Abstract: An on hold telephone service that allows a subscriber to the service to place a call on hold and make information services available to the party placed on hold. The on hold service can be implemented on a central office switch or an enhanced services platform connected to the switch. The on hold service is accessed by the subscriber to the service through a transfer function that causes the call to be maintained by the on hold service. The party so placed on hold by the subscriber can then interactively acquire the various types of information made available by the service, such as news, weather and stock market information. The subscriber to the service can then send a message to the other party or cause him to be reconnected to the subscriber either immediately or when the other party is finished using the service and is ready to be reconnected to the subscriber.

Abstract: An on hold telephony service that allows a party placed on hold, if he is a subscriber to the service, to also place the call on hold and then hang up. The on hold service can be implemented on a central office switch or an enhanced services platform connected to the switch. The on hold service is accessed by the party placed on hold, i.e., subscriber, through a transfer function that causes the call to be maintained by the on hold service. When the party who originally placed the call on hold returns to the call, the on hold service informs him that the service will then call the subscriber so that both parties can be reconnected.

Abstract: An on hold telephony service that allows a subscriber to the service to place a call on hold and make interactive games available to the party placed on hold. The on hold service can be implemented on a central office switch or an enhanced services platform connected to the switch. The on hold service is accessed by the subscriber to the service through a transfer function that causes the call to be maintained by the on hold service. The party so placed on hold by the subscriber can then interactively play the various games made available by the service. The subscriber to the service can then send a message to the other party or cause him to be reconnected to the subscriber either immediately or when the other party is finished playing games and is ready to be reconnected to the subscriber.