What is the phone works both ways?

A telephone that "works both ways" refers to a device that allows for two-way communication. This means that both parties involved in the call can simultaneously hear and speak to each other.

The technology enabling this is generally referred to as duplex communication. There are two main types of duplex communication relevant to telephones:

• Full-duplex: This is the standard for modern telephones (both landlines and mobile phones). In full-duplex, communication happens in both directions at the same time. This allows for natural conversation where people can interrupt or talk over each other without breaking the connection.

• Half-duplex: In half-duplex, communication can only happen in one direction at a time. Think of a walkie-talkie, where you must press a button to speak, and release it to listen. Early telephones sometimes used half-duplex technology but modern phones all use full-duplex.