Description:
Telephony can be confusing, particularly to people who have spent the bulk of their careers on data networking technologies. The New McGraw-Hill Telecom Factbook explains telephone technologies clearly and in detail, with the goal of providing essential and background information to readers who need to buy and manage telecommunications products and services. This book covers relevant technologies, naturally, but also recognizes that commercial and regulatory considerations have significant effects on telecommunications. It's an informative and readable snapshot of the telecommunications industry at the turn of the millennium. As a rule, telephony is explained in terms of its general concepts, which helps offset the tendency here to refer to North American carriers, trade names, and laws in examples. You'll find plenty of formulas, and sample calculations enhance their value. Instead of just stating the Erlang-C formula, for example, the book shows how to analyze a call center's load pattern for purposes of provisioning equipment. Telecom Factbook also distinguishes itself from other general telecommunications texts with its detailed comparisons of competing technologies. Usually, you'll find descriptions of each technology that fits a given need, plus supporting conceptual diagrams. Grids help clarify the technologies' relative strengths, too. --David Wall Topics covered: Data and (especially) voice communications, discussed in a detailed survey form that's ideal for engineers who are exploring alternative solutions, as well as for managers. Coverage includes the standards (both de facto and de jure) that govern equipment, plus the commercial and legal restrains that color the telecommunications environment further.
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