plain old telephone service

Questions

What does plain old telephone service mean?

A traditional telephony system based on the analog transmission of sound, as opposed to newer alternatives like ISDN or VoIP.

Where does plain old telephone service come from?

A reinterpretation of the long-standing acronym POTS, originally standing for post office telephone system.

How to pronounce plain old telephone service

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “plain old telephone service”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “plain old telephone service”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “plain old telephone service” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.