Cold transfer
A cold transfer, also called a blind transfer, is a call transfer in which the call is passed straight to the recipient without any introduction. The recipient answers with no context.
Also called: blind transfer, unattended transfer
The person handling the call dials the destination and drops off as soon as it starts ringing. The recipient sees an incoming call and picks it up knowing nothing about who is on the line or what they want; the caller usually has to explain themselves again.
Cold transfers are fast and need no coordination, which makes them common in high-volume routing. They are also where callers get lost: if the recipient does not answer, the call may go to voicemail or drop entirely, and the person who transferred it has no way of knowing.
A warm transfer avoids both problems at the cost of a short hold.