The New McGraw-Hill Telecom Factbook
Telephony can be confusing, particularly to people who have spent the  bulk of their careers on data networking technologies.The New McGraw-Hill  Telecom Factbookexplains 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 Factbookalso 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 WallTopics 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.