13
Tones and Their Meanings
Note:
The tables below describe the defaults for each ringing and feedback tone. Check with
your system manager to verify that the descriptions in the
Meaning
column are accurate
for your system.
Ringing tones
are produced by an incoming call.
Feedback tones
are those which you hear through the
handset or the speaker.
Ringing Tones
1 ring
- A call from another extension.
2 rings
- A call from outside or from the attendant.
3 rings
- A priority call from another extension, or from an Automatic Callback call you placed.
ring-ping (half ring)
- A call redirected from your telephone to another because Send All Calls
or Call Forwarding All Calls is active.
Feedback Tones
busy signal
- A low-pitched tone repeated 60 times a minute; indicates the number dialed is in
use.
call waiting ringback tone
- A ringback tone with lower-pitched signal at the end; indicates the
extension call is busy, and the called party has been given a call waiting tone. If you hear this
tone, you may wish to activate Automatic Callback.
confirmation tone
- Three short bursts of tone; indicates a feature activation or cancellation
has been accepted.
coverage tone
- One short burst of tone; indicates your call will be sent to another extension to
be answered by a covering user.
dial tone
- A continuous tone; indicates dialing can begin.
intercept/time-out tone
- An alternating high and low tone; indicates a dialing error, a denial of
the service requested, or a failure to dial within a preset interval (usually 10 seconds) after
lifting the handset or dialing the previous digit.
recall dial tone
- Three short bursts of tone followed by a steady dial tone; indicates the feature
request has been accepted and dialing can begin.
reorder tone
- A fast busy tone repeated 120 times a minute; indicates all trunks are busy.
ringback tone
- A low-pitched tone repeated 15 times a minute; indicates the telephone dialed
is being rung.
