PLAIN OLD TELEPHONE SERVICE

Domain	Definition
Computing	Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) The traditional voice service provided by phone companies, especially when opposed to data services. Note that the acronym POTS is sometimes expanded as "Plain Old Telephone System" in which sense it is synonymous to Public Switched Telephone Network but used somewhat derogatively. (1998-05-18). Source: The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Specialty Definition: Plain Old Telephone Service

Plain Old Telephone Service, or POTS, are the services available from an analogue telephones prior to the introduction of electronic telephone exchanges into the public switched telephone network. These services had been available almost since the introduction of the telephone system in the late nineteenth century.

These services included:

Bi-directional, or duplex, speech path,
Dial Tone and Ringing Signals,
Subscriber Dialing,
Operator Services, such as directory assistance and long distance and conference calling assistance.

With the advent of electronic telephone exchanges and computerisation during the 1970s and 1980s, a raft of new network services became available. These had been termed PANS for Pretty Advanced Network (or New) Services by some in the industry, although that term has never really caught on. The service offered include:

Voice Mail
Caller Identification
Call Waiting
Reminder Calls
(Three Way) Conference Calling
Enhanced 911

and a number of other similar services.

The new services were made possible by the introduction of the support network for the ISDN as well as raised consumer expectations from services offered on mobile telephones.

Historical Note

The system now known as the Plain Old Telephone Service was originally knowns as the Post Office Telephone Service or Post Office Telephone System. The term was dropped as telephone services were removed from the control of national post offices.

Non-Fiction Usage: PLAIN OLD TELEPHONE SERVICE

Subject	Topic	Quote
Economic History	Sweden	The New Economy has strong roots here in Sweden - Sweden was the first country in Europe to fully deregulate its telecommunications market, and today there are over 40 telecom operators offering plain old telephone service, as well as, broadband initiatives. (references)
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

Modern Translation: PLAIN OLD TELEPHONE SERVICE

Language		Translations for "PLAIN OLD TELEPHONE SERVICE"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses.
Dutch		conventionele telefoondienst (POTS). (various references)

Finnish		tavallinen perinteinen puhelinpalvelu (POTS). (various references)

French		service téléphonique ordinaire, service téléphonique classique. (various references)

German		herkömmlicher Fernsprechdienst (POTS). (various references)

Greek		συμβατική τηλεφωνική υπηρεσία (POTS). (various references)

Italian		servizio telefonico convenzionale (POTS). (various references)

Pig Latin		ainplay olday elephonetay ervicesay

Portuguese		serviço telefónico convencional (POTS). (various references)

Spanish		servicio telefónico convencional (plan old telephone service, POTS). (various references)

Swedish		vanlig telefoni (POTS), bastelefoni (POTS). (various references)
Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references.

PLAIN OLD TELEPHONE SERVICE

Specialty Definition: PLAIN OLD TELEPHONE SERVICE

Computing

Specialty Definition: Plain Old Telephone Service

Historical Note

Crosswords: PLAIN OLD TELEPHONE SERVICE

Non-Fiction Usage: PLAIN OLD TELEPHONE SERVICE

Economic History

Sweden

Modern Translation: PLAIN OLD TELEPHONE SERVICE

Dutch

Finnish

French

German

Greek

Italian

Pig Latin

Portuguese

Spanish

Swedish

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