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• It is used to describe a specific, historical type of commercial long-distance service, now largely superseded by modern digital and cellular networks.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.

Noun

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