telephony
gb/tˈɛləfˌoʊni/ us/tˈɛləfˌoʊni/
C1
English
~ 8200
Senses
0 senses
Noun
technical
C1
entity
1
telephone-based voice communication technology
The technology and services that let people talk to each other over distance by telephone or similar networks.
Usage pattern:
telephony services in [a place]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "telephony" with "telephone." "Telephone" is the physical device or the call itself, while "telephony" is the general technology, system, or field of voice communication over distance.
Synonyms
telephone communications (Very close in meaning, but slightly broader and less technical-sounding than "telephony.")
|
voice communications (Emphasizes the spoken-voice aspect; can be used in more general communication contexts, not only telephones.)
|
phone service (More everyday and service-focused; refers to what consumers use, while "telephony" is the underlying technology or field.)
Antonyms
data communication (Contrasts voice-based communication (telephony) with the transmission of non-voice digital data.)
Collocations
mobile telephony
|internet telephony
|IP telephony
|wireless telephony
|digital telephony
|telephony services
Themes
technology
|communication
|business
|science
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The company specializes in cloud-based telephony for small businesses.
- Mobile telephony has transformed how people work and stay in touch.
- Regulators are updating laws to cover internet telephony services.
- The course offers an introduction to modern telephony and networking.
- Traditional telephony is gradually merging with IP-based systems.
Learner examples
- Telephony allows people to talk over long distances.
- Mobile telephony is very common in many countries.
- The company sells telephony software to call centers.
- She is doing research on internet telephony.
- New rules will change how telephony services are priced.
Grammar
Dictionary form
telephony
IPA
GB/tˈɛləfˌoʊni/
US/tˈɛləfˌoʊni/
Syllables & stress
tele - phony (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (tele)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: telephony
- Plural: telephony
Word family
Related words
telecommunication
noun B2
telecom
noun
Advanced or less common
telephonic
adjective
telephonist
noun
Expressions
digital telephony
1/dˈɪd͡ʒɪtəl tˈɛləfˌoʊni/
fixed phrase
technical
telephony using digital signals
Telephony where voice is changed into digital signals for sending and receiving calls, instead of using older analog signals.
Examples
- Digital telephony improves call quality and allows advanced features.
- Most modern networks have already switched to digital telephony.
internet telephony
1/ˈɪntɚnˌɛt tˈɛləfˌoʊni/
fixed phrase
technical
voice calls over the internet
Telephony that sends voice as data over the internet instead of through normal phone lines.
Examples
- Internet telephony can significantly reduce international call costs.
- Many businesses now rely on internet telephony for their customer support lines.
IP telephony
1/ˈaɪ pˈi tˈɛləfˌoʊni/
fixed phrase
technical
telephony over IP networks
Telephony that uses Internet Protocol (IP) networks, such as the internet or private data networks, to carry voice calls.
Examples
- The company is migrating its old phone system to IP telephony.
- IP telephony allows voice and data to share the same network infrastructure.
mobile telephony
1/mˈoʊbəl tˈɛləfˌoʊni/
fixed phrase
technical
telephony over mobile networks
Telephony services that work through mobile or cellular networks, letting people make calls from mobile phones.
Examples
- Mobile telephony has expanded rapidly in developing countries.
- The report compares mobile telephony usage across different age groups.
wireless telephony
1/wˈaɪɚləs tˈɛləfˌoʊni/
fixed phrase
technical
telephony using wireless signals
Telephony that sends voice signals without wires, using radio or other wireless technology.
Examples
- Early wireless telephony systems were used mainly for military communication.
- Wireless telephony has made it possible to provide service in remote areas.