What are Phone Jacks?
Phone jacks are wall-mounted terminals which are used to connect a telephone to outside wiring, which leads eventually to a central phone system. Much like power outlets, the configuration of phone jacks varies from nation to nation, but it is usually standardized within a country. Many homes have at least one phone jack, with larger homes and businesses usually having multiple phone jacks. Phone jacks are integral to telephone connections, and they are also often used for data connections as well. To connect to a phone jack, a consumer uses telephone cord with a plug which matches the phone jack. When telephones first began to be widely used, they were usually hard wired into the wall by the telephone company. As telecommunications expanded, this became impractical, and telephone companies designed customized jacks for their customers. Eventually, the use of a standardized jack which would allow customers to switch easily became widespread. In the United States, most private homes hav