How the telephone works

• To start the call a person (caller) picks up or activates the phone handset.

• A computer at the Telephone Company detects the phone is “off hook” and places a dial tone on the line to alert the caller that the phone is ready for use.

• The caller keys in the number desired.

• The Telephone Company computer receives the dialed numbers from the caller and removes the dial tone from the caller’s line.

• The Telephone Company computer then checks the line of the person being called for usage and options.

• If the line being called is in use, and the called person has options like call forwarding voicemailor other features for their line, the Telephone Company computer sends the caller there.

• If the called person doesn’t have those options for their line the Telephone Company computer alerts the caller that the line is in use by sending back a busy signal