Is there a name for that "bloop" you hear when connecting to a call center?

You know, the spam call that you answer and it’s nothing then you hear “bloop” followed by car warranty/microsoft/social security agent. Or whatever it is. I did try the Google.

I don’t know what it’s called, but do wonder why I hear that noise when spam calls me.

There is often a beeping sound played on the line to alert the employee in an inbound call center that they have a call coming in. This may also serve as a standard reference tone for recording software to seek in order to determine when a new call has begun. The name for this is a ziptone.

The tone is different I think than what the call center person hears. It literally sounds like “blOOP”.

Script:

  • Phone rings
  • I pick up.
  • Hello?
  • Seconds pass, phone is silent
  • <blOOP + call center noises> Hi mister Squeegee, I’m calling from yadayadayada!

So what makes the bloop that I hear?