Computer Telephony Encyclopedia

Given the rapid ascendancy of computer telephony and the breadth of technologies involved in the field, it's high time that we had a reference guide to make sense of it all. Richard Grigonis understands that the simplistic definition of computer telephony--the convergence of computers, telephone systems, and data networks--only scratches the surface of all that's involved. The Computer Telephony Encyclopedia, then, is all-encompassing, if a little intimidating to everyone but those already knee-deep in the field.

Grigonis, chief technical editor of Computer Telephony magazine, takes readers through the computer telephony field from A to Z, with a sense of both scholarship and style. Although sometimes it's difficult to wade through entries for call centers and billing systems that are pages long, Grigonis frequently balances his acronym-laded prose with humor (the section on telemarketing is a perfect example).

Grigonis covers a wide swath of technology and applications, including voice over IP, DSL, and videoconferencing, as well as such esoteric fare as E&M signaling and session initiation protocol. A section on Who's Who in Computer Telephony provides brief sketches of some of the key figures in the field, with contact information provided in some cases.

With the Computer Telephony Encyclopedia, Grigonis has provided an indispensable guide to a complex subject, a book that should sit on the desk of every telecom manager. --John Frederick Moore