APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DELAYED ANSWERING OF AN INCOMING CALL

A wireless hands-free device is operable to communicate with a mobile communication device over a short-range wireless link. The hands-free device includes a transceiver, a memory, a delayed answering mode actuator (DAMA), and a processing device. The transceiver is operable to receive incoming call information from the mobile device over the short-range link. The incoming call information corresponds to an incoming call received by the mobile device over a wireless wide area network. The memory is operable to store one or more pre-recorded audio messages. The DAMA is activatable by a user of the hands-free device. The processing device is operable to: detect activation of the DAMA after receipt of the incoming call information, retrieve at least one pre-recorded audio message responsive to detecting activation of the DAMA, and provide the retrieved, pre-recorded audio message(s) to the transceiver for subsequent transmission to the mobile device over the short-range link.