Enables developers to write PC applications that take advantage of services provided by telephony vendors. Applications can be developed to work with telephone systems ranging from a simple Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) connection to advanced PBXs. TAPI, for example, can enable an application to dial a telephone number, store commonly dialed numbers, record greetings, and even take dictation using speech recognition.

Microsoft's protocol for linking Windows-based TAPI-compliant applications to single telephones connected to switches or to the switches themselves. The API used in PassageWay(tm) Direct Connection.

Microsoft's Windows telephony application programming interface. See also Application Program Interface.

TAPI is a program interface developed by Microsoft© for telephony applications. It lets you make telephone calls directly from the software and informs you of incoming calls.

An API for connecting a PC running Windows to telephone services. TAPI was introduced in 1993 as a result of a joint development between Microsoft and Intel. The standard supports connections by individual computers as well as LAN connections serving many computers. Within each connection type, TAPI defines standards for simple call control and for manipulating call content. The Telephony Server Application Programming Interface (TSAPI) defines similar capabilities for NetWare servers.

A set of guidelines developed by Microsoft and Intel Corporation for connecting individual PCs directly to telephones. TAPI is designed for small business networks.

The Telephony Application Programming Interface (TAPI) is an API, which enables PCs running Microsoft Windows to use telephone services. Different versions of TAPI are available on different versions of Windows. TAPI was introduced in 1993 as the result of joint development by Microsoft and Intel.