a method for telephone number notification and storage in a two - way portable radio includes decoding an incoming telephone number at a central station and successively transmitting portions of the telephone number and a ring signal to a subscriber radio . the subscriber radio subsequently acknowledges receipt of the telephone number and uses this information to notify a radio subscriber that a telephone call was received . the telephone call can be immediately answered or selectively stored and retrieved by the subscriber at a later time . the invention is particularly useful in situations where the radio subscriber is away from the radio or was not able to hear the ring signal .