Trimline telephone - Definition

The Trimline telephone is a variety of telephone set designed by Henry Dreyfuss Associates for the AT&T Bell System.

The idea behind the Trimline telephone was to create an alternative telephone set design that was stylish and easier to use than a traditional telephone. This was accomplished by moving the dial from the telephone's base to the inside of the handset, between the earpiece and mouthpiece. The user could then dial a call without having to return to the base. The same concept is now used by all cellular telephone and cordless telephone models.

Introduced in 1965, the Trimline included a lighted dial and was encased in a sleek, curved plastic housing. Later versions replaced the dial with a touch-tone keypad. Today, similarly designed models are sold by many companies.