Method for announcing a calling party from a communication device

A non-transitory computer-readable storage device comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

• detecting an incoming call from a calling device to a called device, wherein the incoming call arrives over a first voice channel;
• detecting a communication transmitted over a second voice channel from the called device in response to detecting the incoming call;
• in response to detecting the communication, determining, prior to a call acceptance action at the called device, and prior to directing the incoming call to a voicemail service, whether (a) to transmit a prerecorded message in a calling party's voice to the called device to serve as a ring tone to announce the incoming call or (b) to allow a calling party to provide, via the calling device, a live announcement as the ring tone;
• transmitting, in response to determining (a) to transmit the prerecorded message, the prerecorded message to the called device;
• receiving an acceptance signal from the called device in response to transmitting the prerecorded message to the called device;
• and
• connecting the incoming call in response to receiving the acceptance signal from the called device in response to transmitting the prerecorded message to the called device, wherein connecting the incoming call includes linking the first voice channel and the second voice channel, yielding a connected call between the calling device and the called device.

A system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable storage device being in communication with the processor and having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
• detecting an incoming call from a calling device to a called device, wherein the incoming call arrives over a first voice channel,
• detecting a communication transmitted over a second voice channel from the called device in response to detecting the incoming call,
• in response to detecting the communication, determining, prior to a call acceptance action at the called device, and prior to directing the incoming call to a voicemail service, whether (a) to transmit a prerecorded message in a calling party's voice to the called device to serve as a ring tone to announce the incoming call or (b) to allow a calling party to provide, via the calling device, a live announcement as the ring tone;
• transmitting, in response to determining (a) to transmit the prerecorded message, the prerecorded message to the called device,
• receiving an acceptance signal from the called device in response to transmitting the prerecorded message to the called device, and
• connecting the incoming call in response to receiving the acceptance signal from the called device in response to transmitting the prerecorded message to the called device, wherein connecting the incoming call includes linking the first voice channel and the second voice channel, yielding a connected call between the calling device and the called device.