Phonogram

A phonogram is an official message received or intended for transmission over the telephone or radio and may contain an order, instruction, request, or notification. Once received and registered a phonogram has the status of a document in some countries. Varieties of phonogram are the telephone-transmitted facsimile document and the telecommunications print-out. The disadvantage to these modes of communicating officially is the possibility of forgery, impersonation, or message tampering. It also creates the opportunity for alleged deriliction of duty of the intended recipient if the message is detained or misplaced at the receiving operator station.