vide the backbone for an IICs network and business operations. From a network point of view, they are the systems IICs use to manage, monitor, maintain and manipulate their networks. From a customer-facing point of view, they are the systems that manage customer information and processes, such as ordering, trouble ticketing, billing and customer relationship management. OSSs can also include systems responsible for dispatching repair technicians or those that empower an IIC's sales force. Order decomposition: The process by which an order is divided into the constituent tasks necessary for its fulfillment. Order management systems support this function. Order entry: The process by which various types of orders are submitted for action. OSS platform: An IIC's end-to-end OSS infrastructure. OSS vendor: A developer and seller of OSS software packages. Over-the-air-provisioning (OTAP) process: The processes and systems that enable mobile devices to be activated and authenticated on mobile networks by sending commands over an air or radio frequency (RF) interface. Physical inventory: The record of an IIC's network assets, such as switching equipment or telephone numbers. Primary Inter-LATA Carrier/Carrier Access Record Exchange (PIC/CARE): The systems and transactions LECs use to designate a customer's chosen long distance voice service provider. Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS): Exactly what it says. The common term for traditional voice or telephony services. Point-to-point integration: An implementation in which two applications are integrated directly in a tightly coupled fashion. Glossary Policy management system: Typically a highly reliable, fault tolerant server running rules-based software and maintaining a database that stores "policies" or rules for how different traffic or requests should be treated. An example can be a server that establishes and manages VPN sessions. Port on a switch: The actual card, interface or line to which a customer or session is assigned. Pre-rating: A function or process used to