COMMON LANGUAGE® Products:
General FAQs
Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions fielded by COMMON LANGUAGE Products subject-matter experts (SMEs):
- What are COMMON LANGUAGE Products?
- How extensively are COMMON LANGUAGE Products used domestically and internationally?
- How do I license COMMON LANGUAGE Products?
- What is a Technical Advisory Group (TAG)?
Q: What exactly are COMMON LANGUAGE Products and how will I find them useful?
A: The ability to communicate effectively within your company and with your customers, equipment suppliers and other telecommunications providers is absolutely critical to your success. COMMON LANGUAGE Products enable you to achieve this goal by:- Facilitating network and service management
- Increasing operational efficiency
- Providing interoperability
- Increasing customer satisfaction
The full suite of COMMON LANGUAGE Products includes:
- COMMON LANGUAGE Network Identification provides consistent and unique descriptions for the technical details of your company or customer network.
- COMMON LANGUAGE Equipment Identification helps you identify and track central-office equipment and associated inventory and investment information.
- COMMON LANGUAGE Service Information effectively organizes the information structure needed to identify the numerous telecommunications services your company provides.
For more in-depth information regarding COMMON LANGUAGE Products, please visit our Product Showroom.
TopQ: How extensively are COMMON LANGUAGE Products used domestically and internationally?
A: With 28 of the top 30 CLECs using COMMON LANGUAGE Products for their business needs, our code sets continue to gain acceptance as the language of choice when communicating internally or interconnecting with other service providers.
Worldwide, over 160 companies license COMMON LANGUAGE Network Identification and COMMON LANGUAGE Service Information. License privileges are also extended to over 685 client affiliates.
Finally, COMMON LANGUAGE Products have extended their reach to over 1200 small telecommunications providers through licensing arrangements with USTA and NTCA.
In 2002, our 1,000th equipment-vendor license was signed to provide COMMON LANGUAGE Equipment Codes (CLEI™ Codes) used by carriers and vendors for the naming and classification of telecommunications equipment.
Our message to you: Join the growing group of COMMON LANGUAGE Product customers!
TopQ: I was told we need COMMON LANGUAGE Location Codes (CLLI™ Codes). How exactly do I become a licensee? A: Once you've decided to license any of our COMMON LANGUAGE Products, we hope you'll phone, fax or e-mail us, complete our simple feedback form.
Our sales department will then obtain all the necessary information and prepare a master agreement for your review and approval. When we receive the original signed copy, your license will become effective and you will begin enjoying the value and benefits of our COMMON LANGUAGE Products.
TopQ: What exactly is a TAG? Can I attend? Why would it benefit my company to do so?
A: Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) are convened quarterly to address important coding issues and related definitions. There is one TAG for each code set and Standard licensees can ensure that COMMON LANGUAGE Products continue to reflect their specific needs by becoming active participants in these highly regarded forums.
Other compelling reasons to become a TAG member are:
- To protect the integrity of your business with regard to network and service management and other operational issues
- To ensure that others companies' requests do not adversely impact your interests and bottom line
- To gain needed intelligence on new technologies that are at the forefront of our rapidly changing telecommunications industry
- To acquire critical knowledge on best practices from other industry members as well as COMMON LANGUAGE Product subject-matter experts