I wrote about discovering Phone Tray (which I will soon be reviewing), and in so doing, I was reminded of another, similar program called CallWave. I used this program extensively for several years when I had dialup Internet service. It was free (but I think either it eventually became a paid-for service, or perhaps I upgraded, I can’t remember now), and extremely convenient. 
As you dialup users know, unless you have a separate phone line with a separate number, you cannot receive normal telephone calls when you are online. Your callers get a busy signal or are directed to voice mail (if your phone service offers it). For us, this was a great inconvenience. CallWave is a program that is installed on your computer, and is like an answering machine through your computer. It also came with Caller ID (a very nice feature) and voicemail that you can control right off your computer desktop.
I checked out the CallWave website, and the software has changed a bit since I stopped using it three years ago (we got DSL at that time). Apparently, there’s a 30-day free trial, but after that the charge is $7.95. I think that’s a little steep. I mean, if you were going to pay $8 more a month, you may as well spend that $8 and upgrade to DSL service, and free up your phone line plus get the high speed of DSL. But CallWave may be a God send for you folks out in rural areas, where the only thing available to you is dialup.
Anyway, it’s a neat little program. And there just may be a free version in there somewhere. Be sure to do a little digging before you make that choice to pay for it.
![[Slashdot]](http://slashdot.org/favicon.ico)
![[Digg]](http://digg.com/favicon.ico)
![[Reddit]](http://reddit.com/favicon.ico)
![[del.icio.us]](http://images.del.icio.us/static/img/delicious.small.gif)
![[Facebook]](http://www.facebook.com/favicon.ico)
![[Technorati]](http://technorati.com/favicon.ico)
![[Google]](http://www.google.com/favicon.ico)
![[StumbleUpon]](http://www.stumbleupon.com/favicon.ico)
Tags: Internet, telephone, telephony
A friend passed along this website when I complained about my incessant telemarketing calls- Phone Tray. Oh my word, this looks like an amazing software program! I wanted to post about it right away, so that you’d have the chance to see it, too. (Scroll all the way down and look for Phone Tray Free 1.34). I have not downloaded it yet (I have to order Call Waiting at my local telephone provider first, in order for Phone Tray to work). This looks like a spectacular program. I have been PLAGUED by telemarketing calls. I mean, hey, it’s great to know that I have a Rochester personal injury lawyer or a new credit card waiting at my disposal, but if I need it, I’ll call you guys, k?
Basically, Phone Tray installs on your computer. Your computer is then hooked up to your telephone line. When a call comes in, the phone call is routed through your computer (through Phone Tray) and a Caller ID information window pops up. The nice thing about Phone Tray is that you can BLOCK telephone calls! Which means, when I get a telemarketer, I can, through the Caller ID, get the number and then block that number from ever calling my phone again. I LOVE this idea!! So as soon as I have the Caller ID feature enabled on my phone, I’m going to download Phone Tray and give it a thorough run-through. I’ll post my review with all my findings. I’m really looking forward to this, hoping that this will solve my telemarketer problems. P.S. Phone Tray is a free program! Stay tuned.
Tags: Phone Tray, software, telephone, telephony
Would you completely give up your telephone landline and just go with VOIP? VOIP is Voice Over Internet Protocol. In a very small nutshell, VOIP is basically telephony over the Internet, through your computer. A few people I know have completely given up on landlines and switched to either cell phones of VOIP. I’ve been reading a lot about it on the Clark Howard website (he is a proponent of VOIP). I’ve considered it for a while. Here in New York State, I pay over $50 merely to have a telephone plugged into the wall. Long distance, call waiting, DSL services, etc are extra. Not to mention all the taxes, fees, and surcharges I pay in top of it all. It is SO expensive. And it seems that every telemarketer has my number.
Anyway, VOIP is looking better and better. The service is becoming less expensive as demand and accessibility grows. Right now at itpVOIP.com, packages are as low as $9.99 for the Basic Plan, and as much as $48.99 for the super-duper Global Unlimited 2 plan. The extra perks are AMAZING. For example, the Basic Plan includes:
- FREE Linksys phone adapter/router
- Unlimited inbound calls
- The ability to keep your current number
- Free voicemail
- No annual contract
- Call waiting
- Call forwarding
Check out the website for more details. The VOIP packages are becoming very impressive, much more affordable to the “average” Joe. Having a landline is somewhat of an emotional attachment, though. Would you give it up?
Tags: telephone, telephony, VOIP
