Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

Common Intermediate Format
     
         (CIF, or Full CIF (FCIF) to distinguish it
        from Quarter CIF (QCIF)) A video format used in
        {videoconferencing} systems, which supports both {NTSC} and
        {PAL} signals, with a data rate of 30 frames per second (fps),
        with each frame containing 288 lines and 352 {luminance}
        {pixels} per line.  CIF is part of the {ITU} {H.261}
        videoconferencing standard.
     
        {QCIF}, a related video format standard, transfers one fourth
        as much data as CIF.  QCIF is defined in ITU H.261 as having
        144 lines and 176 pixels per line, with half as many
        {chrominance} pixels in each direction.  QCIF is suitable for
        {videoconferencing} systems that use telephone lines.  The
        {codec} standard specifies that QCIF compatibility is
        mandatory, and CIF compatibility is optional.
     
        (1999-04-22)