When is Push-button Phone Day?

It is observed on November 18 each year.

Push-button Phone Day — Obscure Holiday Calendar

Overview

Observed on November 18th, Push-button Phone Day celebrates the revolutionary impact of push-button telephones, which began replacing rotary-dial phones. Pioneered by AT&T's Touch-Tone service in 1963, this innovation allowed users to dial numbers faster and more efficiently using a keypad. This technological leap significantly enhanced telecommunications and paved the way for modern digital communication and interactive voice response systems.

Observed each year on November 18, Push-button Phone Day invites people to pause, share the story, and bring a little themed joy to their day.

Origin and story

AT&T's commercial Touch-Tone service, introducing push-button dialing, debuted on November 18, 1963, first in two Pennsylvania cities.

The original push-button telephones featured a 10-key keypad for digits 0-9; the asterisk (*) and pound (#) keys were added later for special services.

Quick facts

DateNovember 18
TypeCultural / community observance
Great forFriends, Families, Classrooms, Teams

Also on this date

Ways to celebrate

Share one fast fact about Push-button Phone Day: AT&T's commercial Touch-Tone service, introducing push-button dialing, debuted on November 18, 1963, first in two Pennsylvania cities.
Share the story of Push-button Phone Day on social and tag it with #pushbuttonphoneday so others can join in.
Plan a 10-minute activity that fits the cultural / community observance vibe and make it a mini tradition.
Push-button Phone Day lands on November 18 — host a quick nod with Friends, Families and snap a photo.
Write a note or journal entry on why Push-button Phone Day matters, then set a reminder for next year.

Fun facts

AT&T's commercial Touch-Tone service, introducing push-button dialing, debuted on November 18, 1963, first in two Pennsylvania cities.
The original push-button telephones featured a 10-key keypad for digits 0-9; the asterisk (*) and pound (#) keys were added later for special services.
Each button on a Touch-Tone phone generates a unique pair of distinct tones, known as Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) signaling, making transmission robust.

Sources and attribution

Source not provided.

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FAQ

When is Push-button Phone Day?: It is observed on November 18 each year.
What is Push-button Phone Day?: Observed on November 18th, Push-button Phone Day celebrates the revolutionary impact of push-button telephones, which began replacing rotary-dial phones. Pioneered by AT&T's Touch-Tone service in 1963, this innovation allowed users to dial numbers faster and more efficiently using a keypad. This technological leap significantly enhanced telecommunications and paved the way for modern digital communication and interactive voice response systems.
How do people celebrate Push-button Phone Day?: Share one fast fact about Push-button Phone Day: AT&T's commercial Touch-Tone service, introducing push-button dialing, debuted on November 18, 1963, first in two Pennsylvania cities.

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