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Build Your Own Phone Tree?

Posted by Cliff on from the D-I-Y dept.

ps asks: "A small club I belong to is looking to install an electronic phone tree. This is one of those boxes that you can call into, leave a message, and it will deliver that message to all the members of a group. There are ones commercially available for over $1000, but this seems like something that wouldn't be too difficult to build. I could imagine that either a sound card based system, or a specially designed microprocessor system would work. Has anyone built one of these before?"

5 of 28 comments (clear)

  1. happy dude - the simpsons by krs-one · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Hello, this is Happy Dude. If you want eternal happiness, please send $1 to Happy Dude, 742 Evergreen Terrace."

    -Vic

    1. Re:happy dude - the simpsons by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      "Hello, this is Homer Simpson, aka Happy Dude. The court has ordered me to call every person in town to apologise for my telemarketing scam. I'm sorry. If you can find it in your heart to forgive me, send one dollar to Sorry Dude, 742 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield. You have the power!"

  2. Just hire a phone hottie! by EvilStein · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's probably cheaper. Just find some sultry sounding girl to answer the phone and pretend she's the IVR. People will just press random buttons to see what she'll say next.

    :-)

  3. Re:Done it, pretty much.. by braek · · Score: 2, Funny

    Towards the end of the dialup BBS scene...

    What! The BBS scene is dead!? NOOOOOOOO!!!!

  4. Re:Why use phones? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny
    I believe there are laws against unsolicited automatic messages in the USA.

    Maybe in some states that's the case, but I get them all the time here in California. Just got one tonight:

    "Hello. You have been selected to receive a free three-day vacation to Las Vegas! Just answer the following three questions: (1) Are you single? (2) Do you own a home? (3) What is your annual income?"

    An obvious time-share scam. As if any legitimate company has so many vacations to give away that they can't get a human to ask the questions!

    At least spam never interrupts me when I'm polishing the bishop. Popup windows, maybe, but not email messages.