An answering service is a live service staffed by trained professionals who can answer your calls, take messages, and perform other tasks according to your instructions. An answering machine is a basic device that simply records a message from the caller. Here's a table summarizing the key differences:nn| Feature | Answering Service | Answering Machine |n|-----------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|n| Human Interaction | Yes, live professionals | No |n| Customization | High, based on your instructions | None |n| Call Screening | Yes | No |n| Professional Image | Projects a professional image to callers | Limited |n| Availability | Can operate 24/7 | Only records messages when you can't answer the phone |n