#26: Apple patents way to show info to callers on hold
Callers placed on hold could see anything from local news and weather reports to details about the person being called.
Waiting on hold may not be so dull if a newly patented Apple technology ever ends up a reality.
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted a patent to Apple, the patent called "Communications system that provides user-selectable data when user is on-hold" envisions a system for showing useful and interesting information to mobile phone callers waiting on hold.
The information being displayed would be adaptive and contextual, according to the patent, meaning it would vary depending on the caller, the caller's location, the date and time, and other items. As one example, the caller might see details describing the last conversation or future appointments with the person being called. As another example, the caller could be treated to local news and weather reports based on their locale.
For the technology to work, each caller would have to have a profile on the phone so the system can identify that person and present the appropriate on-hold information.
The information could even stay on the screen after the caller is no longer on hold. It would simply appear as a semi-transparent overlay so that the caller can still see important background data, such as the length of the call.
This looks like a really awesome patent! Maybe it will be part of the next smart phone.
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