Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!netsys!vector!telecom-gateway From: OLE@csli.stanford.edu (Ole J. Jacobsen) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Answering Machine(s) on Multiple Lines Message-ID: Date: 20 Aug 89 14:07:25 GMT Sender: news@vector.Dallas.TX.US Lines: 16 Approved: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 314, message 4 of 8 At the office we have 16 incoming lines (in hunt). We have an answering machine connected to the main number, and that's it. If the main line is in use (for an outgoing call, say) the answring machine won't kick in. I know radio shack has a device that will "watch" two lines and patch the ringing one through to the answering machine, I have such as gizmo at home and it works well. In theory I should be able to buy a number of them and connect them in cascade to have the answering machine pick up any ringing line. This would be a giant kludge, but would probably work. The question though is: Can I purchase some sort of device that will answer multiple lines, or are we talking "voice mail" which I've avoided so far since it seems very expensive? I guess 8 x 2-line answering machines would work too, but I'd prefer a more elegant solution. Any pointers would be much appreciated. Ole