Chapter List

Overview

Computer Telephony (CT) and CTI (Computer Telephony Integration) are terms used interchangeably to refer to a group of technologies that coordinate the interaction of telephone and computer systems.

Computer telephony makes phone calls smarter by linking the computer mainframe containing a company s data and software programs, and the PBX (Private Branch Exchange) that controls the telephones.

PC-based communications servers can replace phone systems and transport voice and data over LANs (Local Area Networks). Major phone switch vendors are developing server-based phone systems, so that their phone systems can be attached to a PC network and work as a server to transmit and route data and voice.

Some communications servers are also IP telephony gateways, sending voice calls digitally using the Internet Protocol.

For more about Voice over the Internet Protocol, see the Voice Over The Internet Or Intranets chapter.

CT products vary in complexity depending upon whether or not they share telephony resources. A system that has sole control of a voice card and telephone trunk (any standalone CT application connected to a dedicated line) is much simpler in design and construction than a system that shares the control of trunks and processing with other systems and/or a human user.

Network interface technology lets computer telephony systems communicate electrically with outside telephone networks, the PSTN or a private network. Network interfaces interpret signaling...