Definition

Noun: 1. A type of telephone service: WATS is an acronym for Wide Area Telephone Service. It refers to a specific business telephone service that provides long-distance calling at fixed, bulk rates for calls made within defined geographic zones, rather than charging per individual call.

Usage Notes

• Historical Context: WATS was a common and cost-effective solution for businesses before the widespread adoption of digital and cellular networks. It is now largely obsolete.
• Capitalization: The term is typically written in all capital letters (WATS) because it is an acronym.
• Usage: It is used primarily in business, telecommunications, and historical contexts to describe this specific service.

Examples

• The company upgraded its WATS line to handle increased customer service calls from across the country.
• Before the internet, many organizations relied on a WATS number for their toll-free hotline.
• The billing report showed significant savings after switching to the WATS plan for our regional offices.

Advanced Usage

• "WATS line": This is the most common collocation, referring to the physical or logical telephone line subscribed to for this service.
  • Customers could call the 800 number on the WATS line without being charged.

Variants and Related Words

• In-WATS: A type of WATS service where the subscribing business long-distance calls (like a toll-free number) and pays a fixed rate.
• Out-WATS: A type of WATS service where the subscribing business long-distance calls at a fixed bulk rate.

Synonyms

• Bulk long-distance service
• Toll-free service (specifically for In-WATS)

Related Terms (Not Synonyms)

• Leased line: A dedicated telephone line rented for exclusive use.
• POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service): Standard analog telephone service, contrasting with specialized services like WATS.

Noun

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