autodialer

An autodialer is a software program that automatically dials telephone numbers from a list or a database.

Autodialers may be configured to perform various tasks, including:

• Leaving voice messages.
• Transferring the call to the first available agent.
• Enabling interaction with the called party through voice or keypad response.

A related type of application known as a predictive dialer automatically calls a list of telephone numbers in sequence, screening out no-answers, busy signals, answering machines and disconnected numbers while predicting at what point a human will be available to handle the next call.  Both autodialers and predictive dialers are often used in call centers.

An autodialed call that leaves a prerecorded message is sometimes known as a robocall.