What is the difference between Pulse and Tone?

Pulse dialing indicates the digit in the phone number by series of clicks, which corresponds only to that particular digit. It would then actually need a short pause so as to clearly identify a particular digit from the next one or the other one. While Tone dialing, on the other hand, is also referred to as Dual Tone Multi-Frequency, which uses different tones to indicate a different number.

Instead of sending different or multiple signals for each of the digits, it would need to send only one for each. In most cases, the most discriminating part between sets of phones which use pulse or tone dialing is the mechanism they use to dial the number. Tone dialing handsets use a numeric keypad where each digit could actually be pushed. Although there are some versions of pulse dialing phones with numeric keypads, the most prevalent models were those with rotary dials.

Pulse and tone are two terms that are used when it comes to using the phone. When you say pulse, this refers to taking note of the number of pulses that are used to ensure that the right phone number has been used. When you use tone dialing, this means that you are going to use specific tones that have been assigned to the numbers that are being dialed.

Pulse dialing is not normally used anymore since people have switched to tone dialing a few decades back. Some may want to use pulse dialing phones, but these may already be equipped with newer features that will make them useful in this day and age.