. First to put headset jacks and caller ID in cordless phones. Also maker of children's computers.
Voice tube: On headsets, a plastic tube that conducts the user's voice up to a microphone mounted inside the headset. Often replaceable.
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Zebra: A striped African ruminant quadraped that looks somewhat like a horse.
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