Which characteristic best describes cold transfers?

Cold transfers are characterized by the fact that the original caller is sent directly to the new recipient without any prior interaction between the two parties. This means that the person who is transferring the call does not have a conversation with the receiving party before the transfer takes place. This can lead to situations where the recipient is not fully briefed on the caller's needs, since there is no "handoff" discussion to provide context.

The other options describe characteristics that do not align with the concept of cold transfers. A warm handoff, for example, involves an initial discussion with both parties engaged before the transfer, which is opposite to the nature of a cold transfer. Enhancing call quality is not a defining feature of cold transfers; rather, the abrupt nature of the transfer can sometimes lead to misunderstandings or decreased call quality. Lastly, cold transfers are applicable to all types of calls, not just video calls, further establishing why this option is not correct.