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Using My PC For Plain Old Telephone Service?
TheJerbear79 writes "I recently accepted a work-from-home job that will involve using my landline to talk to customers. When I log into the phone queue, my landline will ring, I'll put in a three digit code, and then calls are routed to the phone line I'm on. It essentially turns my landline into a softphone. Rather than using a regular handset or obtaining a nice business phone with a headset and speakerphone, I would like to use my PC's modem in conjunction with a normal PC headset and soundcard. I know the hardware is capable, but the modem didn't come with appropriate software. Has anyone found anything cheap/free that would suit this kind of usage? Just for clarity, I don't want to use a VOIP solution; I need to use my plain old landline. My reason is this: if I'm watching a movie or listening to an MP3 while I'm waiting for a call, I don't want it to ever be apparent to the person who is on the phone with me, and I want to route all the audio I use through a single headset. I've scoured Google for anything close to this application, and all I've managed to find is information on VOIP software or programs that turn my PC into an answering machine, neither of which will work."
Your reading comprehension skills are weak. From the question:
Rather than using a regular handset or obtaining a nice business phone with a headset and speakerphone, I would like to use my PC's modem in conjunction with a normal PC headset and soundcard. I know the hardware is capable, but the modem didn't come with appropriate software. Has anyone found anything cheap/free that would suit this kind of usage?
This is not very complicated. I suggest you return to Junior High school and study English at that level. (I apologize if English is your second language - you're doing quite well! Otherwise you're a bonehead.)
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
I'm not pretending anything. I think I explained it quite clearly. Here let me dumb it down for you. I log into a program called aspect with a username and password. Aspect rings my home phone. Ring ring ring! I then enter a code displayed in Aspect. If I enter this code correctly, it STAYS CONNECTED TO MY PHONE LINE for the entirety of my work day. I can then use the dial pad in aspect to make and recieve phone calls. If I get an inbound call there's a whisper on the line that says "you have an incoming call" What I'm trying to do is avoid not hearing a call because my phone was setting on my desk and I like my music loud, or having a customer say "Are you watching Batman..." because they can hear it, or someother such nonsense. If you're going to take the time to reply, take the time to read the original post, and stop being insulting because YOU don't understand something. Just say "I don't get it" it's cool, slashdotters are helpful.
Right but I can't wear two headsets at the same time. I know I can just go skipping off to the Walmart/Target/Radio Hut/Whatever RIGHT NOW and get a phone that will allow me to answer the phone perfectly. That's not something I would need the help of the entire slashdot community to get done. K? Thx
a) If that's what I wanted, I already have one. Why would I not use the one I already have if that's what I wanted to do? b) I don't need a physical switch to mute PC audio and mic input, that would be counter productive to what I'm trying to accomplish. c) This is precisely what I'm trying to do via a software solution using my modem and soundcard. Thank you for paying attention. Software used to exist to do this, but it's horribly difficult to find these days. d) I know how to use a mute button. kthx. Here's a free clue for you: I'm not using a VOIP setup. I indicated in my original post that VOIP is not at all even remotely close to what I intend/need to use. The point is there is going to be a delay between when the customer can hear everything that's going on, and when I'll be able to get to the pause button. I want to eliminate that gap by having everything routed through one headset, so I don't want to use speakers at all. I have a really nice logitec keyboard with a mute button. If simply having a button to mute were the problem, I'd look down at my keyboard and hit the button. Don't attack me personally because you don't understand what I'm trying to accomplish or why, just ask questions. I'm a nice guy, I answer them. Don't try to feel better about the fact that you don't understand by trying to make me out to be an idiot, you'll find yourself fighting a losing battle with a superior opponent. One more time, here's what I'm looking for in very easy to understand terms. I'm looking for a piece of software, which will allow the voice modem in my computer to talk to my sound card, such that I can dial out and answer calls on my land line telephone using nothing but my PC and headset. I would imagine this should be a very small simple program, but unfortunately one that very very few have an application for. Thus it's hard to find, or I'm just blind. Either way I came here asking for help with a problem, not to be told the problem doesn't exist.