Signal tone

A signal tone or signalling tone (or signaling tone) is a steady periodic sound (not necessarily a pure tone) used to indicate a condition, for example on a telephone line or as an audible warning.

In telephone systems, these tones are in-band indicators to subscribers, as opposed to in-band and out-of-band switching Signaling (telecommunications) tones. Typical major signal tones are dial tone, ringing tone, busy tone, and number unavailable tone. A loud stutter warning signal tone is used to alert subscribers of an engaged telephone circuit, warning that the other party has disconnected as a reminder to indicate the handset is not properly hung up.

Subscribers may choose to include additional vertical service code custom local area signaling services such as call forwarding which may indicate function by a stutter dial tone.

See also

• Musical tone
• Dual-tone multi-frequency signaling
• Signaling (telecommunications)