ringer function is not disabled until the connection to the remote telephone is disconnected a call status detector 48 is connected to the call control unit 54 to receive call status information after the user has activated the preselected mute ringer function in the cellular telephone 10 the call status detector 48 monitors the call control unit 54 to detect the establishment of a connection to a remote telephone when the connection is established the call status detector 48 signals to either the incoming call indicator control 46 or the volume switch control 50 depending on which ringer mute mode is selected if the alternative incoming call indicator mode is selected then the incoming call indicator control 46 instructs the incoming call signal generator 38 to revert to routing incoming call signals to the ringer 22 if the reduced ringer volume mode is selected the call status detector 48 signals to the volume switch control 50 to reset the volume switch 42 to the original volume in the conventional two line telephone embodiment the call status detector 48 monitors the call control unit 54 to detect the termination of the connection to the remote telephone 58 upon termination of the connection the conventional telephone deactivates the selected mute ringer function in the same manner as the cellular telephone 10 with reference to fig4 a method for muting a telephone ringer 22 includes selecting a mute ringer mode in step 66 a.