I am looking for a "free" Internet answering machine.

[nayov]

I've seen a few sites that offer 30-day trials, but are there any that are genuinely free?

[renegade600]

check this (http://www.fwnetwork.com/telecom/) out or go to google and search using free internet answering machine as key words

[evanm2]

You may want to avoid CallWave. I posted asking for a free internet answering machine that would not put spyware on my system.

Lots of "free" software includes a user agreement with fine print that says you allow them to put spyware or adware onto your computer. These agreements are so long and convoluted that no normal human being would take the time to read them.

CallWave was ramming adware onto my taskbar even before it was fully installed, and when I tried to delete it from my system, I couldn't.

Good luck.

[Nick Grana]

Doubt if you'll find a free one as I also searched hard for one with zip results.
I used callwave for quite a while, trouble free, until they started charging.
I'm definitely not paying to get calls from people I wouldn't answer the phone for anyway.;)
Good luck.:michaelan
Oh, yeah, I canceled callwave a couple of years ago and am now receiving bills, $3.95/mo because I did not cancel my call forwarding to their answering machine number. I sent them some choice words and that was that.:leonardo:

[The Dude]

What if you got an OLDER VERSION of it from be4 they started charging???

Anyway,i dont think ill recommend this to anyone again after hearing evanm2's report.......... (STUPID SPYWARE/ADWARE CRAP)

Theres gotta be some free one out there that we can tell him.........

[evanm2]

I am searching for software that will work with my 56 K modem to serve as an answering machine while I am online. I only have one phone line, and I am staying with dialup. The software should be a one-time-only price, not a subscription, and it should not include any adware. It must provide audible notification of an incoming call, and serve as an answering machine in the event I do not pick up. I do not want to have to pay the phone company for call waiting service. Thank you

[renegade600]

Please do not post for help in someone elses thread. Create your own, this way there will not be any confusion.

[LRI41]

Callwave, Pagoo and there was a third, none are really free, you
have to pay for Call Forwarding from you local telephone company to
forward the call and then it is downloaded through the computer, so
you have that monthly charge plus whatever charge the service charges,
When we were on dial up we had pagoo from two to three years and
we were satisfied with it, but it would miss a call now and then, or
fail to download them but all in all it worked pretty well.

EMERSON SWITCHBOARD

If someone calls you while you're online, The Emerson Switchboard wil
immediately ring and flash a red light, notifying you of the incoming call.
If you choose to take the call, simply pick up the telephone that you’ve wisely plugged into the Emerson Switchboard. When you answer your Internet connection will automatically be placed "on hold." After you are finished with your phone conversation, simply hang up, and get right back to your Internet use."
ANYONE USED THIS DEVICE? DOES IT WORK AS WELL AS CLAIMED?

If you'll read the fine print, it probably says you have to subscribe/pay for Call Waiting from your phone company before you can use the box. If you already have that, it should work.

http://www.emerson-switchboard.com/


This Site may save you:

http://www.youcansave.com/switchboard.html





I understand that there is available a box that goes outside your tower that allows you to answer a phone call stay on line temporarily and then decide whether or not to take the call or hang up and stay on line,

This may be the Call Waiting Products:

CPS, Inc. - Call Waiting Products

http://www.cpscom.com/cwp.htm


Catch-A-Call allows users to receive incoming phone calls and faxes by putting their Internet connection on hold. If you run a small office with just one phone line, this is the best $44.99 you'll ever spend to increase productivity. Catch-A-Call is an advanced phone line sharing device, it's highly intuitive and simple to use. Just plug it in like you would an ordinary phone jack. And there's no software to install or configurations to wade through. Just plug it in and you're ready to go.
Catch-A-Call is compatible with any computer, any platform, any phone line. And with it, you can remain on the Internet indefinitely, without missing calls or faxes. Imagine being able to receive a fax-while working on the Internet! Catch-A-Call is Caller ID compatible (optional call waiting ID service required). Catch-A-Call is the only device of its kind that is made with pride in the USA. Manufactured by International Electronics.
Features:
· It's Easy To Use Just Plug-n-Play!
· Fully Caller ID Compatible
· No Software To Install
· No Monthly Fee
· Supports any system, any OS
· Call waiting service required

Manufactured by: International Electronics
Manufacturer Part No: 67100 Blue


http:/ / www.catch-a-call-online.com/ catchacall-internet-call-waiting-manager.html

http:/ / www.catch-a-call-online.com/

or check here:

TigerDirect.Com 1-800-879-1597

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?sku=I502-1000&SRCCODE=WEBAOL01




I just read that there will be available in 2001 a modem which will allow you to do that and depending on your ISP mayby talk for 15 min and still not get kicked off line called a v2 Modem or something like that.

I also know of 3 softare programs , two of which are free but have a running advertising box like the free ISp/s have and one called Pagoo which we have used and in fact are on our second year. It costs either $3.75 prt monyh if paid for 12 months in advnace or
$4.75 if paid for 6 months in advance.
All three require that you pay the monthly fee from you local telephone company for call forwarding.

The FIRST TWO USED TO BE FREE, NOT SURE ANY MORE.:

http://www.buzme.com/

http://www.callwave.com/

the third one which you pay for is:


http://www.pagoo.com/


How can i use my computer to make a local telephone and receive it and make it work as an answering machine and receive the caller ID

Comment from ilovemykeyki Date: 09/28/2004 09:43AM PDT Comment
Hi there....You can view some available and downloadable softwares here for your modem.http://www.modemtools.com/

Comment from imarshad Date: 09/28/2004 11:24AM PDT Comment
First of all you should know if your modem supports Caller ID or not ?......The easiest step to know this is by consulting your Modem's documentation......If it is unclear then you can have a test......Open Hyper Terminal and make a new Connection......In the Properties / "Connect Using" you will see the name of your modem and a few Com Ports........ Out of these Com ports one will be a virtual port...... i.e the Com Port having the largest no. I have Com1, Com2 and Com3...... SO I will select Com3 and then press connect......You can check the connection by typing AT and then Enter key......The modem should respond with a "OK"......Now to check for Caller ID try the following one by one until one of these returns "OK".....AT#CID=1AT#CC1AT+VCID=1AT%CCID=1AT*ID1If none then your modem donot support Caller ID.......but if it responds with OK then still you might not have the Caller ID in your modem......Now you should connect your Telephone line to the Modem (with the Hyper terminal running).....Now ask some friend to call you ......You will receive RingIf it is Caller ID enabled you will get something like this.......Ring123456789 Imran ArshadRingRingelse you will get Ring RingRingand so on.......

Comment from imarshad Date: 09/28/2004 11:28AM PDT Comment
If the earlier test passes or your modem documents say that your Modem supports Caller ID then you may use the following software.......http://www.beiley.com/acallerid/http://www.ainslie.org.uk/callerid/cli_soft.htmhttp://www.voicecallcentral.com/

[evanm2]

Thanks, but did you know that you just posted several dead links?


I downloaded "Advanced Call Center" and am now seeking help and advice to get it configured and working. It is not very user-friendly, and I don't have any services from my phone company like Call Forwarding or Caller ID.......don't know if I need them or not.

[Nick Grana]

Callwave was the most simple and the only free one (exception to $ call forward on busy to local phone service).
I don't not think you will find a free one. Plenty of trials but usually wants credit info upfront and then it's your oblication to cancel in time to not be charged.
Good luck.:michaelan