Wait XML Element – Silent Pause & Machine Detection

The Wait element waits silently for a specified number of seconds. If <Wait> is the first element in a XML document, Vobiz will wait the specified number of seconds before picking up the call.

Attributes

Attribute	Description
`length` integer	Time to wait in seconds. Allowed values: integer greater than `0` Default: `1`
`silence` boolean	If `true`, Vobiz ends the wait and continues to the next XML element when it detects no voice or sound for `minSilence` milliseconds. If `false`, Vobiz waits for the full `length` period regardless of detected sound or voice. Allowed values: `true`, `false` Default: `false`
`minSilence` integer	Minimum silence duration in milliseconds required to trigger an early exit. Only used when `silence` is `true`. The `length` value must be greater than `minSilence` for this attribute to work as expected. Allowed values: integer greater than `0` Default: `2000`
`beep` boolean	Detects a voicemail machine beep so an application can leave a voicemail message. Only used when `silence` and `minSilence` are not active. Allowed values: `true`, `false` Default: `false`

Nesting rules

Wait takes no child elements and no text content; it is a self-closing element (<Wait/>). It can appear as a top-level child of <Response> or nested inside PreAnswer. Wait posts no parameters of its own to any URL.

Examples

Pause before speaking

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Response>
    <Wait length="3"/>
    <Speak>Sorry to keep you waiting.</Speak>
</Response>

Delay answering an inbound call

When Wait is the first element, Vobiz holds the call ringing for length seconds before answering. This avoids billing the first few seconds and can deter auto-diallers.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Response>
    <Wait length="5"/>
    <Speak>Thank you for calling.</Speak>
</Response>

Exit early on silence

With silence="true", Vobiz ends the wait as soon as it detects minSilence milliseconds of quiet, up to a maximum of length seconds. Useful for waiting out a greeting before proceeding.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Response>
    <Wait length="10" silence="true" minSilence="2000"/>
    <Speak>Continuing now.</Speak>
</Response>

Leave a voicemail after the beep (AMD)

With beep="true", Vobiz waits for the answering-machine beep before continuing, so your message records after the tone. See Machine detection.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Response>
    <Wait length="15" beep="true"/>
    <Speak>Hi, this is a reminder about your appointment tomorrow at 10 AM.</Speak>
    <Hangup/>
</Response>

Edge cases and tips

silence and beep are mutually exclusive. beep is only evaluated when silence (and minSilence) are not active. Do not rely on both behaviors in the same Wait.
length must exceed minSilence. Because length is in seconds and minSilence is in milliseconds, ensure length * 1000 > minSilence, or the silence early-exit never has room to trigger.
First-element behavior is special. Only a leading Wait delays answering. A Wait placed after another element pauses an already-answered call.
Detection is best-effort. Beep and silence detection depend on audio quality and carrier behavior; always pair them with a fallback flow.

XML Overview

Wait XML Element – Silent Pause & Machine Detection | Vobiz

Attributes

Nesting rules

Examples

Pause before speaking

Delay answering an inbound call

Exit early on silence

Leave a voicemail after the beep (AMD)

Edge cases and tips

​Attributes

​Nesting rules

​Examples

​Pause before speaking

​Delay answering an inbound call

​Exit early on silence

​Leave a voicemail after the beep (AMD)

​Edge cases and tips

Attributes

Nesting rules

Examples

Pause before speaking

Delay answering an inbound call

Exit early on silence

Leave a voicemail after the beep (AMD)

Edge cases and tips