Call waiting is a telephone feature that allows a user to be alerted of an incoming call while they are already on another call. When someone is on a call and another call comes in, the user receives a notification, typically in the form of a beep or a visual alert on their phone screen.
Here are some details about how it works:
Notification: When a second call comes in, many phones will show the caller ID of the incoming call while the first call is still active. This allows the user to know who is calling without having to end the current call.
Options: The user can typically choose to either:
- End the current call and answer the new call.
- Place the current call on hold to answer the incoming call (if their phone supports this function).
- Ignore the incoming call and continue the current conversation.
Compatibility: Call waiting is generally supported by most landline and mobile phone services, but it may need to be activated by the user or might incur additional charges depending on the service provider.
- Usage: This feature is particularly useful for people who may receive important or time-sensitive calls and cannot afford to miss them while on another line.
If you see a "call waiting" message or notification on your phone, it means that you have another caller trying to reach you while you are currently engaged in another call.