PURPOSE: To enable a called subscriber to know from whom call was made during his absence by writing a calling subscriber's message formed by a DTMF signal sent by key operation of the calling subscriber in a memory according to mode setting of a mode setting controlling device.

CONSTITUTION: When a message key 120 and a reproducing key 122 are not operated, a CPU judges whether calling operation is made or not, and whether there is calling or not. When there is calling, the CPU receives an incoming signal SA, and at the same time, supplies an controlling signal SB through an output port 134 and makes incoming operation that forms a channel with the calling subscriber. When absence mode 2 is set instead of absence mode 1, absence mode processing routine is executed. That is, the second replay message data are read out from a sound composing memory, and the sound signals are composed by combining the data and telephone number data of own station and sent back to the calling subscriber side through a speaking circuit.