One of the most challenging aspects of writing for speech is optimising text to be read aloud and recorded. On paper, long, complex sentences are easily accommodated. When read out aloud, the same sentences can sound awkward and confusing.
I agree with you. The music phone service provider use is never the best! Like you, when I switch to my calendar on iPhone and ask my caller to wait while I do that, it would be great to have one of my iPod tracks play to him until I pressed the green bar again to return to the call. Surely one could set that up independently of the phone service provider: just a matter of substituting my music choice for my voice until I clicked back off hold?? May 15, 2009 12:10 AM User profile for user: Tamara Tamara User level: Level 6 (13,735 points) May 15, 2009 4:39 AM in response to DavidJA In response to DavidJA

Did you know that well-designed on-hold messages with pleasant, enjoyable, smiling narration, have the power to make your callers feel more confident about retaining your services? It also increases their trust in your company. It's tricky, but the reverse is really true. An unpleasant delay provides your callers with a great opportunity to judge your facilities and customer service.
Most businesses aim to answer the telephone within 3 rings but we know that isn't always possible. The research showed that a typical business using on hold marketing had 100 calls a day with an average hold time of 30 seconds for 57% of callers. This translates to half an hour a day, every day, of messaging to on-hold customers. That's 3+ weeks a year!