Voice Mail/Answering machine suggestions

[Wits' End]

Looking at sub $100. The feature I'd like to have is to enable caller to hit a button and hear their message before they 'leave' it. Is that available on a small business budget?
We have bad cell phone coverage in our area, we frequently get garbeled messages. Some of those could be the dying answerer I have now but I have answered the phone and had a similar sounding message live. We occasionally get bakery orders on this answerer so I'd like something more reliable.
Any suggestions and points to web sources would be welcome.

 

[Wits' End]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bump.gif

 

[Lynx_Arc]

I have heard of a computer software program that works with a voice modem as an answering machine, it may have features somewhat unheard of in stand alone units. You could probably dedicate an old obsolete computer to the task if it doesn't have a super tiny hard drive in it.

 

[gadget_lover]

Good luck. That's a feature most frequently associated with Voice Mail. It should be available from the local phone company.

On site voice mail systems and PBX systems with voice mail tend to cost a lot more.

Daniel

 

[Wits' End]

I was afraid of that. Last I checked voice mail was not available up here. Had to use a number an hour away (long distance).
So how about a good stand alone answerer? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[gadget_lover]

You really need to see and listen to the machine. There are so many features that it's easy to forget that one is missing.

I've grown to like the Pansonic digital answering machines, but be aware that the voice quality suffers on almost all of them.

Features to look out for;

1 Rremote control when away.

2 Toll saving (answer on 1 ring if a message is already recorded)

3 Fixed incoming message length

4 unlimited incoming message length

5 Clear recordings

6 Ability to pick up messages from a cordless handset in the house.

7 Multiple mail boxes

8 Send page when message is recieved

9 battery backed clock and settings

10 Selectable multiple outgoing messages (day, after hours, weeekend)

11 set clock via caller id.



I'm sure there are many more

Daniel