I live in a semi-rural area and am incredibly frustrated with my area's landline phone provider. The provider has a monopoly in the area and delays fixing constant faults for many weeks. I want to go completely Skype, wireless and mobile. What are my options?
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posted by zaebiz
on Dec 31, 2007 -
7 answers
Is it possible to use the modem in an iBook running Tiger to send and receive voice messages?
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posted by ooklala
on Dec 14, 2007 -
4 answers
While growing up in Houston in the mid-late 90s, I somehow became aware of several local phone-based voice computer entertainment systems (for lack of a better term). They offered games (in which you punched numbers on the phone keypad to play) like Telefun Trivia, Operation Desert Wolf and something called Pika Farmer, voice dating services (in which you listened to or recorded personal voice ads), random informational services (a life expectancy calculator), horoscopes, news and weather, etc. - all via a menu system at one phone number. What were/are these services called and what other information is available about them? Does anyone else actually remember them?
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posted by dustinAFN
on Oct 15, 2007 -
20 answers
Advice on hiring an Indian call center to answer after-hours calls for a law practice?
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posted by jayder
on Sep 23, 2007 -
19 answers
Is there anywhere online or in print that provides help programming Avaya Partner Messaging "Automated Attendants"?
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posted by mikespez
on Aug 21, 2007 -
5 answers
What kind of job can I get that involves working on the telephone from home and that is challenging in some way?
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posted by lunchbox
on Aug 18, 2007 -
15 answers
How to legally and economically emulate a remote telephone area code so to a person receiving my call, it appears I am calling from their area code?
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posted by lometogo
on Aug 12, 2007 -
5 answers
Looking for a device to send recorded messages over phone line via ethernet control.
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posted by MtDewd
on Jul 2, 2007 -
3 answers
Long distance options between USA and Austria (VOIP preferred on Austria end)
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posted by sdis
on Jun 27, 2007 -
8 answers
I've been loving YouMail for the past year, as a replacement for VerizonWireless' sucky voicemail, but I've only now started playing around with it's individualized greeting/"ditchmail" features. I'm looking to mess with my friends & co-workers minds using this feature.
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posted by melorama
on Jun 17, 2007 -
8 answers
When a caller uses per-call blocking (usually activated by pressing *67 before dialing the number) to mask their identity to the receiver of the call, would subpoenaed phone records for the caller's outbound calls still show the number they dialed?
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posted by jayder
on May 16, 2007 -
9 answers
How can I regain my privacy wrt telephone conversations in a shared house?
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posted by gadha
on May 2, 2007 -
13 answers
We are temporarily moving 50 miles from our permanent home. We would like to keep our landline phone number active. VOIP seems like the obvious answer, but I'm a complete internet telephony newbie.
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posted by ambrosia
on Apr 23, 2007 -
10 answers
Does Skype "smooth" your voice to make it sound mellower, more seductive etc.? That's my impression; but is there any evidence to support it? I suppose an analogous means of customer retention might be the use in shops of "slimming mirrors".
posted by londongeezer
on Feb 20, 2007 -
15 answers
I remember seeing a service online somewhere. When you were looking at a phone number, you could enter your phone number and the service would call you and when you picked up the phone, it would be ringing the phone number you were looking at.
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posted by bryanzera
on Jan 23, 2007 -
4 answers
I've got a phone conversation that's going to become a podcast. How can I use
Audacity to make it sound its best?
posted by jjg
on Jan 22, 2007 -
11 answers
My answering machine/fax combo has joined its compadres in the big electronics graveyard, and I need a state-of-the-art answering machine-type thingy now.
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posted by Gordion Knott
on Dec 25, 2006 -
2 answers
I'm having difficulties choosing a (telephone) therapist starting from a long list. Partly practical, partly mental...
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posted by anonymous
on Dec 4, 2006 -
3 answers
Can anyone suggest a cordless phone system that will work throughout an old house?
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posted by Songdog
on Nov 3, 2006 -
6 answers
Wierd adsl connection problem. My google-fu has failed me. Please help - I'm tearing my hair out!
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posted by lemonpillows
on Oct 21, 2006 -
7 answers
IP Relay Scammers are plaguing our PBX operator. Is there anything we can do besides refusing to answer any IP Relay call?
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posted by IndigoSkye
on Oct 13, 2006 -
6 answers
Who were the first group of people to embrace SMS texting? Did any members of the group who designed the protocol accurately predict how it would be used?
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posted by rongorongo
on Oct 6, 2006 -
15 answers
Can anyone tell me why telephone keypads are "upside down" relative to calculator/numeric keypads?
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posted by I, Credulous
on Sep 21, 2006 -
9 answers
Is there some code, in the manner of *69, that returns the number I am dialing
from? It doesn't have to be a star code, whatever works. How do telco people do this?
posted by everichon
on Sep 12, 2006 -
17 answers
And to think I grew up with a rotary phone and a typewriter… I'm moving in November, and I'm trying to figure out what my best options are for phone and internet service (I won't be getting cable unless it’s free or something). I'm asking these questions together because I understand bundling isn't just for the Amish anymore;-)
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posted by orange swan
on Jul 7, 2006 -
12 answers
I'm sure there used to be a code one could dial on UK telephones which would cause the line to ring - thereby achieving intercom functionality? This number was something like *173, but either my memory fails me or it no longer works. Any ideas on the specifics?
posted by dance
on Jun 14, 2006 -
7 answers
TypeFilter: What specific typeface is used on most touch tone phone buttons? Is there a comparable free version out there?
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posted by linklog
on Jun 1, 2006 -
3 answers
Please help me figure out the most affordable, logical phone/internet package for my house. There are too many options, and I'm not quite sure where to start.
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posted by Dr. Wu
on May 18, 2006 -
12 answers
I'm strongly leaning toward dumping Verizon and switching to
Gizmo. What I'm curious about is the actual user experience of making and receiving VOIP calls. Is it be a hassle to be tethered to the computer via a headset? Do I need to leave my computer on all the time? How do I check voicemail (it's got something to do with e-mail, apparently -- does Gizmo e-mail me WAV files or something)? How do I dial out? If I'm making a call to an automated system that requires touch-tone data entry, how would I do this? How expensive and complicated would it be to route my calls to a conventional handset?
posted by Artifice_Eternity
on May 11, 2006 -
8 answers
so my friend is trying to locate an online service whereby one can type a message to a phone number over the web, and an operator than reads that message to the other end over the phone. So essentially its a computer text-to-voice over phone service, it may be intended for deaf-blind individuals. any ideas?
posted by Kifer85
on May 6, 2006 -
13 answers
Comcast vs. DirecTV in Seattle Eastside? I'm moving soon and need advice on telephone, internet and television.
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posted by frogan
on Apr 20, 2006 -
11 answers
I've never had a landline -- just a mobile for the past decade. I got married last year, and the little lady has a landline. We need one where we live, since there's no mobile service. So I forward my calls to the home line when I'm home. The problem is that if I don't answer the phone, the voice mail service doesn't work. How can I make these two work together?
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posted by waldo
on Apr 12, 2006 -
9 answers
Five minutes ago, I heard about an interview that will take place tonight. Does anyone know anything about the firm IQPC, or the conference industry, that could help me get this job, and get to New York?
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posted by godawful
on Mar 31, 2006 -
9 answers
Help! I need a regular desk phone that has a GOOD headset for my business. I'm tired of dealing with inferior, poorly-made headsets.
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posted by zek
on Mar 16, 2006 -
8 answers
What, if anything, should I do about in-laws who won't identify themselves when they telephone?
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posted by waldo
on Mar 14, 2006 -
57 answers
Is there a telephone number provider like
kall8.com than can let me record WAVs on my computer, upload them, and store them as telephone announcements?
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posted by rolypolyman
on Mar 7, 2006 -
3 answers
