| Word | Description |
| Validating credit | The authorising of credit card transaction using a merchant bank. |
| Value added network (VAN) | A privately owned, or proprietary, network. VANs generally provide specialised services, such as electronic data interchange services or access to a particular database. By definition, a VAN adds something of value to the transmission. |
| VDSL | Very high speed DSL. VDSL is designed to operate over much shorter distances than ADSL, but delivers much higher speeds. Today’s leading VDSL chipsets are capable of delivering 100mbps in each direction, but only over distances of about 300 m. |
| Vector graphics | The presentation of images stored as line segments or other mathematical representations. |
| VeriSign | A US source for supplying digital certificates. |
| Video conferencing | Involves two or more parties in different locations engaging in communication via video transmission. |
| Viral marketing | A technique encouraging users to pass on messages, especially slogans or product recommendations, to friends and relatives. |
| Virus | Any program written to damage computer systems. A virus may cause major damage to a computer system, such as erasing vital files, or the user may not even detect its presence. There are many different types and forms of viruses, and the use of anti-virus software is essential. |
| VOD | Video on demand. This is a broadband service where a movie is sent over the network, commencing within a few seconds of the user requesting it. In the most advanced implementations, the user has full ‘stream control’ (stop, fast forward, fast reverse etc.) – exactly as if they were watching the movie on a DVD player. |
| Voice mail | Electronic transmission of voice messages over the Internet. The messages are stored on a computer until the recipient accesses and listens to them. |
| Voice recognition | The ability of a machine or computer program to receive and interpret spoken commands and act upon those commands. It can also be used to refer to a computer program’s ability to transform dictation into text. |
| VoIP (Voice over IP) | VoIP is a technology for providing telephony services over broadband connections. It relies on taking voice signals, digitising them and breaking them into small ‘packets’ of data that can be sent the same way that other digital information is sent. The key benefits are substantially reduced costs and enhanced features. For example, someone can re-establish their VoIP service from any location where they can get broadband connectivity, and calls to their normal number will be sent to that location. |
| VPN (virtual private network) | A network that may be built using Internet technologies. |