Bob_Frankston%Slate_Corporation@mcimail.com (Bob Frankston) (03/27/91)
Just saw an ad for Ringmate (distinctive ringing) by NET. Looks tempting but they claim it doesn't work on lines that hunt though it does support call forwarding. Does anyone know more about this? While on the subject of distinctive ringing, what equipment supports it? In particular are there Fax/modem/phone switches? Are there any modem that report "RING n" instead of simply "RING"? Of course, this is a prelude to what I hope will be available in ISDN, namely an ability to pass part of the address (phone number) to the subscriber. I already use this facility with email to get Telecom Digest delivered directly to a separate mailbox by using MCI's MTA protocol. In the phone network I could then address a particular phone, modem, fax machine or other service. For now, distinctive ringing would provide a small subset of this capability.
Bob_Frankston%Slate_Corporation@mcimail.com (Bob Frankston) (03/29/91)
I realize that Ringmate works with forwarding (yes, selective forwarding would be much nicer). The problem is with hunting -- I've got two numbers and when the first is busy the second rings. One alternative would be to forward on busy -- how does forwarding compare with hunting in terms of capabilities and other tradeoffs? (Hunting is free, but I think I've also got forwarding).
irvin@northstar105.dartmouth.edu (Tim Irvin) (03/30/91)
In TELECOM Digest V11 #244, Bob Frankston writes: > Just saw an ad for Ringmate (distinctive ringing) by NET. Looks > tempting but they claim it doesn't work on lines that hunt though it > does support call forwarding. Does anyone know more about this? Ringmate is compatible with Call Forwarding. Actually there are two flavors you can have set-up (at least in NET and SCB areas). The first choice is when your forward your calls, both the Main and RM numbers will be forwarded. The other flavor is that only the Main number gets forwarded, while the RM number rings as usual. This is set-up when you order (either RM or Call Forwarding) and cannot be changed on-the-fly. Actually, I would prefer an additional option: Forward the RM number but allow the Main number to ring through. Since I only give my RM number to people I know. I would not mind paying occational LD charges for them to reach me, and the rest of the world would simply fall through to my answering machine. Obviously the work around is to list my RM number, unlist my main number and give main # to friends. However, Main-listed/RM-unlisted is free, while Main-unlisted/RM- listed is charged as an unlisted line. Something else about RM compatibility: In BELLSouth land they have a service called "Single-Line Prestige" which includes: Call Hold (flash-*9), Call Transfer (flash, number, hang-up), and Call Pick-up (#3 [must be another "S-L P" phone in the same residence]), plus regular Custom Calling Features with some slight modifications (like Call Waiting is flash-*9 -- which allows you to xfer the call your on before picking up the incoming one). Anyway, I had this service, until SCB came out with Ringmate (Ringmaster there). Well I called to order and everything seemed fine until two days later I got a call from a Rep. She said that I had to choose between RM and S-LP because they were incompatible technologies. Oh well, S-LP out, RM in. I asked if she thought they would ever be compatible - in hindsight kind of a pointless question to ask. Anyway she had no clue, but would let her bosses know I wanted both. S-LP doesn't appear to be available in NET land so I guess the point is moot for me now. Tim Irvin