Patent ID: 7564963

Claim:
A multi-handset telephone system for permitting at least two users to converse face-to face with a third party comprising: a first telephone base that receives a digital signal through an external telephone line, converts the digital signal into an analog signal, and transmits the analog signal, the first telephone base having a ringer that indicates when an incoming call is received, a first handset, a first cradle to position the first handset, and a handset connection port; a second telephone base that receives the analog signal from the first telephone base through a non-rigid physical and electrical connection, the second telephone base having a second cradle, a second handset, and an outlet that splits the analog signal into a first handset cord that connects to the first handset and a second handset cord that connects to the second handset such that a first user speaks on the first handset and the second user speaks on the second handset; and a multi-position switch configured to modify, prior to transmission from the first telephone base to the second telephone base, the analog signal based on a detection of a predetermined type of amplification circuitry in the second telephone base.