| Backbone |
A physical telecommunications network which provides a basic connection between multiple sites or systems - onward connections to individual PCs or other devices at those sites or in those systems is provided by LANs or other types of network. Backbone networks interconnect to provide the global infrastructure over which the internet functions. |
| BACS |
The Bankers Automated Clearing System enables automatic payments to be made from one bank account to another in the UK and can be used for paying salaries and other regular payments, as well as direct debits. |
| Bandwidth |
Commonly used to express the volume of data a network can carry and the speed at which it is transmitted, bandwidth transmission frequency is measured in kilohertz (kHz) or megahertz (MHz). High bandwidth is generally equated with faster transmission of larger amounts of data. |
| Bank charges |
The charges a bank makes for handling customer transactions, eg issuing cheques and paying in cash. |
| Bank of England |
The central bank of the United Kingdom and at the heart of its financial system. Visit the Bank of England web site at www.bankofengland.co.uk for further details. |
| Banner advert |
Advertisements which appear as banners on web sites. Clicking on the banner often opens up a page on the advertiser's web site. |
| Base rate |
The lowest or 'floor' interest rate charged by banks and lenders on loans and other borrowings. |
| Benefits in kind |
Non-cash benefits, such as cars and health insurance, provided to an individual through their employment. These are often subject to tax. |
| Bit |
The smallest data unit that a computer can recognise - either a 1 or 0. |
| Bitmap image |
Comprises a grid or raster of pixels to represent a graphical image. Each pixel occupies a fixed location in the grid and is assigned a specific colour. Bitmap images can only be edited by altering the pixels, not by objects or shapes. Many photographs or images stored electronically are bitmapped and these can appear jagged or distorted if displayed or printed at too high a resolution. |
| Blog |
A weblog or internet diary. Weblogs enable users to publish short comments and ideas instantly for other people to read. Blogging can be an effective communications tool for small groups of people to keep in touch with each other. |
| Bluetooth |
Bluetooth describes technical communications protocols and standards used to provide high speed, affordable wireless communications between devices within 10 metres of each other. Amplification and increased transmission power can raise this distance, although it is intended for local rather than long distance use. Bluetooth mobile phones and PDAs are now becoming popular. |
| Body copy |
The main text of an article, press release or advertisement. |
| Bookkeeping |
Maintaining records of the financial transactions of a business including details and copies of invoices and receipts, bank statements and other paperwork required for accounting purposes. |
| Brand |
A brand is an identity - sometimes linked to a specific product - created by a company designed to be instantly recognisable to consumers. Its fundamental purpose is to ensure that consumers always seek the brand-owner's products or services in preference to those of its competitors. Branding is created with words, logos, graphics and other marketing communications tools and can be a very complex process. |
| Bridge |
A device that transfers data between two computer networks by the most direct route without redirecting or translating it. |
| Broadband |
High speed, always-on internet access with the ability to transfer large amounts of data. |
| Browser |
A software program that enables users to download and view HTML documents from the World Wide web. |
| Budget |
A financial plan of expenditure in relation to expected income. |
| Bugs |
Commonly used to describe an innate problem with a computer software program. With ever more commercial pressures on software producers to release their products faster, it is almost inevitable that any commercially available software contains one or more bugs. These can range from annoying inconsistencies to the software not performing what it was designed to do. Many software producers now distribute "bug fixes" or upgrades to solve these problems. |
| Business card |
A card bearing an individual's name, business and contact details - usually reflecting the company's corporate identity or branding - which is presented to customers, suppliers or associates. |
| Business Link |
Business Link is a national business advice service in the UK, comprising independent Business Link organisations for each geographical area of the country. Visit the Business Link web site at www.businesslink.org for further details. |
| Business plan |
A schedule of proposed business activities and aims over the next year or other specific period. The plan is based on projected figures for sales, turnover, profit and other factors and can be used to motivate individuals within a business and to measure actual performance. Many banks want to see a business plan before they will agree to lend a business money. |
Business-to-business
(b2b) |
Sales, transactions or any activity between two businesses. |
Business-to-consumer
(b2c) |
Sales, transactions or any activity between a business and private individuals (ie consumers). |
| Byte |
Used to measures computer memory where one byte equals eight bits and corresponds to one character (text, symbol or number). |
