Pause Windows

Pause windows define times when calls should NOT be made. They help you respect recipients' time, comply with regulations, and avoid wasted calls during off-hours.

Why pause windows matter

Calling at the wrong time:

• Annoys recipients

• Reduces answer rates

• May violate regulations

• Wastes resources

Pause windows let you define "do not call" periods that Gomobile automatically respects.

How they work

During a pause window:

1. No new calls are initiated

2. Contacts wait in the pending queue

3. When the window ends, calling resumes

4. No contacts are skipped—just delayed

This applies to both initial calls and retries.

Configuration

Pause windows are defined on programs:

{
  "pauseWindows": {
    "monday": [
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 12, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 14, "minute": 0 }
      }
    ],
    "tuesday": [
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 12, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 14, "minute": 0 }
      }
    ],
    "wednesday": [
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 12, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 14, "minute": 0 }
      }
    ],
    "thursday": [
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 12, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 14, "minute": 0 }
      }
    ],
    "friday": [
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 12, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 14, "minute": 0 }
      }
    ],
    "saturday": [],
    "sunday": []
  }
}

This pauses calling during lunch (12:00-14:00) on weekdays.

Weekly windows

Define recurring windows for each day of the week:

{
  "pauseWindows": {
    "monday": [
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 0, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 9, "minute": 0 }
      },
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 18, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 23, "minute": 59 }
      }
    ]
  }
}

This pauses before 9 AM and after 6 PM on Mondays.

Multiple windows per day:

{
  "monday": [
    {
      "startAt": { "hour": 12, "minute": 0 },
      "endAt": { "hour": 13, "minute": 0 }
    },
    {
      "startAt": { "hour": 17, "minute": 0 },
      "endAt": { "hour": 18, "minute": 0 }
    }
  ]
}

This pauses during lunch hour and the last hour of the workday.

Advanced windows (specific dates)

For holidays and special events, use advanced windows with specific dates:

{
  "pauseWindows": {
    "advanced": [
      {
        "startAt": "2025-12-25T00:00:00Z",
        "endAt": "2025-12-26T00:00:00Z"
      },
      {
        "startAt": "2025-01-01T00:00:00Z",
        "endAt": "2025-01-02T00:00:00Z"
      }
    ]
  }
}

This pauses all day on Christmas and New Year's Day.

You can combine weekly and advanced windows:

{
  "pauseWindows": {
    "monday": [
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 12, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 14, "minute": 0 }
      }
    ],
    "advanced": [
      { "startAt": "2025-12-25T00:00:00Z", "endAt": "2025-12-26T00:00:00Z" }
    ]
  }
}

Common patterns

Business hours only

Only call 9 AM to 6 PM on weekdays:

{
  "pauseWindows": {
    "monday": [
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 0, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 9, "minute": 0 }
      },
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 18, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 23, "minute": 59 }
      }
    ],
    "tuesday": [
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 0, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 9, "minute": 0 }
      },
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 18, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 23, "minute": 59 }
      }
    ],
    "wednesday": [
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 0, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 9, "minute": 0 }
      },
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 18, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 23, "minute": 59 }
      }
    ],
    "thursday": [
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 0, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 9, "minute": 0 }
      },
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 18, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 23, "minute": 59 }
      }
    ],
    "friday": [
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 0, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 9, "minute": 0 }
      },
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 18, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 23, "minute": 59 }
      }
    ],
    "saturday": [
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 0, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 23, "minute": 59 }
      }
    ],
    "sunday": [
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 0, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 23, "minute": 59 }
      }
    ]
  }
}

Lunch breaks

Pause during typical lunch times:

{
  "pauseWindows": {
    "monday": [
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 12, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 14, "minute": 0 }
      }
    ],
    "tuesday": [
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 12, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 14, "minute": 0 }
      }
    ],
    "wednesday": [
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 12, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 14, "minute": 0 }
      }
    ],
    "thursday": [
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 12, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 14, "minute": 0 }
      }
    ],
    "friday": [
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 12, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 14, "minute": 0 }
      }
    ]
  }
}

Weekend only

Only call on weekends (for B2C):

{
  "pauseWindows": {
    "monday": [
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 0, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 23, "minute": 59 }
      }
    ],
    "tuesday": [
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 0, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 23, "minute": 59 }
      }
    ],
    "wednesday": [
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 0, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 23, "minute": 59 }
      }
    ],
    "thursday": [
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 0, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 23, "minute": 59 }
      }
    ],
    "friday": [
      {
        "startAt": { "hour": 0, "minute": 0 },
        "endAt": { "hour": 23, "minute": 59 }
      }
    ]
  }
}

Timezone considerations

Pause windows use the organization's timezone. If your organization is set to Africa/Casablanca:

• { "hour": 12, "minute": 0 } means 12:00 PM in Casablanca

• This adjusts automatically for DST if applicable

If you're calling across timezones, consider:

• Setting windows based on recipient timezones (if you segment by region)

• Using broader windows to cover multiple zones

Pause windows vs program stop time

Feature	Purpose
Pause windows	Temporary pauses, calling resumes
stopAt	Permanent end, remaining contacts skipped

Use pause windows for breaks during the day. Use stopAt to set a hard deadline.

Best practices

1. Respect local customs - Lunch times vary by culture

2. Consider your audience - B2B: business hours, B2C: evenings/weekends

3. Account for holidays - Use advanced windows for local holidays

4. Test your windows - Verify they work as expected

5. Document your reasoning - So future you understands the choices

Limitations

• Windows are based on organization timezone

• Granularity is to the minute

• Cannot set different windows per contact (segment into different programs)

Related topics

• Programs - Setting pause windows

• Retry Strategies - Retries respect pause windows