Abstract: The key button telephone system comprises a key service unit and a plurality of key telephone units. The key service unit and each key telephone unit are interconnected by a pair of cables, one of which is used as a talking circuit and the other is used to transmit and receive information signals and operating power. The key service unit comprises a line circuit for supervising the state of a line, a station unit for supervising the line circuit, and for supplying to the key telephone unit an information signal representing the state of the line and the operating power, a switching network controlled by the control output from the station unit for connecting the key telephone unit to the line, and a common control circuit for controlling the line circuit and the station unit.