Busy signal

Example of a North American, Hong Kong, and South Korean busy signal

Listen to a busy signal from North America, Hong Kong, and South Korea.

---

Example of an old North American busy signal

Listen to a busy signal from North America used prior to 1980.

---

Example of a European, Indonesian, Macau, and Latin American busy signal

Listen to a busy signal from Europe.

---

Example of a French busy signal

Listen to a busy signal from France.

---

Example of a United Kingdom busy signal

Listen to a busy signal from the United Kingdom.

---

Problems playing these files? See media help.

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

The busy signal has become less common in the past few decades due to the prevalence of call waiting and voicemail.