If the area code is Washington State.....call is ignored.

Answer as soon as I can locate the phone. Rarely is that equal to the first ring.

1-2 rings if I know you. Voice mail on out of area. All calls answered if I have exciting product.

I try to catch it by the 3rd ring provided it isn't "one of those" numbers!!

I try to answer by the 2nd ring.  I don't have an active assistant that is answering for me, and if I can't answer then voicemail is definitely what happens.  

As soon as I hear it ring.

Being old fashioned, try to answer by the third ring!

As quickly as I can punch the receive button.

It depends on a number of factors and criteria.

 I do my best to answer by the third ring.

Fred Griffin usually, I do not count the number of rings. If I can pick up the phone, I do pick it up.

Now if I don't know the number at all, I just let it go to voice message - and check for spam.

totally depends. what am I doing? who is calling?  I don't answer toll free numbers.

 It's usually 2 rings before i get it out of my pocket.

Usually by the second or third unless I'm with someone or driving. 

If I am available I try to answer after the first ring. There is no strategy for me to let it ring 3 times and then answer.

Just as soon as I get to the phone, no particular order.

I answer as soon as possible.

I like the second ring...many people are not ready to talk back on the first ring.

Myself and I do not wait picking up immediately, if I'm not available, I'll call back as soon as i can. 

At the office, it is a good policy to answer the phone as quickly as possible.

At home, if there is no caller ID, we might let the call go to voice mail.

Fred Griffin If I recognize the number, I will answer on the first ring. Voice mail, if I don't know the number. If not with a client, call back immediately if a potential client. The telemarketers are out in force since they are now allowed to call cell phone numbers.

Fred,

We have a live person answer ours and then forward them to one of us.  A

I'm noticing telemarketers are finding ways to reroute the call so it comes through with a local area code. 

All of the above depending what i am doing at the time.

As soon as I can grab it, if it is not a known telemarketer . . . if I am in doubt, I will let it go to VM, then Google the number or let them leave a message.
Everything requires immediate response in our fast-food world. Even if the response is 'nothing'. LOL

If not with a client within three rings but never the first.

As quickly as I can. Why would you wait?

Almost always by the 3rd ring

My phone is set for 3 rings, then it goes to voice mail. I get many phone calls from different area codes, and most are for advertising something. Those I let go to voicemail, but if it is in my area code, I answer it as soon as possible (by the second ring). And since my office phone is now my cell phone, I answer it no matter what time it is.

I try to slide the bar by the second ring.  Sometimes my hands are wet or full and my iPhone doesn't know that ir should automatically answer for me....

As soon as I can pick up the call. If I am with someone or on another line, I let it go to voice mail. 

It sort of depends on how long it takes me to answer my phone.

I try to answer by the second ring if possible.  Otherwise, it goes to voice mail.

if I recognize the number, the first ring.... if it's a local number, first ring....if neither, it goes into voice mail and I pick it up immediately.....if it's business, I return the call immediately.....

As quickly as possible.

Fred depends if I am on the phone....then Voice Mail... if I am in the middle of an response to a client depends who is calling... if it is a blind call no number displayed private...etc voice mail... otherwise when ever I can get to the phone fast enough to answer it...Endre

Fred - It all depends. I usually try and answer the phone as soon as possible, unless I know it is a sales call. Then I let it go to voice mail.

If I am available, answer as soon as possible.    If it is junk, it goes to VM.

I guess I'm missing something here.  Is there a strategy to when you answer the phone?  If I hear it ring, I answer.  

I have no rings - ooops.

I try to answer as quickly as possible when I'm available.

Unless it's a private number or a recognizable telemarketer.

I answer my own phone.

So many other things....that's too open a question.

If I'm with another client or in a meeting, it goes to voice mail. Otherwise, I try to answer by the second, at most, third ring. No assistants...

I answer it right away unless it is an 800 or unknown, those go to voice mail. I do not answer it when I am with a client.

Fred,
It takes two rings for the caller ID to show on the screen. I catch it as soon as I see who is calling.

I try to answer as soon as possible.  That the way I've been conditioned to do it all through my business life.