How does the AOL Call Alert Answer feature work?

The Call Alert window that you receive on your computer screen to notify you of an incoming call shows you the name, number, city, and state of the calling party (where Caller ID is available). AOL Call Alert gives you several choices (explained below) of how to handle incoming calls.

• Answer: Allows you to answer an incoming call on your home phone and speak with the caller. If you choose to answer the call on your home phone, your AOL session will be temporarily disconnected and the call will be routed to your home phone so that you can receive the call. Once your call is completed, you may sign back on to the AOL service.
• Take Call On: You can select to transfer the call to your computer, or a different phone number. When you receive the Call Alert notification and click Take Call On, you can select where would you like the call to be transferred to. You have three options (explained below) listed on the Call Alert window.
  • This Computer: If you choose to answer the call on your computer, your AOL session will stay connected and you can answer the call using either your computer's speakers and microphone or a USB phone. The caller will hear a message asking them to hold while the call is being transferred.You will see an AIM Talk window appear with an Establishing Connection message. Once your call is connected, you can speak with your caller at no additional cost. Your AIM Talk control options include:
    • Disconnect: ends your Talk session and the phone call.
    • Hold: mutes you so that your caller cannot hear your voice, but still allows you to hear your caller.
  • Transfer to a different phone number: If you choose to transfer the call to another number, your AOL session will stay connected and you can answer the call using another phone number (e.g., your cell phone). You can select one of the numbers you've added under Transfer Numbers on the AOL Call Alert dashboard that you want the call to be transferred to. The caller will hear a message asking them to hold while the call is being transferred. To learn how to transfer calls, read our online help article How do I transfer incoming calls to a different phone number on AOL Call Alert?
  • New Number: If you want to transfer the call to a number that is not on your list of preset phone numbers, select New Number. A box will appear to add a new number. Enter the phone number you want the call to be transfered to, and then click OK.

    Note: Callers may only be transferred to phone numbers within the United States (some territories excluded).