Friday July 4 2008
Information Technology Central Services at the University of Michigan
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Telephone Services

Residence Halls, Northwood Community Apartments, Lawyers Club

Call Waiting

Call Waiting is a feature that informs you, while you are on a call, that another party is trying to reach you. The party trying to reach you hears ringing, and you hear the call-waiting tone.

If you live in a University Residence Hall, Northwood Apartment, or the Lawyers Club, then Call Waiting is already on your phone.

Using Call Waiting

What to Do What to Listen For
1. Inform the party with whom you are speaking that you are going to answer a waiting call. Call-waiting tone*
2. Press and hold down the switch hook for one second, then release it.  
3. Converse with the calling party.  
4. To return to the original party, press the switch hook again.  
*The call-waiting tone is a short tone every ten (10) seconds. If you do not answer the call-waiting tone, the calling party continues to hear ringing until the third ring and then is transferred to voice mail.

Cancelling Call Waiting for a Particular Call

It is possible to cancel the Call Waiting feature for a particular call. This is most helpful if you are on an important call and do not want to be interrupted. It is also useful for students who use their own modems for data transmission over the telephone line. By cancelling Call Waiting for the duration of a modem session, you can ensure that your data transmission will not be disturbed.

To Cancel Before Dialing a Call or Using a Modem

What to Do What to Listen For
1. Dial the Cancel Call Waiting access code: *164 Two Beeps followed by a dial tone.
2. Dial the telephone number of the person you wish to call.  
3. The Call Waiting feature is suspended until you hang up your handset.  

To Cancel During an Existing Call

What to Do What to Listen For
1.Ask the current caller to wait. 
2.Press and hold down the switch hook for one second, then release it.  
3. Dial the Cancel Call Waiting access code: *164 Two Beeps followed by a dial tone.
4. You are connected with the current caller.  
5. The Call Waiting feature is suspended until you hang up your handset.  

To Cancel Call Waiting Permanently

You can have the Call Waiting feature removed permanently from your phone (with the consent of all roommates) by calling ITCom Customer Service at 763-2000.