SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SELECTIVELY ACCEPTING TELEPHONE CALLS WITHOUT ESTABLISHING VOICE COMMUNICATIONS

A cellular radio communications system and method including an answering delay for accepting a telephone call from a source telephone without establishing voice communications between the cellular telephone and the source telephone. The answering delay is actuated by selection of a hold selection by the user of the cellular telephone after the user has been alerted of an impending telephone call. Thereafter, voice communications can be established between the cellular telephone and the source telephone of the accepted telephone call by actuation of a release hold selection by the user of the cellular telephone. Accordingly, a user can accept an incoming telephone call without conversing with the calling party such that the user can complete their prior activities prior to establishing voice communications with the source telephone. Thus, the convenience and safety of accepting incoming cellular telephone calls is further enhanced.