mgrant@cos.com (Michael Grant) (11/11/88)
There is a box which sounds VERY similar, (not quite the same) called the Telexpander. It has something it calls the "UnPay Phone" feature which lets you do what you described. The box is available from Gray-Bar Electric, (check for your local listing). It cost around $500.00. The one major differnce from what you described and the Telexpander is that the Telexpander does all of it's stuff on just one by using call forwarding and 3-way calling. It can divert calls for you, (like forwarding). When someone calls it, it answers the call, puts them on hold with 3-way calling and dials the number that the box is diverted (forwarded) to. You can stop it from diverting by pressing a key on your touchtone pad when it initially answers and then type in a password. Once you are in the box, you can make multiple calls by getting the box to use the 3-way calling for you. (This is what they call the UnPay phone feature because long distance charges are on your home phone bill.) If you want, you can get the box to forward your phone with call forwarding. If you do this though, you won't be able to call the box back. There were some other features that I have forgotten. -Mike Grant