Answering machine facts for kids
An answering machine is a helpful device that connects to your phone line. When you can't answer a call, like if you're busy or away, it automatically picks up after a few rings. It then plays a special message you've recorded. After that, the person calling can leave their own message for you, usually after hearing a short "beep" sound. Answering machines are different from voicemail, which is a service provided by your phone company and stored in their network, not in your home.
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How Answering Machines Work
Answering machines were first made to help people not miss important phone calls. They let callers leave a message even if no one was home. This was a big step forward from simply missing a call.
From Tapes to Digital Memory
Early answering machines used magnetic tapes. These were like smaller versions of the audio cassettes you might have seen for music. One tape would play your outgoing message, and another tape would record the messages people left for you.
Over time, technology improved a lot. Modern answering machines don't use tapes anymore. Instead, they use computer memory (often called RAM). This digital memory can store many messages. It also holds the message you record for callers to hear.
Listening to Messages
Many newer answering machines have cool features. For example, you can often listen to your messages from anywhere. You just call your own phone number from another phone. Then, you enter a special code to hear your messages.
Answering machines can also help you save money. Some models are smart enough to know if you have new messages. If there are no new messages, the machine might ring fewer times. This way, you don't have to pay for a long call just to check for messages.
Images for kids
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An endless-loop outgoing message tape used in dual-cassette-based answering machines
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An answering machine that uses a microcassette to record messages
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A General Electric corded telephone with a built-in microcassette answering machine
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MicroLink Office, a voice-fax-data modem with standalone voice/fax box functionality
See also
In Spanish: Contestador automático para niños
