Designing terminals for the evolving network

It is noted that the increased power of the switching network is forcing an evolution in terminal design. Terminals are the windows to the network; yet frequently they limit widespread feature use. A new development is that terminals are being used increasingly to manage the service and not just to deliver the service. The authors explore some of the newer network features and relate these to the various loop signaling technologies and to terminal design attributes. They also outline various design methodologies to encourage system designers to ensure that existing terminals can handle the new network features they develop. Emphasis is placed on voice capabilities