Spontaneous caller identification with call-waiting

A method of providing to a first party already engaged in a conversation with a second party via a local switching office, identification information related to a third party wishing to converse with said first party, comprising the steps of:

• the local office sending a call waiting tone having predetermined characteristics to the first party;
• the first party apparatus responding to the call waiting tone by muting its associated handset for a predetermined interval of time;
• the first party apparatus responding to the call waiting tone also by transmitting to the local office an acknowledgement tone indicating that it is capable of receiving calling party identification data;
• the local office then transmitting data corresponding to the said identification information related to said third party;
• and
• the first party apparatus receiving and displaying to the first party said identification information related to said third party thereby allowing the first party to either accept or reject the call from the third party.