the telephone has rung severaltimes before I answered it. vs The telephone had rung severaltimes before I answered it.

Some examples from the web:

• I shall have to go back to the Post Office, to see why the telephone hasn't been connected.
• So we have come a long way from those days where the telephone has become an instrument of empowerment, and really has changed the way Indians think of technology.
• And before I answered him, I turned and looked over my shoulder...
• The bell has rung, people.
• All students, the bell has rung.
• The bell has rung upon his great career.
• It appears as if the final bell has rung for these students.
• The bell at Sunnyside has rung, so Bonnie is officially on her winter break.
• I answered the same things a thousand times.
• Cause I answered no twice to the government loyalty questionnaire.
• I answered honestly to both questions.
• Communications have been intercepted, and free access to information via TV, Internet and telephones has been disturbed on several occasions.
• Try the last four digits the telephone number.
• Heard Sister Julienne on the telephone.
• The telephone company says the Russians...
• Because it rang, and I answered it.
• And my dad was sick, so I answered an ad for modeling work.
• I think I answered all of them.
• I answered phones, handled billing.
• And I answered the call when he got a lead.

Some examples from the web:

• And before I answered him, I turned and looked over my shoulder...
• When Alex Ferguson signed Eric Cantona it was because Leeds had rung him to ask about selling Denis Irwin.
• Your neighbour had rung, was worried about a young boy staying there with his mum.
• If this phone had rung three seconds later, I wouldn't even have heard it.
• When she had gotten her coat the phone had rung, so she had stopped to answer it and talked for a couple of minutes.
• I answered the same things a thousand times.
• Cause I answered no twice to the government loyalty questionnaire.
• I answered honestly to both questions.
• Try the last four digits the telephone number.
• Heard Sister Julienne on the telephone.
• The telephone company says the Russians...
• You couldn't call inside your house for your wife or girlfriend to come and rescue you, because it was the 1950s and the mobile telephone hadn't been invented.
• Because it rang, and I answered it.
• And my dad was sick, so I answered an ad for modeling work.
• I think I answered all of them.
• I answered phones, handled billing.
• And I answered the call when he got a lead.
• It wouldn't stop ringing, so I answered it.
• I'm in peak physical condition and I answered every question truthfully.
• Look, I answered all your...