What Does Outgoing Call Mean?

Research predicts that up to 7.1 billion people call themselves the owner of a cell phone in the year 2024. That means that out of an approximate world population of 8.2 billion, roughly 10% of the world does not carry an Apple iPhone or an Android around in their pocket.

Cellular or not, phones in general have defined us since their debut in 1849 with Antonio Meucci’s first model. And in 1876, thanks to Alexander Graham Bell who is more familiar with history, the first U.S. patent on the phone was awarded.

The original intent of the invention of the phone was to stay connected, not to wait days to receive a telegram by pigeon. And stay connected we did, as we merged technology opening the doorway for text messaging, emailing, social media, and more. 

Think about it — what do you use your phone for the majority of the time? 

Every individual who has ever picked up a phone, dialed a number, and listened to the ringtone until a voice appeared on the other end has made at least one outgoing call in their lifetime. On a personal level, it keeps friends and family connected, literally at the touch of a button. On a business level, it is the life or death of the organization.

Understanding the nuts and bolts of an outgoing call could tip the scale for a business and lead it down the golden brick road to success. Let’s pull out the crystal ball and gaze deeper into all its intricacies next. 

What Is an Outgoing Call?

Hold on a second as we dust off our dictionary from the bookshelf. According to the Merriam-Webster definition, the word “outgoing” is an adjective meaning “directed to an intended recipient.”

Now let’s add the word “call” to put it together, adding more color to the definition. Think of an airplane racing along the runway as it gains speed to depart from the runway and later arrive at its destination. Ok, maybe an outgoing call is not as dramatic as that, but you get the picture right? 

Are Outgoing Calls and Outbound Calls the Same? 

If you are curious, outgoing calls and outbound calls are the same in context. Both walk through the same standard operating procedures.

The first step is simple, turn on the phone and listen for the buzzing sound of the dial tone, or if using voice over internet protocol (VoIP) the dial tone may not be necessary. Then, enter the phone number to call and review it, ensuring the call is made to the correct recipient. Last, quietly waiting until the silence is broken and a voice is heard on the other end. 

What sets an outgoing call and an outbound call apart is where the call originates from. 

Businesses utilize call centers or have appointed sales representatives available to make outgoing calls to customers. When those outgoing calls become more specific, targeting an individual, they turn into outbound calls. 

Why Are Outgoing Calls Important?

Outgoing calls have a purpose. They are meant to connect a caller with a recipient using a landline phone, mobile phones, or other mobile devices. 

Technology Advances: Telecommunications and VoIP

Take a step back for a moment and reflect on how business, in general, has transformed over the years. Times certainly have changed as we have witnessed business operations move from 100% in-office to 100% remote in some cases, others becoming hybrid as people leverage what technology offers. 

The introduction of digital platforms opens a whole new world in communications. No, it doesn’t push phones to the graveyard. Instead, it makes connecting with friends and families or customers and clients easy. 

Examples of VoIP apps include:

• RingCentral
• Google Voice
• Microsoft Teams
• FaceTime (Apple Devices)

VoIP apps are plentiful and available on the market. Each app has advantages and disadvantages for users of all ages, whether for business, education, healthcare, or personal use.

How Do Outgoing Calls Versus Incoming Calls Compare?

Customer service is the backbone of a business. Isn’t it frustrating when you are stuck on hold, listening to the elevator music longer than anticipated as you wait for a representative to pick up on the other end? As a customer, it sure is.

Business call centers have goals in place, whether they meet them or not. Statistics show that most aim to address 80% of incoming calls within 20 seconds.

Incoming Calls Showing Outgoing on Call Log

This one sounds like a paradox, but it happens frequently — and for good reason. Here is an example. 

Let’s say that you have an incoming call from a friend. You hear your phone ringing, and recognize the picture but do not swipe fast enough to accept the call. What happens next?

The incoming call is most commonly sent to voicemail, and the caller leaves a message for you to listen to and return when you are available. Another option, if you have it set up, is that the call is forwarded to another phone.

The latter occurs a lot within a business or call center. A call easily represents a sale that you or your business does not want to miss out on because the phone did not get answered to serve the caller, who in this example would be the customer. 

Now as we change hands back to your role in the call log, you acknowledge the missed call and return it. Your call history is subject to change from showing as incoming or missed to outgoing. The call log timestamps each call, incoming or outcoming, so if you ever start to overthink browse through the call history and drill down to the details.

Why Do Cancelled Calls Happen?

Call history logs will show missed calls, incoming calls, and outgoing calls. Do you see any canceled calls in your log? Or have you ever experienced a moment of silence as your phone tricks you into thinking it is about to connect, then blares a message stating the call failed? 

You may or may not. Both an outgoing call and a canceled call relate to a call in transit. What separates them is whether or not the call successfully connects. And that is what a canceled call means — the call can not be connected.

Cancelled calls happen for many reasons, such as:

• The number was misdialed
• Before a recipient picks up, you cancel the call
• Network issues are affecting the transmission
• The recipient is unable to receive inbound calls
• Airplane mode is activated on your phone

What To Know About Outgoing Calls and Caller ID

Just as you safeguard the assets in your home or vehicle, you should protect the information stored within your phone. 

Caller ID spoofing may sound like a riddle, but it is a real tactic used intentionally by a caller making an outgoing call to mask themselves from the recipient. Consider it the falsification of documents, or a member of the spam family. 

Here are a few examples of caller ID spoofing that occurs:

• The incoming phone call pretends to be from a close friend; however, it can’t be because that friend is standing alongside you at the time of the call.
• The incoming phone call is from a robocaller. The phone number looks familiar because it mirrors your area code or similar numbers you would recognize. It is a tease that causes curiosity so the call gets answered by the recipient. 
• The incoming call is from you! Sounds hilarious, but it happens. 

Always stay on alert when phone calls from unknown numbers are received. It’s in your best interest.

Use Call Management Strategies With Outgoing Calls

Reach your business goals and call management strategies. They’ll benefit call centers, amplify customer service, and keep customer satisfaction at a five (on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being highly satisfied).

Want to conceal your personal phone number but utilize one device to make outgoing business calls? Thanks to the Burner App, you can have multiple lines and the power to select your phone number and organize how you will use each line. 

Sources:

How Many People Own Smartphones? (2024-2029) | What’s the Big Data

United States Population (2024) | Worldometer

Outgoing Definition & Meaning | Merriam-Webster

Inbound and Outbound Calls: What’s the Difference? | NeoDove

39 Call Center Statistics You Need to Know in 2024 | Invoca

Difference between outgoing calls and cancelled call iPhone | Insight Success