>From:  Dennis Plunkett[SMTP:dennis@RDD.NECA.NEC.COM.AU]

>>>The Recall button does not generate any DTFM code, but is a direct signal
>>>to the chip in your phone to (what else :-) redial the number it stored
>>>from the last time.
>>>
>>
>>You'll probably find that the Recall button doesn't redial the last
>>number dialled, but presents the exchange with a signal telling it that
>>it's services are required. There are several different types of recall,
>>such as earth recall (Where one of the wires is shorted to earth), timed
>>break recall (Where the circuit is interrupted for a short period of
>>time) and a few others that I can't remember.
>
>Yes you are right in one way, exchanges con now store phone numbers in
>Australia this is called "Easy call", however the functions are envoked
>using digits and the hash key. As for redial, this will be the number in the
>phone, if you press that key, you will here the number being dialed.

Indeed, this is one of the things the exchange can do. However, if you
are stuck with a two wire analog phone (as opposed to a key phone or
somesuch!), you often find that the recall button will allow you to do
things such as putting the caller on hold, transferring the caller to a
different directory number, setting up a three way conference and other
specialties you can't do without first letting the exchange know that
you want the dial tone back!

Graham