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A telephone is a telecommunications device that permits two or more users to conduct a conversation when they are too far apart to be heard directly. A telephone converts sound, typically and most efficiently the human voice, into electronic signals that are transmitted via cables and other communication channels to another telephone which reproduces the sound to the receiving user. The term is derived from Greek: τῆλε (tēle, far) and φωνή (phōnē, voice), together meaning distant voice. A common short form of the term is phone, which came into use almost immediately after the first patent was issued.In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell was the first to be granted a United States patent for a device that produced clearly intelligible replication of the human voice at a second device. This instrument was further developed by many others, and became rapidly indispensable in business, government, and in households.
The essential elements of a telephone are a microphone (transmitter) to speak into and an earphone (receiver) which reproduces the voice in a distant location. In addition, most telephones contain a ringer to announce an incoming telephone call, and a dial or keypad to enter a telephone number when initiating a call to another telephone. The receiver and transmitter are usually built into a handset which is held up to the ear and mouth during conversation. The dial may be located either on the handset or on a base unit to which the handset is connected. The transmitter converts the sound waves to electrical signals which are sent through a telephone network to the receiving telephone, which converts the signals into audible sound in the receiver or sometimes a loudspeaker. Telephones are duplex devices, meaning they permit transmission in both directions simultaneously.
The first telephones were directly connected to each other from one customer's office or residence to another customer's location. Being impractical beyond just a few customers, these systems were quickly replaced by manually operated centrally located switchboards. These exchanges were soon connected together, eventually forming an automated, worldwide public switched telephone network. For greater mobility, various radio systems were developed for transmission between mobile stations on ships and automobiles in the mid-20th century. Hand-held mobile phones were introduced for personal service starting in 1973. In later decades, their analog cellular system evolved into digital networks with greater capability and lower cost.
Convergence has given most modern cell phones capabilities far beyond simple voice conversation. Most are smartphones, integrating all mobile communication and many computing needs.

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  1. T

    Anyone miss phone calls?

    Anyone miss phone calls from potential customers? I'm looking to help 1 plumbing business answer their calls and take messages for free, in exchange for a case study. Message me if you'd like some more info.
  2. M

    Phone inspection cameras...

    Are these any good? Been called to a cafe where the toilet keeps blocking. They have called dino rod around 4 times in past 2 months to unblock the loo. They have asked me to have a look but I need a camera. Do the above work or do I need to hire one. They seem quite expensive to hire though...
  3. sammathias

    DDOS message. Ray error on phone?

    anyone else having trouble with making posts or replying to posts off your phones?? keep getting some error message ray:382838382 so and so....
  4. Stanios

    Anyone else put their phone on silent last few days?

    Normally I'd get a few calls a day, yesterday counted 28 calls the ones I answered were mostly boiler breakdowns/frozen pipes and wanted a plumber asap. I've got a cold and diary is full anyway. Just amazing once the big guys can't cope the spill over makes you realise how much work there is...
  5. O

    What mobile phone ......

    hi lads I tried find8ng some recent posts but somehow it did not lead me in any direction so here it goes. I am looking for a new mobile phone. I always had iPhone which are great but seem to have trouble with batteries after a year. However, I am not looking in iPhone 7 but 6 or 6s Or...
  6. J

    mobile phone for plumbers

    Just wondering what phone works best for u plumbers. I take a lot of photos,and a lot of notes.
  7. moonlight

    Do you have a phone full of other peoples bad work?

    I was looking through my phone today, trying to clear up my storage and came across a few ringers. What pictures do you have on your phone that you don't mind sharing?
  8. Lou

    Being contactable, my phone number

    Hi all I thought I would post my number for if there are any issues that need to be resolved asap. Dan is pretty hard to get hold of at the moment so my number is 07779 918918. If you text me I can bring it to Dan's attention to be fixed right away if I cannot do it myself. Thanks
  9. L

    38cxi pre-heat problem

    Good evening all, I am a new member, a retired engineer, but not a heating engineer. I have a problem with my 38cxi with after burn at the end of the pre-heat cycle, that my Service Engineer has not experienced, and which Gow-Worm support do not appear to be able to advise on. I can tell when...
  10. gmartine

    Valliant Vsmart or Vrt350F ?

    I'm not familiar with either but I've been asked to update controls on a Vaillant combi system, client hasn't asked for weather comp but I'd like to offer it, are there any issues with either?
  11. P

    Who here yaps on the phone while driving?

    I'll admit i swipe my screen when a text come in and glance at it but not reply. Wrong but I'm being honest. I was turning right and another car this morning (actually it was a builder in a van) he was trying to turn past my van with one hand on the wheel as he was holding his phone against his...
  12. V

    cat s60 phone

    Anyone got /used one...is it any good? is the flir thing worthwhile?
  13. W

    i phone

    ay ups folks just wondered if theres an app or something that can help me view this forum on a phone, at present if i go on here via my phone i need a microscope or enlarge and read sentences bit by bit. ?? cheers
  14. GQuigley67

    Late night phone calls from clients

    Do you guys answer the phone after a certain time at night or ignore them until morning and call back? I don't offer a 24 hr service and find that general enquiries should be made during a reasonable time, I think its time to invest in another mobile phone for business only and turn it off after...
  15. H

    DeWalt Phone

    Still have a JCB phone somewhere, couldn't kill the bloody thing. Not sure how this will stand up. Construction giant Dewalt unveils smartphone - BBC News
  16. M

    Help with old boiler instructions / diagrams etc

    Hello All Second try! I only joined yesterday, but have seen some very informative info in the past, I'm not a Plumber or Heating Eng just someone who likes to understand how my own system should operate properly. I did put a post on but for some reason it has a "lock" icon and no one can...
  17. W

    Do you phone people on a bank holiday friday?

    Or do you treat it like a Sunday or late evening? Presume for this experiment they left you a voicemail about non-urgent work the afternoon before. Is it barely rude or would you wait until Sat? It's funny one I find. The odd time I phone people on a Sunday, apologising for phoning on a...
  18. P

    Scam phone calls "we need access to your computer"

    I had one today, "we understand you are having problems with your Windows computer" I got a little bit carried away with the abuse I hurled down the phone before he hung up, I had to go outside so my customer didn't hear. :cuss:
  19. W

    How many Don't Answer's have you got saved on your phone?

    I've accumulate about 10-15 over te last 6 years. Turned on my phone this morning to see "You missed calls at 5:12, 5:14, 5:19 from Don't Answer" No message left. No idea which one he/she is but the system works.
  20. R

    Phone call

    Just had a call Can you quote to change my bath taps? Me - not at 9pm in a Sunday I can't Him - oh ok is it not a good time Me - no it's not, thx, bye Is it me? I'd never phone someone at night. It's how I was bought up.
Creating content since 2001. Untold Media.
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