Re: Telephone systems for home workers

[Matt Ion <soundy -at- ROGERS -dot- WAVE -dot- CA>]

On Fri, 26 Sep 1997 08:33:46 -0700, Bill Brucksch wrote:

>Hello all,

Hi, Bill!

>I'm a telecommuting tech writer with a phone system that may need updating.
>In my current system, one line is voice only, tied to an answering machine;
>a second line (no answering machine) I use for Internet, fax, and outgoing
>calls; my cell phone I currently use for emergencies only.

A reasonable and efficient arrangement.

>I want to be able to a) not answer all incoming calls, b) be notified
>immediately of incoming calls so I can decide which to respond to and when,
>and c) use as few lines as possible.

Sounds like you're already at the minimum number of lines for what you
want.

>I'm considering the following:
>1. putting some sort of line switch on one phone line so I can use it for
>either voice, Internet, or fax.

There are a couple of fundamental problems with this: one, these line
switches are of moderate functionality and usefulness, depending on your
situation; two, do you really want your only phone line ringing if
someone sends you a fax at 1am (whether because they're in a distant time
zone, or because it's just cheaper then)?

>2. rather than answer either line every time it rings, attaching the line/s
>to a pager, so I can either return calls immediately or put them off.

Does your telco support Caller ID?  At the very least, this will display
the phone number (as long as it's not blocked by the caller, or coming
from an area that doesn't support CID); the more advanced systems will
also display the caller's name and location.

A few other possibilities: many telcos offer a call-forwarding feature
that will forward a call to a predetermined number if the call is not
answered in a certain number of rings... so, for example, if you see by
the Caller ID that it's someone you don't want to talk to, you let it
ring through to a pager or voicemail system.

Also, if your cellular supplier offers a (reasonably-priced) call
forwarding option, you could also give out the cell number as your
business number and keep the home number as your private listing.  Then
the cel could be forwarded to the home number when you're there (some
also support the forward-on-no-answer feature, so if the cel rings, you
just let it go until it's passed to the home phone, and you then know
that that incoming call is business-related).  This is how I work it - I
give out my cel number as my business contact, and then just forward it
to my pager during weekdays when the cel airtime is expensive (my plan
has evenings and weekends free).

>I'm interested in learning of anyone's experience with line switches and
>also how other work-at-home types have their phones set up. I'd be glad to
>summarize the responses I receive and post them.

This is how I work it - I give out my cel number as my business contact,
and then just forward it to my pager during weekdays when the cel airtime
is expensive (my plan has evenings and weekends free).  If I'm expecting
an important call, I can leave the cel on.  Otherwise, I can return the
call from a convenient landline wherever I am.

Those line switches, as noted, are iffy at best... UNLESS you have one
that makes the called do the switching via touch-tone (ie. "Press 1 to
leave a message, Press 2 to send a fax).  The automated ones depend on
fax CNG tones to tell whether an incoming call is a fax or not, and not
all fax machines properly support sending these tones when making a call.
 Typically, these will pick up incoming calls immediately, and if they
don't detect a fax call, will ring other connected devices.  For this to
work properly, all devices (phones, answering machines, etc.) must be
connected through the switch.  Extension phones on different jacks
throughout the house will screw up the process.

Your best bet is probably to stick with the lines you have, and add
Caller ID (again, if supported by your telco), and consider dedicating
your cel number for business, forwarding it to your home phone when
you're not out.



 Your friend and mine,
 Matt
 <insert standard disclaimer here>
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 Maybe today, maybe tomorrow
 That's not the question for me
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                                - White Heart, "Maybe Today"

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