Telephony Server Application Programming Interface (TSAPI)

Last Updated: August 18, 2011

Definition - What does Telephony Server Application Programming Interface (TSAPI) mean?

Telephony server application programming interface (TSAPI) is a computer telephony integration standard that enables telephony and computer telephony integration (CTI) application programming.

The foundation of TSAPI is the European Computer Manufacturers Association’s (ECMA) standard CTI definition of computer-supported telecommunications applications (CSTA).

TSAPI is built with multiple Netware server control commands for call logging, call switching and voice mail. Although similar to the Microsoft/Intel telephony API (TAPI), TSAPI does not require call switching.

Novell and AT&T developed TSAPI to enable third-party control of CTI applications connected to local area networks (LANs). TSAPI is used by telephone system and LAN server data links for multiple phone and computer application controls.

Techopedia explains Telephony Server Application Programming Interface (TSAPI)

TSAPI includes telephony services with the following hardware and software components:

CTI link
CTI link hardware
Switch driver
Switch driver interface
Telephony services module
Telephony server
Telephony server library
Telephony client library

TSAPI was developed when wide area network (WAN) systems based on dedicated circuit-switched links were popular. Such systems served as data carriers with dedicated endpoint channels. Modern systems separately route data pieces to destination endpoints.

TSAPI is compatible with the following clients: