Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!mailrus!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: john@bovine.ati.com (John Higdon) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Proposal: An Answering Machine I'd Love to Have Message-ID: <4706@accuvax.nwu.edu> Date: 3 Mar 90 22:17:53 GMT Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu Reply-To: John Higdon Organization: TELECOM Digest Lines: 32 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 142, Message 5 of 9 Mike Coleman writes: [Detailed description of screening-type answering machine] > Any comments? Does something like this already exist? Could I > home-brew one with a PC and some magic card? Is there anything > illegal about this? Sure does. It's called a Watson (I'm beginning to feel like a Watson shill, but it really is a useful device). Using one of these in conjunction with either a PBX such as a Panasonic or home Centrex such as Commstar II, you can have any combination of message taking, call screening, code-access, or whatever you desire. The limitations are your imagination. If there's anything illegal about it, I have been breaking the law for years. > [Sidebar: In one of Heinlein's novels, there is a character with a > very interesting "doorbell". Essentially, it's something like "Insert > $20 into the bill changer to talk to me. If I decide your visit is > worthwhile, I'll return your money." In this spirit, would it be > possible (or reasonable) to get a 976 number as a home phone number? I've worked out a way to have a Watson take major credit cards. You could have someone enter his Visa or Mastercard number and collect the twenty dollars that way. Actually, for giving me such a great idea, I might share with you MY scheme :-) I will definately consider putting something on mine as a gag if nothing else. John Higdon | P. O. Box 7648 | +1 408 723 1395 john@bovine.ati.com | San Jose, CA 95150 | M o o !