The codecs and processing routines on mobile phones is optimized toward human speech. Any sound not recognized as speech (i.e. music) is minimized to conserve network bandwidth and cancel out noise. Music with a singer has a better chance of being heard, but just music (especially at a low volume) is normally cut out by the codec.

And It doesn’t matter what type or brand of phone you have. What matters is the codec that your mobile provider uses to encode the call content before it puts it over the air. In other words, it’s not that your phone can’t hear the music on hold, it’s that Verizon, AT&T or any carrier is not sending the music to your phone with very good fidelity. The codec discards anything that doesn’t sound like speech.

The Internet has changed the way we do business, yet most of your customers still reach your business by phone.

Human nature is what it is and we want to talk with somebody. So, why are your callers not hearing about your business when you put them on hold?

Telephone On Hold Expectations

A professional on hold message and music program has been proven to do the following:

• Enhance a company’s image
• Decrease caller hang-ups and agitation
• Keep callers interested
• Stimulate new sales

Improve the image of your business by advertising to an interested party, someone who’s already called you and is captive to your message. You can improve sales/profit by retaining callers who might have hung up due to silence or a poorly tuned radio station.

However, just like any other marketing service, the on hold provider you choose should be judged on what it can do for your business:

• Reinforces your advertising campaigns
• Promotes specials, seasonal events or products
• Saves staff time with messages that answer frequently asked questions
• Mentions important manufacturers or product lines you represent
• Cross-sells products your sales staff may neglect to mention
• Increases customer knowledge about your business

An on hold message and music recording that features information about your company gives you control of what your callers hear while waiting and greatly improves their perception of your company.