A U.S. telephone company service allowing reduced costs for certain telephone call arrangements. This can be in-WATS, or 800-number service, where calls can be placed to a location from anywhere at no cost to the calling party, or out-WATS, where calls are placed out from a central location. Cost is generally based on hourly usage per WATS circuit and on distance based on zones, or bands, to which or from which calls are placed.

A special direct distance dialing (toll) service whereby a subscriber installs a dedicated line arranged for either inward or outward calls (not both) between the customer's premises and a specific geographic area. Monthly charges are based on the size of the area in which the calls are placed, not on the number or length of calls.

Toll-free numbers reached by dialing the 800, 888, 877 or 866 area codes.

A special service provided by an interexchange carrier that allows a customer to use a specific trunk to make calls to specific geographic zones or to receive a specified number of calls at a discounted price.

WATS permits customers to make (OUTWATS) or receive (INWATS) long distance voice or data calls and to have them billed on a bulk rather than individual call basis. The service is provided within selected service areas, or bands, by means of special private-access lines connected to the public telephone network via WATS-equipped central offices. A single access line permits inward or outward service, but not both.