Telephony Application Programming Interface (TAPI)
The Telephony Application Programming Interface (TAPI) is a programming interface that allows software applications to interact with telephony services and devices, such as telephone systems, voice over IP (VoIP) systems, and fax machines. TAPI provides a standardized set of functions and protocols that enable developers to create telephony applications and integrate them with various telecommunication services.
Key features and components of TAPI include:
1. Call Control: TAPI allows developers to control incoming and outgoing phone calls, including features like call initiation, call answering, call forwarding, call hold, call transfer, and call termination. It provides the necessary functions to handle call routing and switching between different telephony devices.
2. Device Management: TAPI provides the ability to manage telephony devices, such as phones, modems, fax machines, and headsets. It allows applications to detect and monitor the status of devices, control their settings, and retrieve information about available telephony resources.
3. Call Monitoring and Notification: TAPI enables applications to monitor and receive notifications for various call events, such as incoming calls, call progress, call state changes, and call disconnection. This allows applications to track and respond to call events in real-time.
4. Address Book Integration: TAPI allows applications to access and integrate with address books or contact databases, enabling features like caller identification, caller name lookup, and contact synchronization.
5. Multi-Line Support: TAPI supports handling multiple telephone lines simultaneously, allowing applications to manage multiple concurrent calls and switch between different lines.
6. Telephony Services Integration: TAPI can be used to integrate telephony services, such as voice mail, interactive voice response (IVR) systems, call recording, and conferencing, into applications. This enables developers to create comprehensive telephony solutions that incorporate a range of telecommunication services.
TAPI is primarily used in Windows-based operating systems and is supported by various telephony hardware and software vendors. It provides a standardized way for applications to interact with telephony systems, enabling the development of telephony applications, call center solutions, and unified communication platforms.