ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode)Asynchronous transfer mode is a form of network connection designed to facilitate multiple services, such as voice, data, and video, over the same network. There is much speculation that ATM technology will replace Ethernet technology, ultimately blurring the distinction between local and wide area networks and even between such broader systems as public communications networks and cable television.
The requirements of data traffic differ from those of voice and video. Data traffic requires an intermittent connection capable of handling very large "bursts" of information. Voice and video tend toward a more even flow of information with a greater premium on the order in which information is received. ATM has been designed to accommodate the simultaneous transmission of data, voice and video.
In an asynchronous ("not at the same time") transfer mode, sender and receiver do not communicate directly with another. Information is sent in fixed length packets called cells that are switched through a common pickup and dropoff point. The network negotiates dedicated connections between the user and the final destination. The result is a wide bandwidth with fast data transfer and short delays. ATM is sometimes known as a "fast packet" transfer.