Ed_Greenberg@fin.3mail.3com.com (08/28/90)
TELECOM Moderator writes: >1) You dial 411. >2) Operator's pre-recorded voice: "Directory, Ms. Brown" >3) You cite your request, the operator sits there silently typing. >4) The number is located, and the cursor moved to it on the screen. >5) Computer says, "The number is xxx-xxxx" (and repeats it). Actually, I've been meaning to write about my observations on this for a while. When automated readback came out, we found ourselves saying thank you to the machine. Then we felt guilty because we hadn't thanked the operator. Now, this is my observation of automated directory assistance: 1) You dial 411 2) Operator's prerecorded voice says something (usually, "Miss Brown, What City Please") 3) You say "In San Jose, Joe's Pizza, Please" 4) You hear "type type type typettie type type" 5) The operator says "Here's your number" 6) There is a loooooooong pause. 6a) If you say thank you, the computer is kicked in and you get your number. 6b) If you don't say anything, the operator tells you to have a nice day or thanks for calling or something else then kicks in the computer. My surmise is that while the operators can accept the prerecorded greeting, and can accept not reading you the number, it's mighty difficult to accept not being thanked. -edg [Moderator's Note: Incidentally, if you hear a pre-recorded greeting which sounds noisy, muffled, or otherwise not the best, tell the operator about it. I do, and they are always glad to find out and will usually record it over again. And for anyone who answers the phone quite frequently each day, you can get the same little gizmo the operators use for their answer phrase from the {Hello Direct} catalog. They are devices to have, and help save your voice. PAT]
lemke@apple.com> (08/29/90)
}[Moderator's Note: Incidentally, if you hear a pre-recorded greeting }which sounds noisy, muffled, or otherwise not the best, tell the }operator about it. I do, and they are always glad to find out and will }usually record it over again. And for anyone who answers the phone }quite frequently each day, you can get the same little gizmo the }operators use for their answer phrase from the {Hello Direct} catalog. }They are devices to have, and help save your voice. PAT] Can you tell us more about this device? How much does it cost? How does it interface to the phone and/or line? Where exactly can one get it from? Steve Lemke, Engineering Quality Assurance, Radius Inc., San Jose Reply to: lemke@radius.com (Note: NEW domain-style address!!) [Moderator's Note: The one I saw is just a little unit, much smaller than a desk (Model 500) phone. The phone line plugs into it, then it has a jumper which plugs into the back of the phone. A chip inside stores about a five second message which you record (or re-record) at any time. When you answer a call, take the receiver off hook and hit the button on the unit. It feeds the pre-recorded message out to the line. This will typically just be your name and number, or department, or whatever you ordinarily say when you answer the phone. The caller hears it, starts talking, and you take over in your own voice at that point. The appropriate use for the device is to answer incoming calls where you get several dozen to several hundred per day. It saves several minutes of speaking each day for phone operators; receptionists, etc. Inquire from Hello Direct: 1-800-HI-HELLO. PAT]