ADSI (Analog Display Services Interface)

ADSI (Analog Display Services Interface) is the standard protocol for enabling alternate voice and data services, such as a visual display at the phone, over the analog telephone network. Developed by Bellcore in 1993, ADSI is now built into devices such as special telephones with small display screens, cable TV set-top box , personal digital assistants ( personal digital assistant ), pagers, and personal computers with telephone applications.

A popular application enabled by ADSI is Call Waiting Deluxe, an application that displays the name and number of an incoming call while you are on the phone. If you have an ADSI screen phone, several options are displayed on your screen including switching to the new call, forwarding the new call to your voice mail, putting the new caller on hold, playing a recorded message, or dropping the current call and switching to the new call.

Other ADSI applications include:

• Visual voice mail, the display of telephone voice mail menu options and a list of your voice mail messages
• Visual directory, a service that allows you to locate the telephone number of an individual or business and, possibly at extra charge, to download the address of that individual to your screen phone
• E-mail browsing, allowing you to send and receive e-mail messages via an ADSI-enabled device.
• Schedule-based services, faxing abilities, notification of incoming e-mail messages, home banking, ticket purchasing, and access to train and plane schedules