Acronym Key

A Note on Capitalization: All acronym expansions in this list begin with a capital letter. If the rest of the words in the expanded term are capitalized, the term is a proper noun that should capitalized in Gartner research. If the rest of words in the expanded term begin with lowercase letters, the term is generic and should be lowercased in Gartner research. 24x7 24 hours a day, seven days a week 24x365 24 hours a day, 365 days a year 2PC Two-phase commit 3GL Third-generation language 4GL Fourth-generation language A3 Adaptive Application Architecture AAC ATM access concentrator AAHP American Association of Health

Plans AAPCC Adjusted average per capita cost ABC Activity-based costing ABI Application binary interface AC Alternating current ACA Application Control Architecture

(from Digital Equipment) ACD 1. Automatic call distribution

2. Automatic call distributor ACE Advanced Computing Environment

(industry initiative) ACELP Algebraic Code Excited Linear

Prediction ACF Advanced Communications

Function ACF2 Access Control Facility 2 (from

Computer Associates — also called CA-ACF2)

ACG Ambulatory Care Group (classification methodology)

ACH Automated clearinghouse ACIA Asynchronous communications

interface adapter ACID Atomicity, consistency, isolation,

durability ACL Access control list ACM Association for Computing

Machinery ACMS Application Control and

Management System (from Digital Equipment)

ACPI Advanced Configuration and Power Interface

ACVC Ada compiler validation capability AD Applications development A/D Analog-to-digital

ADA Americans with Disabilities Act ADC Analog-to-digital converter ADE Applications development

environment ADF 1. Automatic document feeder

2. Application Development Facility (IBM)

ADP Automatic data processing ADPCM Adaptive Differential Pulse Code

Modulation ADSL Asymmetric digital subscriber line ADSM ADSTAR Distributed Storage

Manager ADSTAR Automated Document Storage and

Retrieval ADT 1. Admission, discharge and

transfer 2. Abstract data type 3. Access Developer’s Toolkit (Microsoft)

AEC Architecture, engineering and construction

AFP 1. Advanced Function Printing (IBM) 2. AppleTalk Filing Protocol

AFPDS Advanced Function Printing Data Stream

AGP Accelerated Graphics Port (Intel interface specification)

AGVS Automatic guided vehicle system AHP 1. Accountable health plan

2. Analytical Hierarchy Process AI Artificial intelligence AIF Application Integration Feature

(IBM) AIX Advanced Interactive Executive AM Amplitude modulation ALU Arithmetic logic unit AMA 1. American Medical Association

2. American Management Association

AMH Automated materials handling AMPS Advanced mobile phone service AMR Automated medical record ANDF Architecturally neutral distribution

format ANI Automatic number identification ANSI American National Standards

Institute AOCE Apple Open Collaboration

Environment AOL America Online

Acronym Key

AP 1. Accounts payable 2. Associated Press

APG Ambulatory Patient Group API Application programming interface APIA 1. Application Program Interface

Association 2. Asia & Pacific Internet

Association APM Advanced Power Measurement APPC Advanced Program-to-Program

Communications APPN Advanced Peer-to-Peer Networking AR Accounts receivable ARD Application requirements definition ARO After receipt of order ASCB Application system control block ASCII American Standard Code for

Information Interchange ASCOM Asynchronous communication ASI Application-specific interface ASIC Application-specific integrated

circuit ASLP Application-specific logic product ASN Abstract Syntax Notation ASO Administrative Services

Organization ASP 1. Application service provider

2. Average selling price AS/RS Automated storage/retrieval system ASSP Application-specific standard

products AT Advanced technology ATE Automatic test equipment ATG Advanced technology group ATL Automated tape library ATM 1. Asynchronous transfer mode

2. Automated teller machine 3. Adobe Type Manager

AT&T American Telephone & Telegraph (do not spell out in Gartner research)

AUX Apple Unix AWG American wire gauge AVI Audio Video Interleave AVL Automatic vehicle location AWP 1. Average wholesale price

2. Any willing provider (legislation)

AWS Automatic Warehousing System

B2B Business-to-business (also B-to-B) B2C Business-to-consumer (also B-to-

C) BACP Bandwidth Allocation Control

Protocol BAPI Business Application Programming

Interface (SAP) BASIC Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic

Instruction Code BBS Bulletin board system BC Business continuity BC/BS Blue Cross/Blue Shield BCD Binary-coded decimal BCOCA Bar Code Object Content

Architecture BCP Business continuity planning BECN Backward explicit congestion

notification BER Bit error rate BETRS Basic exchange telephone radio

system BHO Behavioral health organization BI Business intelligence BIA Business impact analysis BiCMOS Bipolar complementary metal-

oxide semiconductor BiMOS Bipolar metal oxide semiconductor BIOS Basic Input/Output System B-ISDN Broadband ISDN BitBLT Bit block transfer BLOB Binary large object BOC Bell operating company BOM Bill of material BOP Beginning of partition BOT Beginning of tape BOSS 1. Business Object Server Solution

(IBM) 2. Business Object Storage Specification (Computer Associates/Cheyenne Software)

BPA Business process automation BPO Business process outsourcing BPR Business process re-engineering bps Bits per second BRA Basic Rate Access (known as BRI

in the United States) BRI Basic Rate Interface (known as

BRA in Canada and Europe) BRP Business recovery planning BRS Business Recovery Services (IBM)

Acronym Key

BU Business unit BSC 1. Bisynchronous communication

2. Base station controller BSI British Standards Institute BTA Basic trading area C3I Command, control,

communications and intelligence (defense industry acronym)

CA 1. Computer Associates International 2. Certificate authority (Note: Do not use this acronym for this definition in Gartner research; spell out the phrase in full to avoid confusion with Computer Associates)

CAC Connection admission control CACH Call appearance call handling CAD Computer-aided design CADAM Computer-Graphics Augmented

Design and Manufacturing (Lockheed)

CAD/CAM Computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing

CADD Computer-aided design and drafting

CAE Computer-aided engineering CAFM Computer-aided facilities

management CAGR Compound annual growth rate CAI Common air interface CALS Continuous Acquisition and Life-

Cycle Support CAM Computer-aided manufacturing CAPE Concurrent art-to-product

environment CAPS Compugraphic Automated

Publishing System CASE Computer-aided software

engineering CAT Computerized axial tomography CATV Community antenna television

(a.k.a. cable television) CAV Constant angular velocity CBIC Cell-based integrated circuit CBR 1. Case-based reasoning

2. Content-based retrieval 3. Constant bit rate

CBT Computer-based training CCD Charge-coupled device CCD+ Cash Concentration and

Disbursement plus addendum

CCIR Consultative Committee on International Radio

CCITT Comite Consultatif International Telegraphique et Telephonique (International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee) — now known as the International Telecommunications Union (ITU)

CC/ME Computational chemistry/molecular engineering

CCN Common control node CCR Customer-controlled

reconfiguration CCTV Closed-circuit television CD 1. Compact disc

2. Critical dimension 3. Certificate of deposit

CDA 1. Compound document architecture (generic term) 2. Compound Document Architecture (Digital Equipment)

CDDI Copper-distributed data interface CDE 1. Common Desktop Environment

(from COSE) 2. Cooperative Development Environment (from Oracle)

CD-I Compact Disc-Interactive (Philips) CDIF CASE Data Interchange Facility CDLA Computer Dealers and Lessors

Association CDM Competitor displacement marketing CDMA Code division multiple access CDPD Cellular digital packet data CDR 1. Call detail recording

2. Clinical data repository CD-ROM Compact disc read-only memory CDS Call directory service CE Concurrent engineering CEC Central electronics complex CEO Chief executive officer CEPT Conference on European Post and

Telegraph CERDIP Ceramic dual in-line package CES Consumer Electronics Show CFO Chief financial officer CGA Color Graphics Adapter CGI Common Gateway Interface CGS Cap Gemini Sogeti CHAMPUS Civilian Health and Medical

Program of the Uniformed Services

Acronym Key

CHIN Community healthcare information network

CHRP Common Hardware Reference Platform

CICS Customer Information Control System

CIDR Classless interdomain routing CIFS Common Internet File System CIM Computer-integrated manufacturing CIO Chief information officer CIR Committed information rate CIRC Cross-interleaved Reed-Solomon

code CIS Commonwealth of Independent

States CISC Complex instruction set computer CIT Computer Integrated Telephony

(from Digital Equipment) CLEC Competitive local exchange carrier CLI Call-level interface CLLM Consolidated Link Layer

Management CLV Constant linear velocity CM Change management CMA Concert Multithread Architecture CMIP Common Management Information

Protocol CMIS Common Management Information

Standard CML Chemical Markup Language CMM Capability Maturity Model CMOS Complementary metal-oxide

semiconductor CMS 1. Conversational Monitor System

(part of VM) 2. Contract management system 3. Color Management System (Kodak) 4. Change Management System (Aldon Computer Group) 5. Cable management system

CNOS Corporate network operating system

CNS Converged network services CO Central office COB Chip-on-board COBOL Common Business Oriented

Language COBRA Consolidated Omnibus Budget

Reconciliation Act

CODASYL Conference on Data Systems Languages

COE Center of excellence COGS Cost of goods sold COLD Computer output to laserdisc COLS Commercial online service COM 1. Computer output to microfiche

2. Component Object Model (Microsoft)

COMDEX Computer Dealers’ Exposition COM-R Computer output to microfiche

replacement COO Chief operating officer CORBA Common Object Request Broker

Architecture COS Class of service COSE Common Open Software

Environment COTS Commercial off-the-shelf

(application) CPE Customer premises equipment CPI 1. Common Programming Interface

(part of SAA) 2. Continuous process improvement

CPI-C Common Programming Interface for Communications

CPID Calling party identification CPM 1. Critical path method

2. Critical path management CP/M Control Program for

Microcomputers CPP Commercial parallel processing CPR 1. Computer-based patient record

system 2. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

cps Characters per second CPU Central processing unit CQI Continuous quality improvement CRC 1. Cyclic redundancy check (error

detection) 2. Camera-ready copy

CRM Customer relationship management CRP Capacity requirements planning CRS Cell relay service CRT Cathode-ray tube CRTC Canadian Radio-television and

Telecommunications Commission CRUD Create, read, update, delete CS Customer service C/S Client/server

Acronym Key

CSC Computer Sciences Corp. CSD Consolidated service desk CSF Critical success factor CSI Computer Security Institute CSO Consolidated support organization CSS Customer service and support CSU Channel service unit CT Cordless telephone CTI Computer-telephony integration CTO Chief technical officer CU Compliance unit CUA Common User Access (part of

SAA) CVD Chemical vapor deposition CWC Clear With Computers CXI Common X interface DA 1. Data administrator

2. Data administration D/A Digital-to-analog DAC 1. Digital-to-analog converter

2. Data access control DACS Digital access and cross-connect

system DADI Directly addressable device

interface DAL 1. Data Access Language (from

Apple) 2. Dedicated access line

DARPA Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

DART Data analysis and reporting tools DASD Direct-access storage device DAT Digital audio tape DAVAR Dealer-assisted value-added

reseller DB2 Database 2 DBA 1. Database administrator

2. Database administration DBCS Double-byte character set DBMS Database management system DBS Direct broadcast satellite DC Direct current DCA 1. Digital Communications

Associates 2. Document Content Architecture (IBM)

DCE 1. Distributed Computing Environment (from The Open Group) 2. Distributed computing environment (generic term) 3. Data communications equipment

DCF Document Composition Facility DCOM Distributed Component Object

Model DCS Digital Cellular System DCT Digital cordless telephony DDE Dynamic Data Exchange DDL Data definition language DDN Defense data network DDP Digital data processing DDS Digital data storage DEC Digital Equipment Corp. (Do not

use this acronym to refer to the company; “Digital” is acceptable on second reference)

DECT Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (formerly Digital European Cordless Telecommunications)

DES Data Encryption Standard DEVA Document-enabled vertical

applications DFDSS Data Facility Data Set Services DFHSM Data Facility Hierarchical Storage

Manager (a.k.a. DFSMShsm) DFP Data Facility Product (a.k.a.

DFSMSdfp) DFS Distributed File System (Transarc

product) DFSMS Data Facility Storage Management

Subsystem DFSMSdfp DFSMS Data Facility Product

(a.k.a. DFP) DFSMShsm DFSMS Hierarchical Storage

Manager (a.k.a. DFHSM) DFSORT Data Facility Sort DG Data General DHCF Distributed Host Command Facility DHCP Dynamic Host Configuration

Protocol DIA 1. Document Interchange

Architecture (part of SAA) 2. Display Industry Association

DICOM Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine

DID Direct inward dialing DIF Data interchange format

Acronym Key

DIP Dual in-line package DIS 1. Data Interpretation System

2. Draft international standard DISA 1. Direct inward system access

2. Data Interchange Standards Association

DISOSS Distributed Office Support System DL/1 Data Language/1 DLCI Data link connection identifier DLL 1. Dynamic Link Library

(Windows and OS/2 feature) 2. Down line load

DLS Data Link Switching DLSw Data Link Switching DM Data mining DMA 1. Document Management Alliance

2. Direct memory access DME 1. Distributed Management

Environment 2. Durable medical equipment

DMI Desktop Management Interface DML Data Manipulation Language DMS Defense Message System DMTF Desktop Management Task Force DNA 1. Distributed interNet Applications

(Microsoft architecture) 2. Digital Network Architecture (from Digital Equipment)

DNIC Data network identification code DNIS Dialed number identification

service DNS Domain Naming System DOD 1. Department of Defense

2. Direct outward dialing DOJ Department of Justice DOMS Distributed Object Management

System (a.k.a. HD-DOMS, from HyperDesk)

DOS Disk Operating System DP Data processing dpi Dots per inch DPNSS Digital Private Network Signaling

System DPP Distributed parallel processing DQDB Distributed Queue Dual Bus DR Disaster recovery DRAM Dynamic random-access memory DRDA Distributed Relational Data

Architecture DRG Diagnosis Related Group

(classification methodology)

DRM Distributed resource management DRP 1. Distribution requirements

planning 2. Disaster recovery planning 3. Distribution Resource Planning (from J.D. Edwards & Co.)

DRS Disaster Recovery Services (Comdisc)

DS-0 (-1 etc.) Digital Signal Level 0 (Level 1, etc.)

DSC 1. Digital selective calling 2. DSC Communications

DSL Digital subscriber line DSLAM Digital subscriber line access

multiplexer DSLO Distributed Systems License

Option DSMPU DSP microprocessing unit DSOM Distributed System Object Model DSP Digital signal processing DSS Decision support system DSSI Digital Storage Systems

Interconnect DSU Data service unit DTE Data terminal equipment DTL Diode-transistor logic DTMF Dual-tone multifrequency DTP 1. Desktop publishing

2. Distributed Transaction Processing (part of CICS)

DTS Distributed time service DUOW Distributed Unit of Work (part of

DRDA) DVD Digital video disc (a.k.a. digital

versatile disc) DVI Digital Video Interactive DWIM Do what I mean DXF Data exchange format E-4GL Enterprise 4GL E-AD Enterprise AD EAM 1. Equipment asset management

2. Enterprise asset management EAROM Electrically alterable ROM EAS Enterprise application solutions EATE Electronic automatic test equipment EBCDIC Extended Binary-Coded Decimal

Interchange Code EC 1. Electronic commerce

2. European Community (now known as European Union)

ECAD Electronic computer-aided design

Acronym Key

ECAE Electronic computer-aided engineering

E-CASE Enterprise CASE ECC Error correction code ECD 1. Energy conversion device 2. Electrochromeric display ECL Emitter-coupled logic ECMA European Computer Manufacturers

Association ECR Efficient consumer response ECU 1. European currency unit (now

known as “euro”) 2. Engine control unit

EDA 1. Electronic design automation 2. Embedded Document Architecture

EDA/SQL Enterprise Data Access/Structured Query Language (from Information Builders)

EDI Electronic data interchange EDIFACT Electronic Data Interchange for

Administration, Commerce and Transportation

EDO Extended data out (memory) EDM Enterprise distribution manager EDP Electronic data processing EDS Electronic Data Systems (do not

spell out in Gartner research) EEPROM Electronically erasable PROM e-ESP E-business external services

provider EFT Electronic funds transfer EFTA European Free Trade Association EFT/POS Electronic funds transfer/point of

sale EGA Enhanced graphics adapter EHLLAPI Extended High-Level Language

Application Programming Interface EIA 1. Electronic Industries Association

2. Enterprise information architecture

E-IDE Extended Integrated Drive Electronics

EIM Enterprise information management EIS Executive information system EISA Extended Industry Standard

Architecture ELF Extremely low frequency

EMA 1. Electronic Messaging Association (formerly the Electronic Mail Association) 2. Enterprise Management Architecture (from Digital Equipment)

EMI Electromagnetic interference EMPI Enterprise master person index EMR Electronic medical record EMS 1. Expanded Memory Specification

2. Enterprise Messaging Server (from Microsoft) 3. European Monetary System

EMU Economic and monetary union EOD End of data EOF End of file E-OO Enterprise OO E-OOA Enterprise OOA E-OOD Enterprise OOD EOP End of partition EOT End of tape EPO Exclusive provider organization EPP Enhanced parallel port EPROM Erasable programmable read-only

memory EPS 1. Encapsulated PostScript

2. Earnings per share ERD Entity relationship diagram ERISA Employee Retirement Income

Security Act ERMES European Radio Message System ERMS 1. E-mail response management

system (generic term) 2. E-mail Relationship

Management System (Brightware product)

ERP Enterprise resource planning ERSO Electronics Research and Service

Organization ESA Enterprise Systems Architecture ESCON Enterprise Systems Connection ESD 1. Electronic software distribution

2. Electrostatic discharge ESDI Enhanced Small Device Interface ESF Extended superframe format ESOP Employee stock ownership plan ESP 1. External services provider

2. Enterprise server platform ESPRIT European Strategic Program for

R&D in Information Technology

Acronym Key

ESS 1. Electronic switching system 2. Enterprise scheduling system

ETG 1. Episode Treatment Group (classification methodology) 2. European Telecommunications Group

ETSI European Telecommunications Standards Institute

ETT Extraction, transformation and transport

EU European Union (formerly known as the European Community)

EUC End-user computing EULA End-user license agreement EUT End-user training EW 1. Electronic warfare

2. Early warning 3. Electronic workplace

EWW Enterprisewide web FACNET Federal Acquisition Computer

Network FAQ Frequently asked questions FASB Financial Accounting Standards

Board FAST Fairchild Advanced Schottky TTL FAT File allocation table FC Fibre Channel FC-AL Fibre Channel-Arbitrated Loop FCC Federal Communications

Commission FCLC Fibre Channel Loop Community FCP Foundation for Cooperative

Processing FCS First customer shipment FDD Flexible disk drive FDDI Fiber Distributed Data Interface FDM Frequency division multiplexing FDMA Frequency division multiple access FEC Forward error correction FECN Forward explicit congestion

notification FEP Front-end processor FEPI Front-End Programming Interface FET Field effect transistor FFS Fee for service FFT Fast Fourier transforms FI Financial institution FIFO first in, first out FIPS Federal Information Processing

Standard

FLOPS Floating-point operations per second

FM Frequency modulation FMV Fair market value FOCA Font Object Content Architecture FORTRAN Formula Translator FPGA Field-programmable gate array FPLA Field-programmable logic array fps Frames per second FPU Floating-point unit FRAD Frame relay

assembler/disassembler FRAM Ferroelectric random-access

memory FT Fault tolerance FTAM File Transfer, Access and

Management FTC Federal Trade Commission FTE Full-time equivalent FTP File Transfer Protocol FTPI Flux transitions per inch FUD Fear, uncertainty and doubt F-UNI Frame-User Network Interface FURPS Functionality, usability, reliability,

performance, and support F/V Frequency-to-voltage FWA Fixed wireless access G7 Group of Seven (countries) GA General availability GATT General Agreement on Tariffs and

Trade Gb Gigabit GB Gigabyte GCR Group code recording GDDM Graphical Data Display Manager GDMO Guidelines for the definition of

managed objects GDP Gross domestic product GDS Global directory service GEIS GE Information Services GEMMS Global Enterprise Manufacturing

Management System GEO Geosynchronous earth orbit

Acronym Key

GFLOPS 1. Billion floating-point operations per second (if used with a specific amount, e.g., 50 GFLOPS) 2. Billions of floating-point operations per second (if used without an amount, e.g., “performance measured in GFLOPS”)

GigaFLOPS (see GFLOPS) GIOP General Inter-ORB Protocol GIPS Billion instructions per second GIS Geographic information system GMLC Graduated Monthly License Charge GNP Gross national product GOCA Graphics Object Content

Architecture GOSIP Government Open Systems

Interconnection Profile GPC General-purpose computer GPS Global Positioning System GPWW Group practice without walls GSA General Services Administration GSIC Graphics-specific integrated circuit GSM Global System for Mobile

Communications (formerly Groupe Speciale Mobile)

GSP Graphics system processor GUI Graphical user interface HA High availability HACMP High Availability Clustered

Multiprocessing HADA High-availability disk array HBA Host bus adapter HBT Heterojunction bipolar transistor HCFA Health Care Financing

Administration HCO Healthcare organization HDA Head disk assembly HDCD High-density computer disc HDD Hard disk drive HDL Hardware description language HDLC High-level Data Link Control HDM Hardware device module HDS Hitachi Data Systems HDSL High-bit-rate digital subscriber line HDTV High-definition television HEDIS Health Plan Employer Data and

Information Set HF High frequency HFC Hybrid fiber-coaxial (cable)

HIAA Health Insurance Association of America

HIMSS Health Information Management and Systems Society

HIN Healthcare information network HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and

Accountability Act HIPPI High-Performance Parallel

Interface HL7 Health Level 7 HLL High-level language HLLAPI High-Level Language Application

Programming Interface HMMP Hypermedia Management Protocol HMMS Hypermedia Management Schema HMO Health maintenance organization HMOM Hypermedia Object Manager HP Hewlett-Packard HPC High-performance computing HPCC High Performance Computing and

Communications (federal program) HPFS High Performance File System

(OS/2) HPPA Hewlett-Packard Precision

Architecture HP-UX Hewlett-Packard’s Unix-based

operating system HR Human resources HRM Human resource management HRMS 1. Human resource management

system (generic term) 2. Human Resource Management System (PeopleSoft product)

HSM 1. Hierarchical storage management (generic term) 2. Hierarchical Storage Manager (IBM; a.k.a. DFSMShsm)

HSSI High-Speed Serial Interface HTML Hypertext Markup Language HTTP Hypertext Transport Protocol HW Hardware Hz Hertz IAC Interapplication communication IBI Information Builders Inc. IBM International Business Machines

(do not spell out in Gartner research)

IBNR Incurred but not reported IBU Independent business unit IC Integrated circuit

Acronym Key

ICA 1. International Communications Association 2. Independent Computing Architecture (from Citrix Systems)

ICC IBM Credit Corp. ICE 1. Integrated computing

environment 2. Information and Content Exchange

ICMP Internet Control Message Protocol ICR Intelligent character recognition IDA Intelligent drive array IDARS Integrated document archive and

retrieval system IDE 1. Integrated development

environment 2. Integrated Drive Electronics IDEF Integrated Definition Methodology IDL Interface definition language IDM Integrated document management IDMS Integrated Database Management

System (from CA; also known as CA-IDMS)

IDNX Integrated Digital Network Exchange

IDOM Integrated document and output management

IDRC Improved Data Recording Capability

IDSL ISDN digital subscriber line IE Information engineering IEC International Electrotechnical

Commission IEEE Institute of Electrical and

Electronics Engineers IEF Information Engineering Facility

(from Texas Instruments) IETF Internet Engineering Task Force IEW Information Engineering

Workbench (from KnowledgeWare)

IFC Internet Foundation Classes IGES Initial Graphics Exchange

Specification IGFET Insulated-gate field effect transistor IGMP Internet Group Management

Protocol IGPT Insulated-gate bipolar transistor IIA Information Industry Association IIN IBM Information Network IIOP Internet Inter-ORB Protocol

IISP Interim Interswitch Signaling Protocol

ILEC Incumbent LEC IM Interactive marketing IMA Inverse multiplexing over ATM IMAP Internet Message Access Protocol IMC Internet Marketing Council IMS Information Management System IMS/DB IMS/Database Manager IMS/DC IMS/Data Communication IMS/ESA IMS/Enterprise Systems

Architecture INEWS Integrated electronic warfare

system INMS Integrated network management

system INSA Integrated Network Services

Architecture INSM Integrated network and systems

management INTUG International Telecommunications

Users Group I/O Input/output I2O Intelligent I/O IOCA Image Object Content Architecture IOP Input/output processor IOS Integrated office system IP Internet Protocol IPA Independent physician association IPC Interprocess communications IPCS Integrated PC server IPDS Intelligent Printer Data Stream IPI Intelligent Peripheral Interface IPL Initial program load IPO Initial public offering IPV In-place value IPX Internetwork Packet Exchange IR Infrared IRDS Information Resource Dictionary

System IRM Information resources management IRQ Interrupt Request IS Information systems ISA 1. Industry Standard Architecture

2. Instrument Society of America ISAM Indexed Sequential Access Method ISAPI Internet Server Application

Programming Interface (Microsoft)

Acronym Key

ISDN Integrated Services Digital Network

ISL Interswitch link ISM Industrial, scientific and medical ISO International Standards

Organization (a.k.a. International Organization for Standardization)

ISP Internet service provider ISPBX Integrated services private branch

exchange ISPF Interactive System Productivity

Facility ISPF/PDF ISPF/Program Development

Facility ISS Interactive selling system ISSC Integrated Systems Solutions Corp. ISUP ISDN User Part ISV 1. Independent software vendor

2. If-sold value IT Information technology ITA International Trade Administration ITAA Information Technology

Association of America ITIS Information technology integration

services ITO Information technology

outsourcing ITU International Telecommunication

Union (formerly known as CCITT) IVDT Integrated voice/data terminal IVDW Intelligent voice/data workstation IVHS Intelligent vehicle highway systems IVR Interactive voice response IWF Internetworking Function IWS Intelligent workstation IXC Interexchange carrier JAD Joint applications development JAN Joint army and navy JBIG Joint Bitonal Image Group JCAHO Joint Commission on Accreditation

of Healthcare Organizations JCALS Joint Computer-aided Acquisition

and Logistics Support JDK Java Developer’s Kit JCL 1. Job control language (generic

term) 2. Job Control Language (part of MVS)

JDBC Java Database Connectivity JDE J.D. Edwards & Co.

JEDEC Joint Electronics Device Engineering Council

JEIDA Japan Electronic Industry Development Association

JES Job Entry Subsystem (part of MVS) JIDL Java Interface Definition Language JIT Just in time JITT Just-in-time training JMAPI Java Management API JMS Java Messaging Service JNDI Java Naming and Directory

Interface JPEG Joint Photographic Experts Group JROP Java Remote Object Protocol JTS Java Transaction Service JVM Java virtual machine JTAPI Java Telephony API Kb Kilobit KB Kilobyte KBMS Knowledge Base Management

System (Trinzic product) Kbps Kilobits per second KBS Knowledge-based systems KHz Kilohertz KIF Knowledge Interchange Format KM Knowledge management KQML Knowledge-Based Query

Manipulation Language KTS Key telephone system LAM Line adapter module LAN Local-area network LANDA Local Area Networks Dealers

Association LANE Local-area network emulation LAP/M Link Access Procedure for

Modems LATA Local access and transport area LAWN Local area wireless network LBO Leveraged buyout LCC Leadless chip carrier LCD Liquid crystal display LDAP Lightweight Directory Access

Protocol LDC Less-developed country LDO Low dropout LEC Local exchange carrier LED Light-emitting diode LEO Low earth orbit LEW Logical early warning

Acronym Key

LHS Left-hand side LIDM Line impact dot matrix LIFF Line impact fully formed LIFO Last in, first out LIMS Laboratory Information

Management System LIS Laboratory information system LISP List Processing LLNL Lawrence Livermore National

Laboratories LMI Local Management Interface LNA Low-noise amplifier LNTT Line nonimpact thermal transfer LOB Line of business LOMS Logistics order management system LOS Length of stay LP Load point LRPC Lightweight RPC LSB Least significant bit LSI Large-scale integration LSW Least significant word LU Logical Unit (part of SNA) LU 6.2 Logical Unit 6.2 LUN Logical unit number M&A Mergers and acquisitions MAC 1. Moves, adds and changes

2. Media Access Control (IEEE) 3. Message authentication code (Note: When “Mac” is used to mean “Macintosh,” it should be initial-capped, not all caps. Use “Macintosh” on first reference.)

MAN Metropolitan-area network MAP Manufacturing Automation

Protocol MAP/TOP Manufacturing Automation

Protocol/Technical Office Protocol MAPI Messaging Application

Programming Interface (from Microsoft)

MAU Multistation access unit Mb Megabit MB Megabyte MBE Molecular beam epitaxy Mbps Megabits per second MCA Micro Channel Architecture MCAD Mechanical computer-aided design MCAE Mechanical computer-aided

engineering MCM Multichip module

MCO Managed care organization MCP Microsoft Certified Professional MCSE Microsoft Certified Systems

Engineer MCU 1. Microcontroller unit

2. Multipoint control unit

MDA Monochrome Display Adapter MDDB Multidimensional database MDF 1. Multiple Domain Feature (from

Amdahl) 2. Main distribution frame

MDS Multipoint distribution system MDT Mobile data terminal MegaFLOPS (see MFLOPS) MEO Middle earth orbit MES 1. Marketing encyclopedia system

2. Manufacturing execution system MESFET Metal-etch semiconductor field-

effect transistor MFLOPS 1. Million floating-point operations

per second (if used with a specific amount, e.g., 50 MFLOPS) 2. Millions of floating-point operations per second (if used without a specific amount, e.g., “performance measured in MFLOPS”)

MFM Modified frequency modulation MFS Metropolitan fiber system

MHS 1. Message Handling System (X.400) 2. Message Handling Service (Novell)

MHz Megahertz MIB Management Information Base

(part of SNMP) MIC Microwave integrated circuit MICR Magnetic ink character recognition MIDI Musical Instrument Digital

Interface MIF Management Information File MILNET Military network MIL-SPEC Military specification MIL-STD Military standard MIMD Multiple instruction, multiple data MIME Multipurpose Internet Messaging

Extensions MIMIC Millimeter-wave monolithic

integrated circuit

Acronym Key

MIPS 1. Million instructions per second (if used with a specific amount, e.g., 100 MIPS) 2. Millions of instructions per second (if used without a specific amount, e.g., “performance measured in MIPS”)

MIS Management information systems (Obsolete; use IS instead)

MITI Ministry of International Trade and Industry

MLC Monthly license charge MM Multimedia MMCF Multimedia Communications

Forum MMIC Microwave monolithic integrated

circuit MML Mathematical Markup Language MMMC Minimum monthly maintenance

charge MMU Memory management unit MNP Microcom Networking Protocol MO Magneto-optical (drives) MOCVD Metal organic chemical vapor

deposition MO:DCA Mixed Object: Document Content

Architecture MOF Ministry of Finance MOM 1. Manufacturing operations

management 2. Message-oriented middleware

MOS Metal-oxide semiconductor MOSFET MOS field-effect transistor MOSP Multiple Operating System PR/SM MOSS MIME Object Security Services MOU Memorandum of understanding MP Multiprocessor MPC Massively parallel computer MPDSP Microprogrammable digital signal

processing MPE Multiprogramming Executive MPEG Motion Picture Experts Group MPI Master person index MPOA Multiprotocol Over ATM MPN Multiprotocol network MPP Massively parallel processing MPPC Multipurpose parallel computing MPPL Multipurpose Processing Language MPPP Multilink Point-to-Point Protocol MPR Microperipheral

MPS Master production scheduling MPU Microprocessing unit MQI Message Queue Interface (from

IBM) MR Magnetoresistive MRP Material requirements planning MRP II Manufacturing resource planning MS Microsoft MSA Metropolitan statistical area MSB Most significant bit MSCS Microsoft Cluster Server MS-DOS Microsoft DOS MSE Midsize enterprise MSMQ Microsoft Message Queuing server MSN Microsoft network MSNF Multisystem Networking Facility MSO Management services organization MSS Multiprotocol switched services MSW Most significant word MTA 1. Message transfer agent

2. Metropolitan trading area MTBDU Mean time between data

unavailability MTBE Mean time between errors MTBF Mean time between failures MTD Marketing transaction database MTS 1. Microsoft Transaction Server

2. Mobile telephone service MTTI Mean time to install MTTR Mean time to repair MUI Multimodal user interface MULC Measured Usage License Charge MVC Multiport video controller MVS Multiple Virtual Storage MVS/ESA MVS/Enterprise System

Architecture MW Middleware NA 1. Not available

2. Not applicable NACD National Association of Computer

Dealers NACHA National Automated Clearing

House Association NAFTA North American Free Trade

Agreement NAP Network access point

Acronym Key

NAS 1. Network Applications Support (Digital) 2. NetWare Access Server 3. Networked Application Services (IBM division) 4. Numerical Aerodynamic Simulation (NASA program)

NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASD 1. Network-attached storage device 2. National Association of Securities Dealers

NATA North American Telecommunications Association

NC Network computer NCA Network Computing Architecture NCD Network computing device NCF Network Computing Framework NCI Network Computing Infrastructures NCGA National Computer Graphics

Association NCP Network Control Program (a.k.a.

ACF/NCP) NCQA National Committee for Quality

Assurance NCR National Cash Register (Do not

spell out: The acronym is the official company name)

NCS 1. Network Computing System (from HP) 2. National Communications System

NCSC National Computer Security Center NDF Network dynamic functionality NDS NetWare Directory Services NEDA National Electronic Distribution

Association N.E.T. Network Equipment Technologies NetBIOS Network Basic Input/Output

System NFS Network File System NIC 1. Network interface card

2. Network information center NIH Not invented here NiMH Nickel metal hydride NIS Network information service N-ISDN Narrowband ISDN NIST National Institute of Standards and

Technology NLQ Near-letter quality NLM NetWare Loadable Module

NLS 1. National language support 2. Network licensing server

NLU Natural-language understanding NM Not meaningful NMF Network Management Forum NMI Nonmaskable interrupt NMOS N-channel metal-oxide

semiconductor NMR Nuclear magnetic resonance NMS Network management system NMT Nordic Mobile Telephone NMVT Network management vector tables NNTP Network News Transfer Protocol NOS Network operating system N-PCS Narrowband PCS NPSI NCP Packet Switching Interface NPV Net present value NRE Nonrecurring engineering NRZ Non-return-to-zero NSAPI Netscape Application Programming

Interface NSF 1. National Science Foundation

2. Notes Storage Format 3. National Standard Format

NSM 1. Network and systems management

NSP Network service provider NSTL National Software Testing Lab NT New Technology (Note: Always

use the full term “Windows NT” on first reference)

NTAS NT Advanced Server NTS NT Server NTSC National Television Standards

Committee NTT Nippon Telephone and Telegraph NTW NT Workstation NV NetView NVRAM Nonvolatile RAM NYSE New York Stock Exchange OBS Organization breakdown structure OCA Object Content Architecture OCE Open Collaboration Environment

(Note: The correct term is Apple Open Collaboration Environment, or AOCE)

OCR 1. Optical character recognition 2. Optical character reader

Acronym Key

OCS 1. Open control system (an individual system) 2. Open control systems (the technology in general)

OCX OLE Custom Controls ODA Open Document Architecture ODBC Open Database Connectivity ODBMS Object-oriented database

management system (a.k.a. OODBMS)

ODD Optical disk drive ODIF Open Document Interchange

Format ODMA Open Document Management API ODMG Object Database Management

Group ODS Open Digital Studio ODT Open Desktop (from Santa Cruz

Operation) OEC Organization for Economic

Cooperation OECD Organization for Economic

Cooperation and Development OEM Original equipment manufacturer OEMI Original Equipment Manufacturer

Interface OIG Open Interoperability Group OIS Office information system OLAP Online analytical processing OLB Online banking OLCP Online complex processing OLE Object Linking and Embedding

(Microsoft) OLTP Online transaction processing OMF 1. Open Media Framework (Avid

Technology) 2. Object Management Framework (DME)

OMG Object Management Group OMR Optical mark recognition OMS Opportunity management system ONA Open Network Architecture (from

the FCC) ONC Open Network Computing (from

Sun) ONP Open network provision OO 1. Object orientation (n.)

2. Object-oriented (adj.)

OOA Object-oriented analysis OOD Object-oriented design

OODBMS Object-oriented database management system (also known as ODBMS)

OOP Object-oriented programming OOPL Object-oriented programming

language OOT Object-oriented technology OPEC Organization of Petroleum

Exporting Countries ORD Order management system ORB Object request broker OS Operating system OS/2 Operating System/2 OS/2 EE OS/2 Extended Edition OSF Open Software Foundation (now

obsolete — use The Open Group instead)

OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration

OSI Open Systems Interconnection OSIS Operating-system-independent

server OSI TP OSI Transaction Processing OSM Operating-system service module OSPF Open shortest path first OSQL Object SQL (from Hewlett-

Packard) OT Object technology OTM Object transaction monitor OTP One-time programmable OV OpenView PA Precision Architecture (Hewlett-

Packard) PABX Private automatic branch exchange PACS Picture archiving and

communication system PAD Packet assembler/disassembler PAL Programmable array logic PAM Pulse amplitude modulation PARC Palo Alto Research Center (Xerox) PA-RISC Precision Architecture Reduced

Instruction Set Computer PBA Production business application PBX Private branch exchange PC Personal computer PCA Personal communications assistant PCB Printed circuit board PCI Peripheral component interconnect PCL Printer Control Language

Acronym Key

PCM 1. Plug-compatible manufacturer 2. Pulse code modulation

PCMCIA Personal Computer Memory Card Industry Association (Note: The standard is now known as PC Card, not PCMCIA)

PCN Personal communications network PCO Physician contracting organization PCP Primary care physician PCS 1. Personal communications

services 2. Personal Conferencing Specification

PCTE Portable Common Tool Environment

PDA Personal digital assistant PDN Public Data Network PDES Product Data Exchange

Specification PDL Page description language PDM Product data management PDP Parallel distributed processing PE Phase encoding PEM Privacy-enhanced mail PERT Program Evaluation and Review

Technique PFM Personal financial manager PGP Pretty Good Privacy PGS Proposal generation system PGA Pin grid array PHIGS Programmers’ Hierarchical

Interactive Graphics Standard PHO Physician hospital organization PIC Programmable interrupt controller PIF Program information file PIM 1. Personal information manager

(the device) 2. Personal information management (the technology)

PIN Processor Independent NetWare PIX Private Internet Exchange PIT Programmable interval time PKI Public key infrastructure PL/1 Programming Language 1 PLA Programmable logic array PLC Programmable logic controller plc Public limited company PLD Programmable logic device PLL Phase-locked loop PL/SQL Programming Language/SQL

PM 1. Presentation Manager 2. Project management

PMD Programmable multilevel logic device

PMMU Paged memory management unit PMOS P-channel metal-oxide

semiconductor PMPM Per member per month PMPY Per member per year PMR 1. Projection microradiography

2. Private mobile radio PNNI Private network-to-network

interface PNPP Page, nonimpact, plain paper PO Purchase order POE Physician order entry system POP 1. Point of presence

2. Post Office Protocol

POS 1. Point of service 2. Point of sale

POST Power-on self test POTS Plain old telephone service POWER Performance Optimized With

Enhanced RISC (IBM) PPA Personal productivity application PPC Plain-paper copier PPMC Physician practice management

company PPMS Physician practice management

system PPO Preferred provider organization PPP Point-to-Point Protocol PQS Parallel Query Server PRA Primary Rate Access (known as

PRI in U.S.) PRC People’s Republic of China PREP PowerPC Reference Platform PRI Primary Rate Interface (known as

PRA in Canada and Europe) PROFS Professional Office System PROM Programmable read-only memory PR/SM Processor Resources/Systems

Manager PSAP Public service answering point PSF Print services facility PSK Phase shift keying PSLC Parallel Sysplex License Charge PSTN Public switched telephone network

Acronym Key

PTOCA Presentation Text Object Content Architecture

PTS 1. Parallel Transaction Server 2. Personal telecommunications service

PTT Postal, telegraph and telephone PU Physical Unit PVC Permanent virtual circuit PVD Physical vapor deposition PWB Printed wiring board PWBA Printed wiring board assembly PwC PricewaterhouseCoopers QA Quality assurance QAM Quadrature amplitude modulation QA/QC Quality assurance/quality control QBE Query by example QC Quality control QCIC Quad Channel I/O Controller QEMM Quarterdeck Extended Memory

Management QFA Quick file access QIC Quarter-inch cartridge QMF Query Management Facility QOS Quality of service QSAM Queued Sequential Access Method RACE R&D for Advanced

Communications in Europe RACF Resource Access Control Facility RAD Rapid applications development RAID Redundant array of independent

disks RAM Random-access memory RAS 1. Reliability, availability and

serviceability 2. Remote-access server 3. Research and Advisory Services (Gartner product line)

RAW Read after write RBOC Regional Bell operating company RBRS Resource-based relative value scale RCC Radio common carrier R&D Research and development RDA Remote Data Access Rdb Relational Database (Digital

Equipment) RDBMS Relational database management

system RDD Rigid disk drive RDLAP Radio Data Link Access Protocol

RDM 1. Remote data management 2. Relational Document Manager (Interleaf)

RDS Report distribution system REOS Real-Time Electronic Online

System RF Radio frequency RFC Request for comment RFI 1. Request for information

2. Retail financial institution 3. Radio frequency interface

RFP Request for proposal RFQ Request for quotation RFT Request for technology RHC Regional holding company RHIN Regional healthcare information

network RHS Right-hand side RIP 1. Raster image processor

2. Routing Information Protocol (TCP/IP)

RIS Radiology information system RISC Reduced instruction set computer RJE Remote job entry RLL Run length limited RMF Resource Measurement Facility

(IBM) RMI 1. Remote Message Interface

2. Remote method invocation RMON Remote Monitoring RMS Record Management System

(VMS) ROA Return on assets ROC Republic of China (Taiwan)

ROE 1. Return on equity 2. Rest of Europe

ROI Return on investment ROM Read-only memory ROT Return on technology ROW Rest of world RPC Remote procedure call RPG Report Program Generator RPO Recovery point objective RSA Rivest-Shamir-Adelman RSNA Radiological Society of North

America RSVP Resource Reservation Protocol RTCP Real-Time Control Protocol RTO Recovery time objective

Acronym Key

RTP Rapid thermal processing RTR Reliable Transaction Router

(Digital) RUB Regional User Briefing (a Gartner-

sponsored event) RUOW Remote unit of work RWR Read while write S3 1. Stand-alone shared storage

2. S3 (San Jose, Calif.) SAA Systems Application Architecture SAD Slow applications development SAG SQL Access Group SAM Software asset management SAN Storage area network SAPI Speech Application Programming

Interface (Microsoft) SAS Sales administration system SASD Server-attached storage device SASI Shugart Associates Standard

Interface SBA Shared buffer architecture SCADA Supervisory control and data

acquisition SCC Specialized common carrier SCM 1. Software change management

2. Supply chain management SCR Sustained Cell Rate SCO The Santa Cruz Operation SCP Service control point SCS Sales configuration system SCSI Small Computer Systems Interface SD Service desk SDH Synchronous Digital Hierarchy SDI Strategic Defense Initiative SDIO Strategic Defense Initiative Office SDK 1. Software development kit

(generic term) 2. Software Development Kit (Microsoft product)

SDLC Synchronous Data Link Control SDSL Symmetric digital subscriber line SEI Software Engineering Institute SEL Secure Electronic Transactions SEM Scanning electron microscope SES Sales emulation system SET Secure Electronic Transactions SFA Sales force automation SFDSP Special-function digital signal

processing

SFM Scanning force microscope SFS Structured File Server (Transarc) SG&A Selling, general and administrative SGI Silicon Graphics Inc. SGML Standard Generalized Markup

Language SI 1. Systems integration

2. Systems integrator SIA Semiconductor Industry

Association SIC Standard Industrial Code SIFF Serial, impact, fully formed SIMD 1. Single instruction, multiple data

2. Serial, impact, dot matrix SIMM Single in-line memory module SINO Sun, IBM, Netscape, Oracle SIO Serial input/output SIS Sales intelligence system SITA Societe Internationale de

Telecommunications Aeronautiques

SKU Stock-keeping unit SLA Service-level agreement SLC Subscriber loop carrier SLI System-level integration SLIC System-licensed internal code SLIP Serial Line Internet Protocol SMB Server Message Block SMDS Switched Multimegabit Data

Service SMIL Synchronized Multimedia

Integration Language SMP Symmetric multiprocessing SMR Special mobile radio SMS 1. System-managed storage

2. Storage Management Subsystem (IBM) 3. Short Message Service or Short Messaging Service 4. Systems Management Server (Microsoft)

SMT Service mount technology SMTP Simple Mail Transfer Protocol SNA Systems Network Architecture SNADS SNA Distribution Services SNF Skilled nursing facility SNI Siemens Nixdorf

Informationssysteme SNIG Serial, nonimpact, inkjet

Acronym Key

SNMP Simple Network Management Protocol

SNOMED Systematized Nomenclature of Human and Veterinary Medicine

SNTT Serial, nonimpact, thermal transfer SOG Small-outline gull-wing SOHO Small office/home office SOJ Small-outline J-head SOM System Object Model SONET Synchronous Optical Network SOS Silicon on sapphire SPARC Scalable Processor Architecture SPC Statistical process control SPEC System Performance Evaluation

Cooperative SPECfp SPEC floating point (benchmark) SPECint SPEC integer (benchmark) SPX Sequenced Packet Exchange SQC Statistical quality control SQL Structured Query Language SQL/DS SQL/Data System SRM System Resource Manager SR Source Route SRT Source Route Transparent SS6 (7, etc.) Signaling System 6 (7, etc.) SSA Serial Storage Architecture SSD Solid-state disk SSEM System and Server Evaluation

Model SSI Supplemental Security Income SSL Secure Sockets Layer SSRP Simple Server Redundancy

Protocol ST Synchronous transport STAIRS Storage and Information Retrieval

System STEP Standard for the Exchange of

Product Model Data STDM Statistical time division

multiplexing STK Storage Technology (a.k.a.

StorageTek) STM Synchronous transfer mode STN Super twisted nematic STP 1. Signal transfer point

2. Shielded twisted pair (wiring) StP Software through Pictures

(Interactive Development Environments)

STS Sales training system

STTL Schottky transistor-transistor logic STU Secure telephone unit SVC Switched virtual circuit SVGA Super Video Graphics Array SVID System V Interface Definition SVR4 System V release 4 SVVS System V Verification Suite SW Software S.W.I.F.T. Society for Worldwide Interbank

Financial Telecommunication SWV Sampled write verify TA 1. Telecommunications

administration 2. Terminal adapter

TAB Tape-automated bonding TACS Total access communications

system TAM Total available market TAPI Telephony Application

Programming Interface TAS Telephone answering service T&C Terms and conditions TCA Telecommunications Association TCF Transparent Computing Facility TCO Total cost of ownership TCP Transmission Control Protocol TCP/IP Transmission Control

Protocol/Internet Protocol TCU Transitional care unit TDD Time division duplex TDM Time division multiplexing TDMA Time division multiple access TEB Technology-enabled buying TEFRA Tax Equity and Fiscal

Responsibility Act TEM Technology-enabled market TeraFLOPS (see TFLOPS) TERM Technology-enabled relationship

management TES Technology-enabled selling TFLOPS 1. Trillion floating-point operations

per second (if used with a specific amount, e.g., 50 TFLOPS) 2. Trillions of floating-point operations per second (if used without a specific amount, e.g., “performance measured in TFLOPS”)

TFT Thin film transistor THF Time horizon to failure

Acronym Key

TIB The Information Bus TLM Technical license management TI Texas Instruments TIFF Tag Image File Format TLCCC Trust, location, choice, cost,

convenience TLM Technical license management T&M Time and materials TMC Thinking Machines Corp. TME Tivoli Management Environment TMN Telecommunications management

network TN Twisted nematic TOA Technical office automation TOP Technical Office Protocol TP Transaction processing TPA Third-party administrator TPC Transaction Processing

Performance Council TPC-A Transaction Processing

Performance Council Benchmark A TPF Transaction Processing Facility TPM Third-party maintenance tpm Transactions per minute TPP Third-party participant tps Transactions per second TQM Total quality management TRN Token Ring Network TSAPI Telephony Services Application

Programming Interface TSO Time-Sharing Option TSO/E Time-Sharing Option/Extended TSR Terminate and stay resident TSS Team selling system TT Trouble ticket TSTN Triple super twisted nematic TTL Transistor-transistor logic TUA Telecommunications Users

Association TV Television UAN Universal area network UART Universal asynchronous

receiver/transmitter UBC-92 Uniform Billing Code of 1992 UCC Uniform Commercial Code UCR Usual and customary rates UDF User-defined functions UDP User Datagram Protocol UHC United HealthCare Corp.

UHF Ultrahigh frequency UI 1. User interface

2. Unix International ULSI Ultra-large-scale integration UMA Unified Memory Architecture UMB Upper memory block UMTS Universal Mobile

Telecommunications System UNE Unbundled network elements UNI User-to-network interface UNO Universal Networked Object UPS Uninterrupted power supply UR Utilization review URL Uniform resource locator USART Universal

synchronous/asynchronous receiver/transmitter

USB Universal Serial Bus USL Unix System Laboratories USPS United States Postal Service USS Unassisted selling system USTA United States Telephone

Association UTP Unshielded twisted-pair (cable) UTS Universal Time-sharing System UV Ultraviolet VAC Volts alternating current VAD Value-added distributor VAM Vendors Against Microsoft VAN Value-added network VANS Value-added network distributor VAR Value-added reseller VAT Value-added tax VAX Virtual Address Extension VB Virtual Basic VBR Virtual bit rate VC Virtual circuit VCR Videocassette recorder VDSL Very-high-bit-rate digital

subscriber line VDT Video display terminal VDU Visual display unit VESA Video Electronics Standards

Association VF 1. Voice frequency

2. Vector Facility (IBM) VGA Video Graphics Array VHDFDD Very high density flexible disk

drive

Acronym Key

VHDL VHSIC Hardware Description Language

VHF Very high frequency VHS Video Home System VHSIC Very High Speed Integrated Circuit

(U.S. Defense Department program)

VIE Virtually integrated enterprise VIDA VAX/IBM Data Access VIM Vendor Independent Messaging VIS Voice information services VLAN Virtual local-area network VLDB Very large database VLF Very low frequency VLIW Very long instruction word VLSI Very large-scale integration VLSIC Very large-scale integrated circuit VM 1. Virtual Machine (the operating

system) 2. Virtual machine (generic Java term)

VMA Voice Mail Association VM/CP Voice messaging/call processing VMS 1. Virtual Memory System

2. Voice messaging system VOFR Voice over frame relay VoIP Voice over IP VoPN Voice over Packet Network VPA Volume purchase agreement VPN Virtual private network VRAM Video RAM VRML Virtual Reality Modeling Language VR Virtual reality VRU Voice response unit VSAM Virtual Storage Access Method VSAT Very small aperture terminal VSE Virtual Storage Extended VTAM Virtual Telecommunications

Access Method (also known as ACF/VTAM)

VTOA Voice telephony over ATM VTOC Volume table of contents VUP VAX unit of performance W-4GL Workgroup 4GL WABI Windows Application Binary

Interface W-AD Workgroup AD WAE Wireless Application Environment

(part of WAP)

WAN Wide-area network WAP Wireless Application Protocol WARC World Administrative Radio

Conference WATS Wide-area telephone service WBEM Web-Based Enterprise

Management WBS Work breakdown structure WDP Wireless Datagram Protocol (part

of WAP) WEDI Workgroup for Electronic Data

Interchange WfMC Workflow Management Coalition WIMPS Windows, icons, menus, pointers,

scroll bars WIP 1. Work in progress

2. Windows Interface Protocol WLAN Wireless local-area network WML Wireless Markup Language (part of

WAP) WORM Write once, read many WOSA Windows Open Services

Architecture WP Word processing wpm Words per minute WSI Wafer scale integration WSP Wireless Session Protocol (part of

WAP) WSTS World Semiconductor Trade

Statistics WTA Wireless Telephony Application

(part of WAP) WTLS Wireless Transport Layer Security

(part of WAP) WTP Wireless Transaction Protocol (part

of WAP) WWW World Wide Web WYSIWYG What you see is what you get XA Extended Architecture XAPI X.400 Application Programming

Interface XAPIA X.400 API Association xDSL Generic digital subscriber line

(encompasses ADSL and SDSL) XHTML Extensible HTML XICS Xerox Integrated Composition

System XIP Execute in place XML Extensible Markup Language XMP Cross-management platform

Acronym Key

XNS Xerox Network System XPAF Xerox Printer Access Facility XPE Cross-platform environment XPG X/Open Portability Guide XPG3 X/Open Portability Guide release 3 XPG4 X/Open Portability Guide release 4 XRF Extended Recovery Facility XSL Extensible Stylesheet Language XTI X/Open Transport Interface Y2K Year 2000 YE Year-end YTD Year-to-date ZAK Zero Administration Kit ZAW Zero Administration for Windows ZIF Zero insertion force ZIP 1. Zigzag in-line package (chip

packaged 2. Zone Improvement Program (postal code)