Dial

In telephony and telecommunications in connection with a telephone, a dial refers, in older telephones, to a rotating disk with 10 numbered finger holes. When a particular numbered hole is rotated with the finger to a finger stop set at a specific point across the dial, then released, the dial mechanism rotates the dial back to its original position and transmits pulses down the telephone line according to the number of the hole selected.

Related Topics:
Telephony - Telecommunications - Telephone

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Nowadays the dial is a key pad, generally with 12 keys numbered 0-9,*, and # that performs an equivalent signalling function to that of a rotating disk dial.

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In telephony, the word dialing (in present and past tense spelt with two "l"s in British English and with one in American English) describes the process of the placement of a telephone call.

Related Topics:
Telephony - British English - American English - Telephone call

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