A dial tone (known in the British Isles as a dialling tone) is a telephony signal used to indicate that the telephone exchange is working, has recognized an off-hook, and is ready to accept a call. The tone stops when the first numeral is dialed. If no digits are forthcoming, the permanent signal procedure is invoked, often eliciting a special information tone.
Read more about Dial Tone: History, Variants, "Soft" Dial Tones
Famous quotes containing the words dial and/or tone:
“Decades of Arrogance between
The Dial life
And Him”
—Emily Dickinson (18301886)
“Eloquence resides as much in the tone of voice, in the eyes, and in the expression of the face, as in the choice of words.”
—François, Duc De La Rochefoucauld (16131680)