abmg@cathedral.cerc.wvu.wvnet.edu (Aliasghar Babadi) (05/21/91)
Hi, I like to be able to leave voice messages on a computer using telephone. for example: I call my friend at work she is not there I want to leave a voice message for her on her computer so later on when she logs into her account she see the voice mail and she can listen to it. 1- I want to know if there is such a system available. 2- Do you have any idea of how to do this? 3- Where can I get some help and more info on this subject? Thank you fro your help.
lmb@sat.com (Larry Blair) (05/22/91)
In article <1781@babcock.cerc.wvu.wvnet.edu> abmg@cathedral.cerc.wvu.wvnet.edu ( Aliasghar Babadi) writes: =Hi, = = I like to be able to leave voice messages on a computer =using telephone. for example: = = I call my friend at work she is not there I want to leave a voice =message for her on her computer so later on when she logs into her =account she see the voice mail and she can listen to it. = = 1- I want to know if there is such a system available. = 2- Do you have any idea of how to do this? = 3- Where can I get some help and more info on this subject? Octel Communications, which makes the Aspen voice mail system, has been working on this problem. I don't know if they are selling it yet, but you could call them and ask. Their number is (408) 942-6500. Their address is 890 Tasman Drive, Milpitas, CA (I don't remember the zip!). -- Larry Blair lmb@sat.com {apple,decwrl}!sat!lmb
edw@sequent.UUCP (Ed Wright) (05/23/91)
----- News saved at 23 May 91 16:31:28 GMT
In article <1781@babcock.cerc.wvu.wvnet.edu> abmg@cathedral.cerc.wvu.wvnet.edu (Aliasghar Babadi) writes:
%Hi,
%
% I like to be able to leave voice messages on a computer
%using telephone. for example:
%
% I call my friend at work she is not there I want to leave a voice
%message for her on her computer so later on when she logs into her
%account she see the voice mail and she can listen to it.
%
% 1- I want to know if there is such a system available.
% 2- Do you have any idea of how to do this?
% 3- Where can I get some help and more info on this subject?
%
%Thank you fro your help.
Although we have voice mail here at sequent, I have a hard time seeing the
big difference between it, and a $29.95 kmart answering machine, other
than perhaps the cost.
I generally send e-mail to someone who has it and does not answer the
phone.
Some times I even use .............. person to person contact ! :-)/2
So IMHO
1. yes put a $29.95 answering machine on her phone.
Long term, it might even be cheaper on an employee by employee basis
than a high tech solution.
2. go to Kmart
3. Kmart
--
I think I've got the hang of it now .... :w :q :wq :wq! ^d X exit
X Q :quitbye CtrlAltDel ~~q :~q logout save/quit :!QUIT ^[zz ^[ZZ
ZZZZ ^H ^@ ^L ^[c ^# ^E ^X ^I ^T ? help helpquit ^D ^d ^C ^c help
exit ?Quit ?q anybackbone!sequent!edw edw@sequent.COM KA9AHQ 28.340andrew@resam.dk (Leif Andrew Rump) (05/30/91)
In <60710@sequent.UUCP> edw@sequent.UUCP (Ed Wright) writes: >----- News saved at 23 May 91 16:31:28 GMT >In article <1781@babcock.cerc.wvu.wvnet.edu> abmg@cathedral.cerc.wvu.wvnet.edu (Aliasghar Babadi) writes: >%Hi, >% >% I like to be able to leave voice messages on a computer >%using telephone. for example: >% >% I call my friend at work she is not there I want to leave a voice >%message for her on her computer so later on when she logs into her >%account she see the voice mail and she can listen to it. >% >% 1- I want to know if there is such a system available. >% 2- Do you have any idea of how to do this? >% 3- Where can I get some help and more info on this subject? >% >%Thank you fro your help. >Although we have voice mail here at sequent, I have a hard time seeing the >big difference between it, and a $29.95 kmart answering machine, other >than perhaps the cost. With a company with more than one or two employees then the answering machine won't work! To answer the original question: Yes it exist and it works quite well. I tried it once when I called Island Graphics (a larger software house) in the States. My contack person was not in so the receptionist asked me if I wanted to leave a voice mail - Huh?!? Well, eeh, ok! Hello <beep> please ... He called! :-) He told me later that voice mail worked much better than notes and E-mail because it didn't get scribled on the way it came directly from the senders mouth. How it is done? Well you need to hook up a computer with an analog interface to the telephone system or if it's internal mail to a microphone. You also need a loudspeaker (a SunSparc has it all). Then you need some software to record the sound, a _*HUGE*_ disk and some software that makes sure the right person gets the right files for playback. It's quite simple actually! Andrew Leif Andrew Rump, AmbraSoft A/S, Stroedamvej 50, DK-2100 Copenhagen OE, Denmark UUCP: andrew@ambra.dk, phone: +45 39 27 11 77 / Currently at Scandinavian Airline Systems =======/ UUCP: andrew@resam.dk, phone: +45 32 32 51 54 \ SAS, RESAM Project Office, CPHML-V, P.O.BOX 150, DK-2770 Kastrup, Denmark If it's broke, fix it (The MS-DOS way) If it aint broke, don't touch it (The Unix way) If we can't fix it, it ain't broke (Maintainer's Motto) If you can't fix it, fuck it (The U-boat way)
robertl@bucsf.bu.edu (Robert La Ferla) (05/31/91)
All NeXT workstations have voicemail. Robert La Ferla Lotus Development Corporation Advanced Technology Group / NeXT Improv robertl@lotus.com
philip@vogon.cetia.fr (Philip Peake) (06/06/91)
In article <1991May30.073220.1610@resam.dk>, andrew@resam.dk (Leif Andrew Rump) writes: |> In <60710@sequent.UUCP> edw@sequent.UUCP (Ed Wright) writes: |> >----- News saved at 23 May 91 16:31:28 GMT |> >In article <1781@babcock.cerc.wvu.wvnet.edu> abmg@cathedral.cerc.wvu.wvnet.edu (Aliasghar Babadi) writes: |> |> >Although we have voice mail here at sequent, I have a hard time seeing the |> >big difference between it, and a $29.95 kmart answering machine, other |> >than perhaps the cost. |> |> With a company with more than one or two employees then the answering machine |> won't work! Ok, I'll take the bait ... why won't the answering machine work with more than two or three people ? Whilst on this subject, I would like to point out that I *hate* voice mail systems - particularly the semi-automated variety. Given the choise I won't deal with companies that use it. A typical problem (for me) is that I call a Californian company (there is a 9 hour time difference, so there is a very small overlap in the time that both myself and the person I'm trying to contact are in the office at the same time). I call the direct number on his buisness card, and what do I get ? Voice mail ! - that was a wasted transatlantic 'phone call. So, I call the company switchboard, ask to speak to Mr. X, and am connected to (you guessed it) his voice mail !!! (A second wasted transatlantic 'phone call). I re-call the switchboard, and explain that I want to speak to the person, not a machine, so can she get the person on the 'phone before connecting me ? "Our system doesn't support that" she says ... The moral - if you *insist* on using this retrograde technology, list THREE numbers on your buisness card - one for the company switchboard, one for yourself, and one for your voice mail system. Philip
dberg@informix.com (David I. Berg) (06/07/91)
In article <1991Jun6.075141.8108@cetia.fr> philip@vogon.cetia.fr (Philip Peake) writes: >In article <1991May30.073220.1610@resam.dk>, andrew@resam.dk (Leif Andrew Rump) writes: >|> In <60710@sequent.UUCP> edw@sequent.UUCP (Ed Wright) writes: >|> >In article <1781@babcock.cerc.wvu.wvnet.edu> abmg@cathedral.cerc.wvu.wvnet.edu (Aliasghar Babadi) writes: >....... >Whilst on this subject, I would like to point out that I *hate* voice mail >systems - particularly the semi-automated variety. I fully agree with you. >........ >I call the direct number on his buisness card, and what do I get ? >Voice mail ! - that was a wasted transatlantic 'phone call. A properly implemented voice mail system will have a touch-tone option to redirect the call to an operator, receptionist, etc. Unfortunately, it takes such a long time for the recorded message to tell you about all the options, you are into your next life before you get to leave a message. >So, I call the company switchboard, ask to speak to Mr. X, and am connected >to (you guessed it) his voice mail !!! Again, you shouldn't have to do this step if the voice mail system allows you to redirect your call. >I re-call the switchboard, and explain that I want to speak to the person, >not a machine, so can she get the person on the 'phone before connecting >me ? "Our system doesn't support that" she says ... I had to call my brother long distance to advise him of a death in the family and got tangled in a web of poorly implemented voice mail networking. It took an hour before I got to speak to a human being who could locate my brother in a meeting to advise him of my call. I was upset enough before this; now I was angry. >The moral - if you *insist* on using this retrograde technology, list >THREE numbers on your buisness card - one for the company switchboard, >one for yourself, and one for your voice mail system. I know people who have a pager number on their business card so callers don't have to go through their company's voice mail. ___ ___ dberg@cougar.informix.com / ) __ . __/ /_ ) _ __ Informix Software Inc. (303) 850-0210 _/__/ (_(_ (/ / (_(_ _/__> (-' -/~ (_- 5299 DTC Blvd #740; Englewood CO 80111 {uunet|pyramid}!infmx!dberg The opinions expressed herein are mine alone.
edw@sequent.UUCP (Ed Wright) (06/08/91)
In article <1991Jun6.194116.14714@informix.com> dberg@informix.com (David I. Berg) writes: %In article <1991Jun6.075141.8108@cetia.fr> philip@vogon.cetia.fr (Philip Peake) writes: %>In article <1991May30.073220.1610@resam.dk>, andrew@resam.dk (Leif Andrew Rump) writes: %>|> In <60710@sequent.UUCP> edw@sequent.UUCP (Ed Wright) writes: %>|> >In article <1781@babcock.cerc.wvu.wvnet.edu> abmg@cathedral.cerc.wvu.wvnet.edu (Aliasghar Babadi) writes: % %>....... %>Whilst on this subject, I would like to point out that I *hate* voice mail %>systems - particularly the semi-automated variety. % %I fully agree with you. % AS implemented here, the caller can skip the message and proceed to leaving one, or can break out to a real live humanoid. These 2 features make the voice mail here at Sequent really acceptable. Our Resources Group worked long and hard to see what was available and be sure that they could satisfy our users and callers. Other companies could learn from that example. Specifically one of my credit unions, who when I called during normal business greated me with voice mail. Dial the extension now I didn't know the extention, and there was no way that I knew of to get it. I went down the primrose path about 8 layers deep, and finally sent them a letter that in essence said that I wanted a call, and I wanted to talk to a human when I called, and my next letter would be to close all the accounts for my family. Within two weeks the opening message was changed to include an escape to an operator option. I guess I wasn't the only frustrated one. Good voice mail is a good tool. Poorly implemented voice mail is a pain in the butt. Ed -- I think I've got the hang of it now .... :w :q :wq :wq! ^d X exit ^X^C ^[x X Q :quitbye CtrlAltDel ~~q :~q logout save/quit :!QUIT ^[zz ^[ZZ ZZZZ ^H ^@ ^L ^[c ^# ^E ^X ^I ^T ? help helpquit ^D ^d ^C ^c help ^]q exit ?Quit ?q anybackbone!sequent!edw edw@sequent.COM KA9AHQ 28.340
allan@sinix.UUCP (Allan Perry) (06/19/91)
In article <1991Jun6.075141.8108@cetia.fr> philip@vogon.cetia.fr (Philip Peake) writes: >In article <1991May30.073220.1610@resam.dk>, andrew@resam.dk (Leif Andrew Rump) writes: >|> In <60710@sequent.UUCP> edw@sequent.UUCP (Ed Wright) writes: >|> >----- News saved at 23 May 91 16:31:28 GMT >|> >In article <1781@babcock.cerc.wvu.wvnet.edu> abmg@cathedral.cerc.wvu.wvnet.edu (Aliasghar Babadi) writes: >|> >|> >Although we have voice mail here at sequent, I have a hard time seeing the >|> >big difference between it, and a $29.95 kmart answering machine, other >|> >than perhaps the cost. >|> >|> With a company with more than one or two employees then the answering >|> machine won't work! First, if the company only has one or two employees, then an answering machine is adequate. On the other hand, most companies have more employees than that. I can think of two features that most voice mail systems have that an answering machine doesn't have: 1. The ability to save and delete individual messages. Every answering machine that I have ever only allows you to delete all of your messages. 2. Voice mailing lists. Even though I have only seen this used effectively on a broadcast basis (i.e., the message is sent to every voice mailbox), it is a nice feature that answering machines can do. I like voice mail and I wish we had it here. >Ok, I'll take the bait ... why won't the answering machine work with >more than two or three people ? See above. >Whilst on this subject, I would like to point out that I *hate* voice mail >systems - particularly the semi-automated variety. > >Given the choise I won't deal with companies that use it. > >A typical problem (for me) is that I call a Californian company (there is a >9 hour time difference, so there is a very small overlap in the time that >both myself and the person I'm trying to contact are in the office at >the same time). > >I call the direct number on his buisness card, and what do I get ? >Voice mail ! - that was a wasted transatlantic 'phone call. And if they are using an answering machine, you get an answering machine. >So, I call the company switchboard, ask to speak to Mr. X, and am connected >to (you guessed it) his voice mail !!! >(A second wasted transatlantic 'phone call). And if they are using an answering machine, you either get the answering machine directly or the switchboard give you the answering machine. >I re-call the switchboard, and explain that I want to speak to the person, >not a machine, so can she get the person on the 'phone before connecting >me ? "Our system doesn't support that" she says ... And if they are using an answering machine, you either get the answering machine directly or, instead of saying "our system doesn't support that", she says "I am sorry, sir, but if he is not at his desk ..." (or something equally polite, but unhelpful). The only case where you wouldn't get a machine in this case is if the switchboard operator searches for that person, maybe by physically walking around the building (unlikely) or calling the person's manager. This could take some time and still not find the person and result in a much longer wasted transatlantic phone call. And this would work the same for voice mail or answering machine systems. In other words, in your case, an answering machine is almost equivalent to a voice mail system. So, I suppose you wouldn't (if you had a choice) do business with companies that use answering machines either. >The moral - if you *insist* on using this retrograde technology, list >THREE numbers on your buisness card - one for the company switchboard, >one for yourself, and one for your voice mail system. The moral is don't blame voice mail for the inherent difficulties of doing business with places on the other 6000 miles away and the pain of playing telephone tag. I don't see you offering a solution. Incidentally, I am working in Munich and most of my friends, family, creditors, business associates, etc. are in the U.S. (mostly CA). However, I knew there would be problems communicating and I live with it. alan