8517.18.00.20 - Multiline telephones (including key, call director and consoles) 🖩

This HTS classification, 8517.18.00.20, specifically designates multiline telephones. These are telephones designed to handle multiple incoming and outgoing lines simultaneously, often found in business or professional environments. The category explicitly includes key telephones, which feature multiple line buttons, call director telephones that manage incoming calls and route them, and console-style telephones that serve as a central hub for managing a larger number of lines and extensions within an organization.

This category is distinct from its sibling, 8517.18.00.10, which covers videophones. While both may be used for communication, videophones are primarily characterized by their ability to transmit and receive visual information in conjunction with audio. The sibling category 8517.18.00.50, "Other," is a residual category for telephone sets not otherwise specified, highlighting the specific nature of the multiline telephone classification.

As a leaf node, this category does not have further subcategories. Therefore, classification within 8517.18.00.20 relies on identifying the physical and functional characteristics of the telephone set, specifically its capability to manage multiple lines and its intended use in a multi-line communication system, such as a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) or a similar office telephone system.