Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request
From: Ken Levitt <levitt@zorro9.fidonet.org>
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Customer Support
Message-ID: <2901@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 15 Jan 90 20:26:08 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 29, message 8 of 11


I received a lot of traffic on my customer support posting.  Here is a
summary of responses.

90% if the responses and people that I have talked to seem to think
that answering services should be avoided at all costs.  The list of
horror stories could fill an entire digest.

Sony, Panasonic and Phone Mate make answering machines that will call
another number to indicate that a message has come in.

Radio Shack and STARTEL have machines that will do call forwarding if
you have two lines.

You can subscribe to a voice mail service that will activate a beeper
when a message come in.

Many people have recommended using a PC based voice mail system.

After considering all of the above options, the one that seems worth
doing for me seems to be the PC based voice mail system.  (since I
have an old PC clone that I'm not using now for anything else.)

I believe that my requirements are as follows:

  1.  Runs on dedicated 8mhz XT clone with 20mb (slow) hard disk.
  2.  Can call out to a beeper number.
  3.  Has good voice quality.
  4.  Allows calling in to pick up messages
  5.  Allows me to call in remotely and alter programming to some other
      pre-defined program.
  6.  Allows callers to specify the priority or disposition of a call by 
      pressing a number on a Touch-Tone phone.
  7.  Security code for remote operations.
  8.  Costs under $1000 for all hardware & software excluding the PC.
  9.  Can answer a call on one line and forward it out on a second line.
  10. Able to do different things based on the time of day.

  Items 1-8 are absolute requirements.  Items 9-10 are highly desireable.

I have been told that the Watson system will do all of this.

Jeff Cochran reported having both the Watson and "The Complete PC".
He reports the Watson is far superior.

Mark Earle recommended "The Complete Answering Machine".  Is this the
same as "The Complete PC"?

I've also been told about a product called BigMouth.

If anyone has other devices to add to the list or experiences with any
of the above devices, please send Email.  I will summarize for the
digest.  Any information about suppliers having good prices on this
type of equipment would also be greatly appreciated.


Ken Levitt - On FidoNet gateway node 1:16/390
UUCP: zorro9!levitt
INTERNET: levitt%zorro9.uucp@talcott.harvard.edu