24 
 
Tones and Their Meanings 
 
Ringing tones are produced by an incoming call.  Feedback tones are those which you hear through the handset 
(receiver) or the speaker. 
Ringing Tones 
• 
1 ring
 - A call from another extension. 
• 
2 rings
 - A call from outside or from the attendant. 
• 
3 rings
 - An Automatic Callback call you placed has been connected. 
• 
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 tone
 - A low-pitched tone repeated 60 times a minute; indicates the number dialed is in use. 
• 
call waiting tone
 - One, two, or three beeps of high-pitched tone, not repeated; indicates an incoming call is 
waiting to be answered.  Number of beeps designates the source: one for an internal call, two for an outside or 
attendant call, three for a priority call. 
• 
call waiting ringback tone
 - A ringback tone with a lower-pitched signal at the end; indicates the extension 
called is busy, and the called party has been given a call waiting tone. 
• 
confirmation tone
 - Three short bursts of tone; indicates a feature activation or cancellation has been accepted.  
When you have finished selecting a ringing pattern for your telephone, you hear two rising tones. 
• 
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 calling facilities are busy. 
• 
ringback tone
 - A low-pitched tone repeated 15 times a minute; indicates the number dialed is being rung. 
• 
speakerphone reset tones
 - A rising set of tones; indicates the speakerphone is adjusting itself to the 
surrounding room acoustics.