Phone tag
Encyclopedia
Phone tag is a phenomenon in which two parties attempt to contact each other by telephone
, but neither is able to get a hold of the other for a conversation. Both parties may leave a message on the answering machine
or voicemail
of the other, and request a call back. This continues for a period of time, often with the two parties exchanging attempts to have a real-time conversation.
Phone tag has increased with the advent of messaging technologies. It is seen as having advantages in that people can leave and receive messages at their convenience rather than having to find a common time with the other party to have a conversation.
With phone tag being possible, people have a choice of when they want to return calls they've received. They may also decide which calls they wish to return and which to not (similar to call screening
). Many recipients of messages simply choose to not return certain calls.
Telephone
The telephone , colloquially referred to as a phone, is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sounds, usually the human voice. Telephones are a point-to-point communication system whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to each other...
, but neither is able to get a hold of the other for a conversation. Both parties may leave a message on the answering machine
Answering machine
The answering machine or message machine, also known as the telephone answering machine in the UK and some Commonwealth countries) and previously known as an ansaphone, ansafone, or telephone answering device is a device for answering telephones and recording callers' messages.Unlike voicemail,...
or voicemail
Voicemail
Voicemail is a computer based system that allows users and subscribers to exchange personal voice messages; to select and deliver voice information; and to process transactions relating to individuals, organizations, products and services, using an ordinary telephone...
of the other, and request a call back. This continues for a period of time, often with the two parties exchanging attempts to have a real-time conversation.
Phone tag has increased with the advent of messaging technologies. It is seen as having advantages in that people can leave and receive messages at their convenience rather than having to find a common time with the other party to have a conversation.
With phone tag being possible, people have a choice of when they want to return calls they've received. They may also decide which calls they wish to return and which to not (similar to call screening
Call screening
Call screening is the process of evaluating the characteristics of a telephone call before deciding how or whether to answer it.Some methods may include:* listening to the message being recorded on an answering machine or voice mail...
). Many recipients of messages simply choose to not return certain calls.