A connection-orientednetwork service which is implemented on top of a network which may be eITher connection-oriented or connectionless (packet swITching). The term "swITched virtual circuIT" was coined needlessly to distinguish an ordinary virtual circuIT from a {permanent virtual circuIT}. (One of the perpetrators of this confusion appears to be ["Networking Essentials", 1996, Microsoft Press, ISBN 1-55615-806-8], a book aimed at people preparing for the MCSE exam on LANs and WANs). Not to be confused wITh swITched virtual connection. (2001-10-26)