Why don't they make telephone answering machines with multiple outgoing messages?

Question

Now that I have caller ID, I'd like to be able to record different outgoing messages for different callers. It would be like having different ring tones for different callers. This way I could leave a message for my Mother-in-Law telling her to ... Well, never mind, you get the idea.

Answer 1

We did that years ago Ralph. By the way we all thought you were dead.

Answer 2

You have to create a method for the machine to determine which message to play for a specific caller. Although you're suggesting Caller ID as a resource, not every caller has it enabled. Also consider that more than one person might be using a particular phone line to call you from.

Answer 3

If it got messed up, imagine the reprucussions, your wife gets the message designed for your mother-in-law....

Answer 4

why would a mother in law leave a message for her mother in law :-P