ABSTRACT
The integration of voice and data communications continues unabated with digitally coded data being exchanged on the basis of established protocols and standards. A set of protocols defined and described in Telecommunications Standards Sector (TSS) regulations, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) aims to support a wide range of voice and non-voice applications in the same network. Voice messaging systems, also known as voice mail systems are probably the most basic form of voice processing. Telecommunications satellites, originally intended for telephony and data communication, are heavily used for broadcasting. Multiplexed Analog Component (MAC) standards incorporate digital packet data communication which is used for the carriage of the sound signals associated with the television programme and for authorization data to control subscription television. At a recent symposium, mobile data communications was defined as the ability to send or receive data from a suitable terminal without any physical connection to a network – which today means radio communications.
