Glossary

APAC Asia Pacific
Billing and Customer Care System Billing and customer care system (for telecommunications services)
Billing Billing (for telecommunications services)
Broadband High speed data transmission via various channels such as, for example, cable, ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) and DSL (Digital Subscriber Line).
BSCS Business Support and Control System. Billing and customer care system of LHS.
BSS Business Support System: Software systems that support a provider of telecommunications services in its operations but are not connected to the operation of the actual telecommunications network. These include, for example, systems for customer management, the collection of various data sets from the network for further processing or analysis, and accounting systems.
Client/ Server Architecture A server is a program that awaits contact from a client program and, following the establishment of such contact, exchanges information with such program. Client describes a computer program that uses the resources of a central station (a server). For this purpose, the client must establish contact with the server and can then use the server‘s resources. The communication generally occurs via a computer network. This means that the server is situated on a different computer than the client. The process is described as client-server architecture or the client-server principle.
COTS Commercial off-the-shelf
Customer Care Customer care, customer assistance and customer management
EMEA Europe, Middle East and Africa
Fraud Management Management of fraud or abuse. The software systems are to prevent abuse or fraud.
GSM The “Global System for Mobile Communications” (GSM) is a fully digital mobile radio transmission network standard that is used predominantly for telephony, but also for circuit switched and packet switched data transmission as well as abbreviated messaging (SMS, Short Message Service). It is the first standard of the so-called second generation (2G), the successor to the analog systems of the first generation.
Hardware Infrastructure The term hardware is used as an umbrella term for the machinery of a computer system. This includes all components (processor, working memory and peripherals; to simplify, everything tangible constitutes hardware). The Hardware Infrastructure, therefore, refers to the totality of all machines of a company such as, for example, of a provider of telecommunications services.
IIR Institute for International Research which, among other things, acts as an organizer of conferences and trade fairs in the BSS/OSS area.
Interconnect Business The recording of charges for use of services within a telephone network is straightforward. In the interconnection of several networks domestically or internationally, rules are necessary for the settlement of fees for onward transmission. Over time, the concept of “interconnection charges� has become accepted to describe this connection of networks. The Interconnect Business between different providers of telecommunications services governs the use of one‘s own network by customers of another provider as well as the related interconnection fees in the form of agreements between these different providers. The Interconnect Business thus enables a customer of provider A to call, or receive calls from, a customer of provider B.
Interface An interface is a part of a system that allows the exchange of information with other systems. Digital or analog data, such as from a billing system to an accounting system, are transferred via an Interface.
Interface Specification An interface is described by a large number of rules, the so-called interface specification.
IMS IP Multimedia Subsystem; see IP Multimedia Subsystem
Internet Domain A domain in the Internet is a connected component of the hierarchical Domain-Name-System (DNS). The DNS is a hierarchical database distributed on thousands of servers worldwide which manages the domain name system of the Internet. This domain name system is divided into so-called zones, for which, in each case, independent administrators are responsible. For local requirements – such as within a company network – it is also possible to operate a DNS independent of the Internet. The DNS is predominantly used to implement domain names in IP addresses. This is comparable to a telephone book that breaks down the names of the subscribers by telephone number.
IP Internet Protocol is a network protocol widely distributed in computer networks. IP constitutes the first level of the Internet Protocol family that is independent of the transmission medium. This means that, by using an IP address and a subnet mask, computers can be grouped in logical units within a network; so-called sub-networks. On this basis, it is possible to address and form connections with computers in larger networks because logical addressing is the foundation for routing (selection of pathways and onward transmission of network packets). Internet Protocol forms the foundation of the Internet.
IP Multimedia Subsystem A collection of 3GPP standards for the integration of mobile voice services and Internet functions. 3GPP, or 3rd Generation Partnership Project, is a worldwide cooperative venture of standardization bodies for the standardization of mobile communications.
IPTV Internet Protocol Television describes the digital transmission of television programs and motion pictures via a digital data network. For this purpose, Internet Protocol, i.e. the protocol underlying the Internet is used.
ISV Service “Independent Software Vendor” is the term used to describe independent software vendors who develop and market applications themselves and independently of other software companies. ISV Services or related services are services that are offered by Independent Software Vendors in support of the startup or continuing operation of such applications. These include, among others, consulting services, software development, integration services, training and maintenance.
Level 1 Service LHS offers regular maintenance of the software installations, which also includes the support of the service providers in their continuing business operations. The services to be provided in this respect are divided into three categories, of which services of low complexity are described as Level 1 Service. These are often offered by third party system integrators that often also installed the system for the customer. Level 1 Service includes, for example, fault tracing and the assessment of the gravity of a reported malfunction.
Level 2 Service LHS offers regular maintenance of the software installations, which also includes the support of the service providers in their continuing business operations. The services to be provided in this respect are divided into three categories, of which services relating to fault analysis are described as Level 2 Service.
Level 3 Service LHS offers regular maintenance of the software installations, which also includes the support of the service providers in their continuing business operations. The services to be provided in this respect are divided into three categories, of which services that require a more in-depth understanding of software details are described as Level 3 Service. Third party systems integrators often lack such indepth understanding so that they cannot provide such services. These include, among others, the correction of software faults as well as preventative maintenance. Such services can also require alterations in the Source Code of the kernel module of the software, which system integrators are generally not authorized to do.
License Upgrade The license fees for the systems of LHS are based on the number of end customers that are managed in the respective system. Upon exceeding the thresholds specified in the license agreements, license upgrades become due, the size of which is based on the next higher threshold for the number of end customers.
MEA Middle East and Africa
Mediation Collection of all usage data (such as CDR – call detail records) in the network of a provider
Migration Migration, in the information technology sense, consists of the change of a substantial portion of the software used in a company from one program to another or, as the case may be, the transfer of data from one environment to another. The two processes, which are often closely connected, can be differentiated into software Migration and data Migration.
Memory Unit The memory of a computer stores data objects, i._e. programs and related use data to be processed in the microprocessor, which can be accessed at a later time (without change). The scope of data or information within the meaning of the information theory is measured in bits.
Migration Project The services related to a Migration set forth in a specified schedule.
MVNO Mobile Virtual Network Operator
Network Operator A company that operates a telecommunications network and makes access to such network available to subscribers or resellers. If the company has direct contractual relationships with users of telecommunications services (subscribers), it also operates simultaneously as a telecommunications service provider. The traditional telecommunications network operators and service providers are the (former) state-owned telephone companies. Since the inception of telecommunications market regulation, alternative telephone companies have also been authorized, some of which operate their own telecommunications networks. Due to the increasing transfer of telecommunications services to the IP networks (see, for example, IP Multimedia Subsystem), Internet Service Providers that have their own networks are also considered telecommunications network operators.
Network Infrastructure Provider A supplier of hardware and software for the installation, operation and expansion of networks of providers of telecommunications services.
Network Technology Technological basis, standard, frequencies and architecture on which a network is constructed.
OEM Agreement Abbreviation for ”Original Equipment Manufacturer”. An OEM Agreement sets forth the terms on which a manufacturer purchases systems or system components from other manufacturers and, as agreed, offers them in the market as a so-called OEM version under its own name.
Open Interface An interface is a part of a system that allows the exchange of information with other systems. Digital or analog data, such as from a billing system to an accounting system, are transferred via an interface. An Open Interface is a generic interface based on standards that allows information to be exchanged among all kinds of systems.
Order Management System with Self Care Function Order management with Internet-based customer self service, which, for example, allows a customer, via the Internet, to enter into, extend or amend a contract, to lodge a complaint or submit inquiries.
OSS Operational Support System: A System that supports a provider of telecommunications services in its business operations and in the analysis, control, monitoring and supervision of its telecommunications network. This includes billing and customer care systems, network elements and network management systems.
Prepaid Paid in advance. In this sense, prepaid telecommunications services in connection with the use of which the respective amount due in each case is deducted from the prepaid amount/ balance.
Postpaid Paid after the service. The billing for telecommunications services takes place by the submission of invoices.
PTT Push-to-Talk: A mobile communications service that allows limited voice messages to be sent to individual users or groups. This requires special mobile telephones that support this function. The transmission uses the GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) data network and generates costs that lie between those of an SMS (Short Message Service) and an ordinary telephone call. The term Push-to-Talk originates from the world of two-way radios, especially the walkie-talkie. These generally allow a user only to send or receive. In order to be able to speak, a button must be pushed, which is the Push-to-Talk button.
Quadruple Play Quadruple Play describes the convergence of telephony, television and data service in broadband fixed line and wireless networks on the basis of IP technology. Quadruple Play refers to the augmentation of the Triple Play by mobile communications.
Source Code The Source Code or the source text of a program is the text that the author of the program creates in accordance with the rules of the respective programming language. The code view of an HTML page is also called Source Code. Source Code is typically written in a format known as ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange). In order to create an executable program from the Source Code, it must, in many cases, be compiled, which means that the programming language must be translated into the executable machine code. Interpreted programming languages, by contrast, require no compilation. Programs with respect to which the Source Code can be accessed and edited are called Open Source Products.
Rating Valuation or pricing of an individual event (such as the calculation of the price of a single telephone call).
Relational Database System A database system (DBS) is a system for the electronic management of data. The key task of a DBS is to store large quantities of data and make them available for inquiries from users or applications software. The system consists of two components: the management software, called the database management system (DBMS) and the actual data storage component, the database. The task of the management software is to store, organize and modify the data in the database, or to respond to inquiries that are made via a query language. In a relational database system, the data objects are set forth in flat tables and relationships are derived from the values of the columns of the table.
Roaming Roaming describes the use of a communications terminal device or the use of the subscriber identity in a different network (the visited network) than that of the subscriber (home network). This requires that the operators of both networks have entered into a roaming agreement and have switched the required signalling and data connections between their networks.
Server A server is a program that awaits contact from a client program and, following the establishment of such contact, exchanges information with such program, whereby the communication generally occurs through a computer network.
System Integration Service A service that involves the implementation, integration and optimization of hardware and software systems of various manufacturers.
System Integrator A provider of System Integration Services.
Triple Play Triple Play describes the convergence of telephony, television and data service on the broadband fixed line network on the basis of IP technology.
UMTS (3G) Universal Mobile Telecommunication System, a mobile communications standard of the third generation (3G).
Upgrade License (LHS) The license fees for the systems of LHS are based on the number of end customers that are managed in the respective system. Upon exceeding the thresholds specified in the license agreements, upgrade licenses become due, the size of which is measured according to on the next higher threshold for the number of end customers.
Web Service A Web Service is a software application that is unambiguously identifiable by a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) and whose interfaces are defined, described and can be found as XML artifacts. A Web Service supports the direct interaction with other software agents through the use of XML-based messages via the exchange of Internet-based protocols.
Web Browser Web Browsers (also called Browsers) are special computer programs that allow viewing of websites on the World Wide Web. The browsing of the World Wide Web, or the consecutive access of various hyperlinks as connections between websites with the help of such a program is also called Internet surfing. In addition to HTML pages, they can also display other types of documents.
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