Abstract: A method of assisting a user placed on-hold is provided. The user (20) is connected with a communication node (16) and a called party. The communication node (16) monitors the connection so that if the user (20) is placed on-hold, the user may instruct the node to call back at a call back number when the called party returns to the connection. The user (20) may also instruct the node (16) to leave a message for the called party. The user (20) then disconnects but the node (16) maintains the connection until the called party returns to prompt the node further or to receive the message left by the user.

Abstract: A method of retrieving information from an information source (30) is provided. A user (20) is connected with a communication node (16) and a called party at the information source (30). The communication node (16) monitors the call in order to receive and store the instructions that the user (20) inputs in order to obtain certain information. The user (20) may instruct the node (16) as to specific instructions or the node may monitor all the commands that are input. When the user (20) wants information at a later time, the communication node (16) can connect to the third party at the information source (30), retrace the commands the user (20) entered previously and then provide the user with the desired information.