A portable telecommunications device has a radio transceiver, a keypad, a memory, and a microcontroller for controlling device functions. The portable telecommunications device receives an incoming call from a calling party that calls a called party who is operating the portable telecommunications device. Upon receiving the incoming call, the portable telecommunications device alerts the called party. When the called party presses a key other than the hook key, the portable telecommunications device starts periodic transmission of a waiting message to the calling party while putting the portable telecommunications device on hold. The portable telecommunications device halts the periodic transmission of waiting messages and returns to normal communication mode when the called party initiates such halting.