A call meter signal receiver is provided for a subscriber's private metering system operated by a call meter signal sent from a central office. The receiver is operable both by common mode and normal mode signals. The receiver is small sized and can be installed in a central office trunk of private branch exchanger equipment. The call meter signal receiver is composed of a frequency tuned receiver including two buffer circuits, the first one for receiving the common mode and the second one for receiving the normal mode signal. The first buffer circuit is connected to the input side of a hybrid circuit of the COT, and has a high impedance, while the second buffer circuit, for receiving the normal mode signal, is connected to one of the output terminals of the hybrid circuit, and has a high impedance for voice signals. The outputs of these buffer circuits are fed to the frequency tuned receiver composed of a phase locked loop, of which frequency is tuned to 50 Hz, 12 kHz or 16 kHz by switching an externally attached circuit composed of a capacitor and resistors.

A marketing system selectively modifies an existing telephone network by modifying a portion of the call processing software of the existing telephone network and by replacing at least a portion of an audible call progress signal generated by the telephone network by a prerecorded announcement. A calling party places a telephone call at a first telephone to a second telephone having a particular calling status. Once the call is made, a switch or an associated network signaling system determines the busy/idle status of the second telephone. In place of the usual ringback or busy signal, an announcement indicates to the calling party the status of the second telephone and a series of announcements are played for a predetermined period of time. During the announcements, the system continues to determine the status of the telephone line of the second telephone. The announcements are played until the call is completed or abandoned.

A communications marketing system for selectively modifying an existing communications network by modifying a portion of the processing software permits transmitting a generally continuous pre-recorded announcement to a network station which has been temporarily disconnected from a called network station and placed on hold within the network. The network is adapted for allowing an identified called station connected to a first call from a first party at a first network address to receive a second call from a second party at a second network address. The network interrupts the called station and signals the called station of the second call. The called station can then choose to connect to the second call and temporarily disconnect the first party, placing the first party on hold within the network, and thereafter, the called station may switch between the first and second calls. The system plays at least one generally continuous announcement to the party placed on hold by the called station until the called station signals the network to reconnect the called station to the party on hold, at which time the playing of the announcement is terminated. The system further provides a custom audio and/or visual message and/or menu in lieu of a dial tone signal to a party initiating a connection with the communications network.

A marketing system for selectively modifying an existing communications network by modifying a portion of the processing software permits replacing at least a portion of a call progress signal generated by the communications network by a generally continuous pre-recorded announcement. A first station is provided for placing a call by a calling party at a first network address. The network is adapted for connecting the call to an identified called station at a second network address, the called station having either a busy status or an idle status. The network initially determines the busy/idle status of the called station and, if the called station has an initial busy status, thereafter checks the busy/idle status of the called station at predetermined intervals. A player plays at least one generally continuous announcement to the calling party for a predetermined period of time during a time period when a call progress signal would have been provided to the calling party. The player determines the announcement to be played based upon criteria established exclusively by the marketing system and independently of the identity of the called station. The playing of the announcement is terminated and the call is completed to the calling station, in the case of the calling station having an initial idle status, when the called station responds by answering the call. In the case of the called station having an initial busy status, the playing of the announcement is terminated and the call is completed when the status of the called station changes to an idle status and the called station thereafter responds by answering the call.