What is a touch tone phone?

A touch tone phone, also known as a push-button telephone, is a type of telephone that uses buttons or keys for dialing instead of a rotary dial. These phones were introduced in the 1960s and quickly became popular due to their ease of use and faster dialing capabilities.

Touch tone phones use a system of dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signaling to transmit the dialed numbers to the telephone network. Each button on the keypad generates two specific frequencies that correspond to a specific number or symbol. This system allows for more accurate and reliable dialing compared to rotary dial phones.

Touch tone phones also have additional features such as redial, mute, and conference calling that are activated by pressing specific buttons on the keypad. These phones are still widely used today, although they are gradually being replaced by smartphones and digital communication devices.