Phone sex

Phone sex is a sexually explicit telephone conversation between two or more people, designed to arouse at least one participant. This practice, which relies on the temporary separation of those involved, began with the rotary dial telephone, a technological advance that made eavesdropping by operators impossible. By the late 20th century, commercial businesses had emerged that specialized in arranging paid, sexually explicit calls between clients and phone sex workers.

The activity requires imagination from all parties, as each person envisions virtual sex. It often involves at least one participant masturbating or engaging in sexual fantasy. Conversations can take many forms, including guided fantasies, sexual sounds, narrated suggestions, sexual anecdotes and confessions, candid expressions of fantasies or feelings, and discussions of personal or sensitive sexual topics. Once payment methods were developed, phone sex became primarily a commercial activity between customers and sellers.

As a substitute for physical intimacy

As a substitute for physical intimacy, phone sex involves no physical contact. Couples may use it when distance makes physical intimacy rare or impossible. Because of the potential for emotional intimacy, there is debate over whether phone sex constitutes infidelity when someone in a committed relationship participates with a person other than their partner. While phone sex may involve sex workers through a sex hotline, it should not be confused with arranging in-person prostitution over the phone.

Origin

As a business, the origin is credited to Gloria Leonard, editor of High Society magazine, who was among the first to use "976 numbers" and later "900 numbers" for promotion and revenue in the sex industry. In the early 1980s, Leonard recorded her own voice informing callers about the next issue of the magazine before publication. She later recorded others, such as Annie Sprinkle, "talking sexy." Leonard convinced the magazine’s owner, Carl Ruderman, to purchase more numbers, and the business succeeded by using the magazine to promote the service. Leonard herself was surprised by its success.

Operation

Originally, phone sex services operated as a managed network of dispatchers (live or automated) and erotic performers. Performers worked in studios with cubicles, coaching, and cash incentives to keep callers on the line longer—a world portrayed in Spike Lee’s film Girl 6. Independent phone sex was more dangerous at that time, as the movie shows. With technological progress, it became more practical and economical for providers to work from home.

Human dispatchers answered advertised numbers, processed credit card payments, matched clients with performers, and connected them. The caller could not see the performer’s number. Either party could hang up, though some services pressured providers not to.

Per-minute billing was initially handled by phone companies. In the United States, this used 976 and later 900 premium-rate numbers. Some services tried to keep callers aroused but short of orgasm to increase spending; this tactic is still used by some providers.

When public pressure forced phone companies to stop this service for sex workers, pre-paid blocks of time became common. Incentives then reversed: providers earned more by bringing callers to orgasm quickly to move on to the next call. Unused minutes were rarely usable if the customer called again.

Once the Internet matured, any sexual service not involving a minor could be sold to any non-minor. Custom software platforms handled payment, connected callers and performers (with neither seeing the other’s number), and metered the connection. Details vary by platform, but providers may have a personal page to use as they wish.

Major platforms as of 2016 include Niteflirt, TalktoMe, and My Phone Site; the latter also allows a manager, with provider consent, to run a virtual shop with multiple providers. Non-US customers were courted. Customers had various payment options and could choose from provider pages, sometimes with voice samples.

The seller provides the picture, description, and sets the price, with the platform taking a percentage. Similar platforms emerged for selling used panties and other odoriferous garments. "Cam" video sessions also appeared, where callers pay to direct a provider’s actions on video. For a higher fee, a private connection allows only the caller and provider to see each other.

In the United States, by the end of the 1980s, nearly all major local phone companies and long-distance carriers were actively involved in the phone sex business.