At the time of call arrival, when the user of a telephone terminal depresses a response key or performs some other tentative responding manipulation instead of lifting up a handset, the telephone terminal transmits a self-introduction request message to the caller. A self-introduction voice transmitted from the caller in response is emitted from a speaker. Listening to the self-introduction voice, the user identifies the caller. If the user wants to talk to the caller, he depresses a communication key or lifts up the handset as a true responding manipulation and then starts a communication with the caller. On the other hand, if the user does not want to talk to the caller, he depresses an automatic answering mode setting key or a disconnection key.