There is also a "Federal Standard" on the topic, by the way:
http://www.its.bldrdoc.gov/fs-1037/
Z
-----Original Message-----
From: Syed Zaeem Hosain (syed.hos...@aeris.net)
Sent: Friday, February 04, 2011 10:00 AM
To: 'Scott Prentice'; framers@lists.frameusers.com
Subject: RE: Customer-friendly word for "landline"
The telecom industry (that I am in) has come up with so many acronyms and terms
for simple reasons:
_Unlike_ other industries, the need to interact (people and systems) between
multiple vendors/suppliers, multiple industry organizations and regulatory
bodies, and multiple _nations_, drives a HUGE number of international standards
... so that everyone speaks a "common language"!
And, because there are so many touch points, the sheer number of terms needed
is absolutely huge. Thus, if we had to use the full term/phrase _each and every
time_ we spoke or wrote about something, it would get unwieldy instantly.
Hence, acronyms and commonly used terms abound. "POTS" is common and instantly
understood. So are "landline", "wireless" and "wireline" - these are more
generic and do change a bit in context (unlike POTS).
It would be surprising to me if there was any real confusion. Or any confusion
that lasted any length of time anyway!
Regardless of which, we _sometime_ refer internal people (and customers) to
this:
http://www.amazon.com/Newtons-Telecom-Dictionary-25th-Telecommunications/dp/0979387337/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1296841211&sr=8-1
to explain any term as needed.
Regards,
Z
-----Original Message-----
From: framers-boun...@lists.frameusers.com
[mailto:framers-boun...@lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Scott Prentice
Sent: Friday, February 04, 2011 8:53 AM
To: framers@lists.frameusers.com
Subject: Re: Customer-friendly word for "landline"
Keep in mind your underlying reason for trying to differentiate between
different types of phone systems. Just because a phone is "wired"
doesn't mean that it's POTS .. an IP-based phone system may look just like a
POTS system, but technically, isn't (is VOIP considered a "landline" .. I
dunno). Also, you might have a "mobile" phone that's not really cellular, but
radio or other form of "wireless". I'm no expert in these things, but the line
isn't always clear, especially to the average reader.
I'd be careful in even bothering to differentiate between the various systems
unless it is really crucial to what you're documenting. No matter how you
describe it, unless you go into great technical detail, it's likely to be
confusing or wrong for some situations.
Cheers,
...scott
Böðvar Björgvinsson wrote:
> What is wrong with landline? Is it bad that it is easily
> understandable? Should you really try to find a word that no none
> understands without a Masters degree in English?
>
> It seems to me that there is an ongoing snob for Latin-based words,
> acronyms (Latin) and abbreviations (Latin) (or shorts (Humanly
> understandable language)) in England and the US, which means that you
> have to constantly refer to a dead language. How much time, effort and
> ink do you think is spent on explaining "English" words to the
> English-speaking?
>
> Let's use the simple words when we can.
>
> KISS
>
> Bodvar Bjorgvinsson
>
> 2011/2/4 Syed Zaeem Hosain (syed.hos...@aeris.net) <syed.hos...@aeris.net>:
>
>> We mostly use "wireless" and "wireline" to distinguish the two (my company
>> is in the wireless data business for cellular).
>>
>> On fewer occasions, simply "landline" and "POTS".
>>
>> Depends on the audience. :)
>>
>> Z
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: framers-boun...@lists.frameusers.com
>> [mailto:framers-boun...@lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of John
>> Posada
>> Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011 2:03 PM
>> To: Alan T Litchfield
>> Cc: framers@lists.frameusers.com; Butler, Darren J CTR USAF AFMC
>> WR-ALC/ENGLTB
>> Subject: Re: Customer-friendly word for "landline"
>>
>> Maybe nothing, just exploring alternative...look like there really
>> aren't any...thanks anyway
>>
>> On Thu, Feb 3, 2011 at 4:59 PM, Alan T Litchfield <a...@alphabyte.co.nz>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Telephone?
>>>
>>> What's wrong with landline?
>>>
>>> Alan
>>>
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>
>
>
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