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From: gnu@hoptoad.UUCP.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Telephone answer detection
Message-ID: <2117@hoptoad.uucp>
Date: Mon, 11-May-87 17:54:23 EDT
Article-I.D.: hoptoad.2117
Posted: Mon May 11 17:54:23 1987
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In article <813@bgsuvax.UUCP>, drich@bgsuvax.UUCP (Daniel Rich) writes:
>   A friend of mine has asked me to work on a telephone project for her 
> business, and I have run into a little snag.  They want a system that will
> call telephone numbers and play a message to the person who answers.

Note that devices that call people to play recorded messages to strangers are
regulated in many places.  These are the infamous "junk phone call"
machines.  Now, if you're building an alarm system that will call the
cops when somebody breaks in, that is different.

Even if they are not regulated in your area, I recommend that you design
the system such that:

	* If the person called gets disgusted and hangs up, you hang
	  up also.  On many exchanges their phone line will be unusable
	  until you do.

	* There should be a person on the line at all times, listening,
	  and able to speak if desired.  Machines are just not able to
	  handle all the responses that humans can make.

	* The recording it plays should start off by identifying who
	  is calling, so that the customers can call the phone company
	  or your company to complain about it if desired.  There's no
	  sense in running such a system if all it does is alienate your
	  potential or current customers.
-- 
Copyright 1987 John Gilmore; you may redistribute only if your recipients may.
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