Method and apparatus for detecting a far-end disconnect signal for use by telephony applications such as voice messaging systems. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, signal power of a telephone signal in particular frequency ranges is compared with the signal power in these frequency ranges for characteristic far-end disconnect signals used by telephone systems worldwide. Further, the cadence of the signal power of the telephone signal is examined to determine whether the cadence of the telephone signal is characteristic of far-end disconnect signals, including "busy signals" and "dial tones."