A busy signal (or busy tone or engaged tone) in telephony is an audible or visual signal to the calling party that indicates failure to complete the requested connection of that particular telephone call.

There are several types of signals known as busy signals:

  • a reorder tone, (sometimes called a fast busy signal), indicates that no transmission path to the called number is available.
  • an otherwise unspecified busy signal indicates that the called number is occupied or otherwise unavailable
  • this tone sometimes occurs at the end of a call to indicate the other party has hung up. See disconnect supervision.

Many different countries have different signalling tones that act as "busy signals".

Example of a North American busy signal Listen to a busy signal from North America. Problems listening to this file? See media help. Example of an old North American busy signal Listen to a busy signal from North America used prior to the 1980's. Problems listening to this file? See media help.

From Wikipedia under the GNU Free Documentation License
Sun Jul 19 07:58:27 2009

Phones at tax office are busy - The Elkhart Truth - Elkhart, IN
etruth.com
Phones at tax office are busy - The Elkhart Truth - Elkhart, IN

unknown

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 06:45:06 GM

"The mood of the taxpayers has been fairly good," County Treasurer Larry Ernest said in an e-mail, the only way he could be reached given the . busy signal. on his office's phone line much of the week. "We have had several upset ...

Scare'Dem: Voice Mail ft Busy Signal - Dance the Night Away
scaredem.blogspot.com
Scare'Dem: Voice Mail ft Busy Signal - Dance the Night Away

GORILLARMS

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 07:02:00 GM

Voice Mail ft . Busy Signal. - Dance the Night Away. Big chune from Voice Mail ft. . Busy Signal. . at 12:02 AM. 0 comments: Post a Comment · Newer Post Older Post Home. Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom). Contact Me. Contact Me. movement ...

Dolly Parton- Busy Signal [1965]
mysterytrainwreck.blogspot.com
Dolly Parton- Busy Signal [1965]

Rockin' Ed

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:59:00 GM

Excellent girl group sound from 1965--She recorded this for Monument Records. Quite different from the country/pop sound she is noted for This record goes for as much as 150.00 in auctions--and I don't even own a copy!!!

From Google Blog Search: "Busy signal"
Mon Jul 27 20:56:45 2009

busy signal jpg
reggaesumfest.com
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busy signal unknown pondiedge jpg
outaroad.com
busy signal unknown pondiedge jpg
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Busy Signal seems as if he s not going to give up the 1 position for now as his hit single Wine Pon Di Edge is holding down the top spot on the OutAroad com Top 20 Hot Singles Chart for

Dancehall Fusion workshop Boston Busy Signal Up In Her Belly
i1.ytimg.com
Dancehall Fusion workshop Boston Busy Signal Up In Her Belly
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Dancehall Fusion workshop Boston Busy Signal Up In Her Belly 1 43 13837 4 Boston Magdalene Dancehall Fusion workshop Boston Busy Signal Up In Her Belly 1 43 13837 4 Boston Magdalene

From Yahoo Image Search: "Busy signal"
Wed Jul 15 10:09:49 2009

What does a fast busy signal mean after the phone has rung?
Q. I was calling someone and it rung like 3 times and then I heard a fast busy signal. What does this mean? I was calling from my cell phone to another cell phone.
Asked by MiMi - Mon Feb 16 21:10:47 2009 - - 2 Answers - 0 Comments

A. They are ignoring or declining ur call most likely, or they could just be in a bad area
Answered by 1stTimeMama2B!!! - Mon Feb 16 21:21:31 2009

Does anyone else get a constant busy signal when calling someone with Onstar?
Q. Is this satellite calling thing mean the car is out of range? This happens frequently even when the car is parked with no one in it. I've tryed calling and it gives a busy signal---seems like messed up service
Asked by Kim W - Sat Jun 13 03:45:50 2009 - - 1 Answers - 0 Comments

A. You should call on-star. I've never had a problem with mine. I have called it many time, & never got a busy signal!!!
Answered by THE UNCOOL 1 - Sat Jun 13 11:48:57 2009

how can you give someone the busy signal?
Q. well i have a friend, well not anymore, and they won't stop calling me. within the last day, they've called and texted me easily over 100 times. and i just want to give them the busy signal. and i hate turning off my phone... they're just pushing it... well i have a friend, well not anymore, and they won't stop calling me. within the last day, they've called and texted me easily over 100 times. and i just want to give them the busy signal. and i hate turning off my phone... they're just pushing it... i've told them to back off and they just won't.
Asked by punkrock_princess_13 - Sun Oct 5 22:43:59 2008 - - 2 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Block them. Or just be real and tell them to back off and get their own space.
Answered by superstarfishgal - Sun Oct 5 22:47:39 2008

From Yahoo Answer Search: "Busy signal"
Sat Jul 11 21:20:11 2009