What's a watts line?

[Keego]

in the context of using it for a phone line?
I've *never* heard this kind of line...

 

[Robert01]

Watt are you talking about? ha ha ha, couldn't resist.

 

[Keego]

lol, watt you think you are a funnyman??



<< A Watts line is a dedicated phone line, usually used by larger companies. For the most part it acts just like a regular phone line >>



good ol Coworkers

 

[Jfur]

A long, long time ago these were toll free lines that did OUTGOING calls for businesses

 

[Keego]

Eh no incoming calls?

 

[Jfur]

no, now that's how the toll free lines work, but originally the watts lines were just outgoing, I think

I'm not certain, but I think now it is sometimes used to refer to all tolls free (1-800 type) calls

it was in the 70's and early 80's, I think something like the "Wide Area Toll-free Telephone Service"

 

[kranky]

WATS = Wide Area Telecommunications Service. I don't know if they still use that term, I haven't heard it in quite a long time.

It can be either inbound or outbound. Inbound WATS is just like an 800 number - the caller doesn't pay for the call. Outbound WATS is a deal where you pay a reduced price per call or per minute in return for a large monthly cost.

 

[Keego]

Thanks kranky, now I fully understand how old this POS phone line the person is using really is...

 

[daveman]

I remember when I was a kid dad worked out of town and use to call mom on the watts line at work. I always figured it was some kind of toll-free line for long distance.

 

[TonTo]

watt are you talking about?
or is the watt line like the bat phone? but the watt line for mr wattson and sherlock holmes?