wats line

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wats line

A business manager uses the WATS line to call a client in another state.

Definition

Noun: 1. A type of telephone service: WATS line is a telecommunications service offering long-distance calling at fixed rates within designated geographic zones. It is an acronym for Wide Area Telephone Service.

Usage
  • A WATS line is a dedicated business telephone line for making outgoing long-distance calls, typically at a bulk or flat rate, rather than per-minute charges.
  • It is used to describe a specific, historical type of commercial long-distance service, now largely superseded by modern digital and cellular networks.
Examples
  • The company installed a WATS line to manage its high volume of customer service calls across the country.
  • Before the internet, sales teams relied on a WATS line to contact clients in different time zones cost-effectively.
  • The acronym WATS stands for Wide Area Telephone Service.
Advanced Usage
  • "Inbound WATS line": A specific type of WATS line, often toll-free (like 1-800 numbers), designed to receive long-distance calls from customers at the business's expense.
    • The advertisement listed an inbound WATS line so customers could call for free.
Variants and Related Words
  • WATS (acronym): The shortened form of Wide Area Telephone Service, often used attributively (e.g., WATS service, WATS calling).
  • Toll-free line: A modern equivalent for inbound calls where the called party pays the charges.
  • Leased line: A dedicated telecommunications circuit, which could be used for voice (like a WATS line) or data.
Synonyms
  • Business long-distance line
  • Dedicated long-distance service
Notes on Meaning
  • The term WATS line is primarily historical and technical. It refers to a service common in the latter half of the 20th century before digital deregulation and Voice over IP (VoIP).
  • While the underlying concept of bulk long-distance service exists today, the specific term "WATS line" is rarely used in contemporary telecommunications outside of historical or legacy system contexts.
wats line

A business manager uses the WATS line to call a client in another state.

Noun
  1. a telephone line; long distance service at fixed rates for fixed zones; an acronym for wide area telephone service

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