[TalBlack]

I recall something like that being talked about back in the 60s with respect to the transducer in a cradled phone. It, like any other transducer in the room (speaker etc) would vibrate and produce micro voltages that could be picked up.

[Roccus]

See my #69 During a boring meeting in the MD governor's office, someone unscrewed the transmitter grill of the handset. Looking at the innards, he determined it was "live" and would remain so even if receiver was "on hook" (cradled)

There are only two wires to the transmitter in a handset, so the AT&T explaination of a "mistake in wiring" was totally bogus.