[nocturnx]

Originally Posted by David M I would imagine that a phone, like a typical answering machine, powered by a wall power supply could also be knocked out by lightening.

For sure, but most regular phones are provided their power through the phone line alone. And he said the power never went out and only phones were damaged. Seems to me it was a phone line surge, I've seen this happen a few times. But I agree, if its a cordless with a dock-station for example or a network phone with a power injector and uses a wall power supply its definitely a possibility.