pdg@chinet.chi.il.us (Paul Guthrie) (01/07/89)
In article <telecom-v09i0003m07@vector.UUCP> soley@ontenv writes: >In article <telecom-v08i0211m06@vector.UUCP>, black%ll-micro@ll-vlsi.arpa (Jerry Glomph Black) writes: >: I just read a short review in PC Week about a $400 gizmo which >: answers your phone, then issues a robot-voice announcement to the >: caller requesting that the (hopefully touch-tone-equipped) person >: press the '3' button. The caller is then connected to your voice >: phone, which rings as usual. If '3' is not pressed, the gizmo >: box assumes that a fax or modem is calling, and your data >: equipment receives the incoming call. Seems like a good way to >: get double use of one line. >I think what you were reading about is a product called Watson, in >addition to doing what you say it also is a modem and comes with >voicemail software for the PC (a little rudimentary, but workable) >considering this the price is quite reasonable. Yes, the watson can do this, as can other similar devices such as bigmouth and Dialogic boards. They range in price from $189 or so for Watson, to $2000 for dialogics (but they can handle 8 lines with conferencing and call progression sensing etc). I have also seen a dedicated specific device like the original poster mentioned for about the $300 price. All of these take software support, and forget it if you don't have a IBM compatible running MessyDos. The best way to go, though, is to call KISS engineering at 1 (800) 442-2285 and order `The one ring thing'. What it does is let you call in, let the phone ring once and you hang up. The next time you call (for one minute), it will have switched to the second line. Therefor this works if you have both an answering machine and a modem. I don't recall the price, but its less than $50. By the way, if anybody is interested I have a Unix device driver for Dialogic boards (in beta test). Also, dialogic has a nice new board that lets you bring a T-Span into a PC. You can then link it with another board they sell to do the conferencing, A/D APCM conversion etc. Useful now for big telemarketing people, but will be great for gateways if they eventually provide ISDN PRI user side support. -- Paul Guthrie chinet!nsacray!paul