* A complete overview of telephony, wireless, and data communications, this is a superb introduction for the novice and a plain-language, math-free refresher for the expert* Presents the fundamentals of each technology used to deliver network services, places them in context with each other, and gives practical examples of their applications* Get the basics of the SS7 network and its impact on cellular* Understand the basics of TCP/IP and the Internet* Understand the fundamentals of the cellular network, SONET, and ATM* Stay up to the minute on voice over IP and local number portability issues.