Retired_nuke_ET
Carrollton Va.
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Joined: 12/20/2005
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We have an older answering machine that's dying, the buttons are sticking or not working, the batteries don't hold the charge long and are getting harder to find...
I'd like to replace it but it's got a nifty feature the wife says she can't do without. After somebody calls and leaves a message, the machine will call a programmed number and send a string of numbers (our phone number followed by 411). When we first got it way back when and she had a pager she got the digits on her pager. Now with cell phones it simply comes in as a missed call since it places the call and hangs up. But still she knows somebody just left a message at home.
I've found a Crutchfield glossary that describes the feature exactly and calls it "Pager Alert" or "Pager Call". I've also found a description of a feature called "Message Transfer" or "Message Forwarding" that calls you when you get a message and when you answer that call it asks you for your PIN and plays back the message. I've tried Googling all that stuff and got nowhere (which is unusual 'cause usually when I Google something most of what I get are shopping links). I found one phone on Amazon but it had really poor reviews. Does anyone know of an answering machine with a similar feature?
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tvman44
Southwest Louisiana
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Most phone companies offer call forwarding. That is what I do whenever I am waiting for a call, just forward to the cell.
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2Sooners
Oklahoma
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Years and years ago we had an answering machine that would do the same thing. Haven't seen one in at least two decades. However, when call forwarding became available we next sent the messages to wherever we were going to be. Now we don't even have a home phone -- we just use cell phones. The only problem we encountered doing that was we did not have DSL, but now AT&T has that available without regular phone service. On top of that, we use an AT&T aircard when traveling, making us totally portable.
Upshot is that we do not miss calls and have fast internet to boot anywhere. That might be your answer.
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troll3193
SouthWest, MI USA
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switch to vonage??? they have the ability for VM notification via email, which you could send as text messages to your phone?? would also get simulring option to have your cell phones ring the same time your home phone does when you are away..
my wife and I both get VM notifications via messages to our phones, includes the callers phone number..
just a thought..
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JoeChiOhki
Keizer, Oregon
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I think the missing bit here is all of what you guys are suggesting costs MORE than just getting another answering machine. Call Waiting/Forwarding = more $$$ a month on the phone bill, Vonage = $$ more than most local phone services still, Answering machine = Only the cost of buy it.
My folks have one that you can call the house and hit a combination of keys when it goes to message to access the message archive. It stores them digitally and has battery capability for times when the power is out (I Believe it uses AAs). I believe G.E makes it.
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troll3193
SouthWest, MI USA
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JoeChiOhki wrote: Vonage = $$ more than most local phone services still,
really depends if the OP already has broadband internet access or not...
vonage is $14.95 for local and 500 minutes LD per month, $24.95 for local and unlimited LD per month... Add a couple bucks of taxes to both rates... I just switched mine to annual payment and it dropped my unlimited plan to less than $20 a month...
show me a local telco that can touch that????
If they don't have broadband, then I agree the costs may vary, just trying to recommend options other than an answering machine..
Bryan
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trnfla
Tampa
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try searching ebay for the model you currently have
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magicbus
LBI, NJ
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Don't know if your computer is on 24x7 as mine is but if it is you can use this software - looks like it'll do what you need:
PC Phone answering machine
Dave
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Popsie
Livingston, TX, USA
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I've seen software demonstrated that has two features.
1. It will answer your phone, record a message, then do a voice to text and send you an email with the message. Of course, you can still call in and retrieve the recorded message.
2. In response to a phone call from you, it can retrieve email messages out of your inbox and read them to you (text to voice).
Since it stores everything on your disc, it's capacity is limited only by your disk storage.
I don't remember the vendor or product name.
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dicknellen
Northern Nevada, USA
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You may want to check Panosonic products, I have a older phone with built in answering machine that does this. I just use it for a phone now because it uses mini tapes for answering machine.
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