ISDN Highway is a digital line service that has the capability to handle two calls at once (two incoming, one incoming and one outgoing or two outgoing). A normal phone line can only handle one telephone call. ISDN Highway will work with normal phones and faxes, and also ISDN compatible equipment, for instance terminal adapters that connect to your computer and deliver ISDN speeds.

ISDN Business Highway boxes installed from 1st November 2001 have five sockets, which means that you don't have to continually plug and unplug equipment that you want to use on the line. On the front, the two white sockets can be used for plugging in analogue equipment. The two blue sockets are for ISDN-compatible equipment. The USB port (on the underside of the box directly underneath the USB symbol shown on the front) is for plugging your computer directly into the ISDN Business Highway box using a USB cable.

ISDN Business Highway is provided with three telephone numbers. In most cases, if we convert your existing line to ISDN Business Highway, you should be able to keep your existing phone number. With regard to the two extra numbers, one could be for a fax machine or second phone (the second white socket). The other number is a digital number for your computer or other digital devices plugged into the blue sockets or USB socket. You will be able to have three free directory entries in the business section of the phone book.

You can achieve a connection speed of 128 Kbps via the USB connection. Or via a Terminal Adapter or ISDN PCI card that supports channel-bonding. When you are connected to a service at 128 Kbps speed you are making two simultaneous calls and as such will incur two call charges. When connected to the Internet at double speed i.e. 128 Kbps you will be using all the available bandwidth on your ISDN Business Highway. You will therefore not be able to use the phone. Incoming calls will receive the engaged tone. You will need to reconnect at 64 Kbps if you wish to make a phone call.

To connect your computer to the USB socket you will need :-

- A USB port on the PC or Apple Mac you will be connecting to the Business Highway box. This port is identifiable by the three-pronged symbol, and could be located on the back, side, monitor or elsewhere on your computer
- A compatible computer Operating System. These are:

- PC : Windows 98, 98SE, 2000 Professional, Millennium Edition (Me), Windows XP Home, Windows XP Professional.
- Apple Mac : Mac OS 9.0, 9.1 and 9.2.

(Please note that these are the only Operating Systems that are supported by the ISDN Business Highway USB function. If you use any other Operating System on your computer, such as Windows 95, you will not be able to connect via the USB and will either need to upgrade your Operating System or connect your computer via a Terminal Adapter or ISDN PC card into the blue sockets on the front of the box).

- A CD drive. Most computers that have a USB port will also have a CD drive. This is required in order to run the CD that installs the USB drivers onto your computer.
- A USB cable. A test cable can be left with you when the line is installed but this is not a part of the Business Highway service and it will not be maintained by BT
- The CD that contains the USB drivers. This will be left you when the line is installed. You will need to install these drivers onto the computer that you will be connecting to the USB socket on the ISDN Business Highway box.
- A Quick Install Guide for installing the USB drivers. Again, this will be left with you when the line is installed. The CD also contains more detailed User Guides for the USB part of the service, Frequently Asked Questions and other information.

Herewith a listing of the ISDN Business Highway Select Services that are currently available.

PNCLI - Presentation Number Calling Line Identity
Presentation Number (PN) allows you to specify a telephone number for your Calling Line Identity (CLI) for outgoing calls, which may be different to your usual telephone number. For example, your company's branches could present your call centre's 0800 number to direct return calls to the call centre, rather than back to the branches, thus resulting in improved customer handling. PN is often used in conjunction with our "Non-Geographic-AREA CALL NUMBER" service.

MSN - Multiple Subscriber Numbering
MSN lets you have up to 10 directory numbers associated with your ISDN Business Highway line, enabling you to be able to assign different numbers for fax, telephone, data and video services. The call information that is sent down the ISDN Business Highway line and any extension wiring will be the last 6 digits of the called number only.

CLIP - Calling line Identity Presentation
Shows the telephone number of the person calling you.

CLIR - Calling Line Identity Restriction
Prevents others from seeing your telephone number when you call them.

CCCF - Customer Controlled Call Forwarding
Enables you to transparently forward incoming calls to another telephone number, in the event that you are not available.

Call Waiting & Call Hold
Call Waiting allows you to have up to 4 voice or data calls waiting at any one time. Any one of the waiting calls can be selected for connection at any time. The Call Hold part of the service allows you to switch between individually held calls without losing them. The calls can be incoming or outgoing.

Call Deflection
Allows you to deflect calls of certain types, from certain numbers or calls to specific numbers or DDI extensions. A deflected call can be directed to any phone number that accepts incoming calls (such as a mobile phone or an ordinary exchange line).

Call Forwarding: Unconditional
A one-off request to BT to forward all your incoming calls to a designated number.

Call Forwarding: On Busy
A one-off request to BT to forward all your incoming calls to a designated number when your line is engaged.

Call Forwarding: On No Reply
A one-off request to BT to forward all your incoming calls to a designated number when your line is unanswered.