Phone sex operators, I thought they were a relic of the past?

People are always interested in hearing about the kind of services that sex workers provide; let’s be honest, we are fascinated by sex and those who provide professional services in this area. Although online visual content such as photos, videos and live cam shows has taken over, did you know that phone sex services are still highly sought after and successful, decades after their heyday? Read on to find out more.

A Brief History of Phone Sex

The golden era of phone sex was through the 1980s and 1990s when the opportunities presented by 1900 pay-per-minute numbers were capitalised upon by American TelNet (ATN). ATN pioneered these numbers, which previously could be called for sports scores, weather reports and horoscopes. The founders of ATN started using these numbers, manned by phone sex operators (PSOs), charging $4-$5/minute to talk with whomever the caller desired. If you are old enough, you may even remember seeing these numbers advertised in the classified section of your local newspaper.

The early business model was one of an office space filled with PSOs, taking calls from people wanting a variety of fantasy, interactive, auditory experiences. At ATN’s peak, they had 500-600 people working out of a converted warehouse and made USD 2 million on a good Friday night. Other businesses and individual operators jumped on the use of these numbers and the phone sex business grew, with the associated technology required to run safe and discreet systems being developed to support it. Phone menus, call automation and voice recognition that we take for granted today when using phone services were all established by phone sex businesses such as ATN.

In 2002, profits from phone sex were estimated at one billion US dollars per year, with phone companies taking close to USD 500 million of the profits to provide the necessary infrastructure. The UK has also played a pivotal role in the hosting of phone sex companies. Due to changes in telecommunication regulations, the business in the UK required the rerouting of phone lines through other countries, having a major impact on profits.

Current State of Play (pun intended!)

So what does phone sex look like today? With further technological developments, things have moved on from the traditional telephone line which underpinned early phone sex services. Now, Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) means that online companies have integrated phone sex services alongside adult content and live cams. This means PSOs can conduct their businesses independently and securely from anywhere in the world.

Niteflirt is a dedicated phone sex site where users can browse the profiles of independent PSOs and call those who pique their interest via VOIP. LoyalFans and IWantClips are two other sites that have incorporated phone services within what they already offer in adult content.

Traditionally, phone sex services were advertised in newspapers and adult magazines but now you can find providers online, through searching the platforms I have already mentioned or your trusty old search engine.

FAQ

“Really? People still use phone sex lines? I don’t believe it!”

Yes! Human sexuality and the things that turn us on are diverse, and there are people who enjoy listening to someone talking dirty to them. It is also a form of adult entertainment that can be accessed almost anywhere discreetly. Some people also enjoy the taboo nature of carrying on a hot conversation while in public and no one around them knowing that it is happening.

“What kind of things do people call phone sex operators to talk about?”

The kinds of things that PSOs talk about are endless. While most offer a particular type of role-play fantasy, some PSOs report their interactions as just being available for conversation, listening to the person on the other end, or engaging in an activity that many would not find arousing (for example, laughing, coughing, or blowing their nose).

“Are phone sex operators doing boring daily tasks while they are talking dirty to a caller? I think I saw that in a movie once…”

Everyone operates differently, but because phone sex generally runs through VOIPs, most operators are using the internet or a computer, to filter through and answer calls. So, although they may get up to do some ironing or the like during a call, a lot of the work is based in a traditional office set up with a range of “props” to help bring the fantasy they are creating to life.