From: andy@w6yx.Stanford.EDU (Andrew Cromarty)
Newsgroups: biz.comp.software
Subject: Re: Voice/ Modem/ Fax Software!!!!
Date: 11 Jan 1993 19:10:50 GMT
Organization: Stanford University Amateur Radio Club, California USA
NNTP-Posting-Host: w6yx.stanford.edu
Summary: Check out The Complete Communicator.

In article <C0CKw6.6B@acsu.buffalo.edu> psbayer@acsu.buffalo.edu (Paul S. Bayer) writes:
>I am looking for a certain type of software that will enable one phone line
>to be left on 24/7 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week), as a general fax line,
>but if a human called it, it would recognize that there was no fax
>transmission, no modem transmission, and therefore either; 1) pass through
>the call to a phone, or 2) answer the call with a simulated human voice
>(voicemail), I'm hoping to use my fax/modem as a voice mail line, but still
>be able to receive/send faxes through it.
>
>Has anyone heard of any kind of software that will do this????
>
>Just for laughs  - I'm running DOS 5.0, and Windoze 3.1 on a 486/33DX with
>4 megs of memory, I will be getting a TwinCom 14.4K fax/modem soon, but
>currently I have a generic Hayes compatible 2400 modem.


A company named The Complete PC sells a product named The Complete
Communicator that permits this to be done.  The package comprises a
PC board and associated software.  I have used it on a 286 and a 386 under
MS-DOS 3.3 and DR-DOS 6, never with more than 1MB RAM.  The product
comprises a data modem, voice mail system, and fax.  It allows you to 
set up many voicemail mailboxes, with individual control (separate passwords,
greetings, etc.) if you wish.  If a voice call comes in, it answers as
a voice mail system; if a fax comes in, it answers as a fax machine.  You
can pick up voice messages from any mailbox remotely by calling in as
you would expect.  It incorporates a fairly comprehensive voice help system
to walk you through all your options at each point, and it allows a caller
who knows what they want to press the appropriate keys without having to
wait for the dialog to complete (note that Dove's comparable product for
the Macintosh does not offer either of the latter features).  Although
the Complete Communicator does have a few design flaws and limitations,
it generally is superior to the Dove product for the Mac.  (I own both
products and have no affiliation with either company.)

You should expect that you will experience broadcast interference if you
live near an AM broadcast station with any of these products.  It's
annoying, but it generally can be reduced to a tolerable point unless the
radio antennas are right in your back yard using a filter of the sort sold at
the local AT&T phone equipment store for about $15.

The ballpark street price of the Complete Communicator is $500; there are
two versions, with the "Gold" version costing about $100 more and offering
(I believe) a 14.4Kb data and possibly also 14.4Kb fax modem.  They are in San
Jose CA and their product is available through normal retail and mail order
channels with the usual discounts.  I believe they have a faxback service
(you call them on your fax line, listen to their menu instructions, push some
tones to select documents on their products, then put your fax machine online
to receive those documents).

Good luck,				asc