PC Telephone Software

[rlk]

I'm looking for PC software that can manage the fax line in my home office. Currently the MS software I'm using (BVRP) can either be set to act as a telephone answering machine; or a fax machine. I have not found a way to have the software act as both.

It would be great to find software that can record phone messages and capture faxes; let me view the faxes prior to printing; and listen to phonemail messages that have been left.

An additional, but not mandantory requirement, is for the software to make outgoing voice calls at pre-determined times. Several of the people in our community are elderly, do not have internet access, and some of us would like a way to contact them daily. If they answer the phone I would like that fact recorded. If they do not answer the phone, I would like the software to wait a few hours and try again. At the end of the day, if they have not answered, we could call a neighbor to ask them to check on the person.

Again, the last requriement is a desire and not a hard, fast requirement.

Anyone know of a software product that can handle this? Thanks.

Bob

 

[randy41]

as a result of the campus shootings our local public schools have installed an automated warning system that calls everyone on the 'list'. right now they plan on using it for warning of school closings and delays. this may serve the needs of your 2nd request BUT i don't think it gives feedback as to who was there to receive the call or if it was received at all. it is a honeywell product.

 

[jdbower]

I gave up on a dedicated fax line ages ago. I use a company called uReach and for a small fee every month (there are many plans, all of them cheaper than a phone line) you can get an 800 number for voicemail or fax plus an email account. I have my home phone and my cell phone forward there (call forwarding on busy/no answer is what Verizon calls it), plus I give out the number as a direct fax line. When a fax or voicemail comes in as another email with a subject of "Fax from xxx-xxx-xxxx" or similar. I usually download faxes as a TIFF file and I can then print it if I need to. Voicemails I just play with the brower's embedded player, but I can download it as a WAV file if I wanted to. I keep my fax machine (actually a printer/scanner/fax combo) on my main line for outgoing faxes only.

The uMessage plan is the most useful to me, but if you only care about faxes they have a uFax plan. They've got some more advanced plans if you want to do really cool things like have the 800 number follow you around. It's made my life much easier.