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Answering machine
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{{Short description|Telephone answering device}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}} {{Use American English|date=July 2016}} {{other uses}} [[File:Panasonic-Anrufbeantworter.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|A [[Panasonic]] answering machine with a dual [[compact cassette]] tape drive to record and replay messages]] An '''answering machine''', '''answerphone''', or '''message machine''', also known as '''telephone messaging machine''' (or '''TAM''') in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] and some [[Commonwealth countries]], '''ansaphone''' or '''ansafone''' (from a [[trade name]]), or '''telephone answering device''' ('''TAD'''), is used for answering telephone calls and recording callers' messages. When a telephone rings a set number of times predetermined by the call's recipient the answering machine will activate and play either a generic announcement or a customized greeting created by the recipient.<ref>[http://www.thefreedictionary.com/answering+machine TheFreeDictionary > answering machine] Citing: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009.</ref> Unlike [[voicemail]], an answering machine is placed at the user's premises alongside—or incorporated within—the user's landline telephone, and unlike [[operator messaging]], the caller does not talk to a human. As [[landline]]s become less important due to the shift to cell phone technology, and as [[unified communications]] evolve, the [[installed base]] of TADs is shrinking.{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}
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