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Anyone know of some good voice mail software?

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Notok:
Here's what it looks like...

johnfdeluca:
I've now used CallStation for a couple weeks on one line and also tried CallSoftPro on another line.  They are both excellent and either will likely well serve most folks needs but I like CallSoftPro better.  It's admittedly more expensive ($50 plus $15 for the web server vs. CallStation $30) and upgrades to purchasers are not unlimited (vs. CallStation's perhaps unlimited upgrades) so while it offers more features, they come at a price.

Here's the CallSoftPro features which CallStation doesn't (correct me if I am wrong) have which I think are compelling:

* web server:  allows me to retrieve messages from any computer on the internet
* call forwarding:  if you subscribe to 3 way calling from phone company, this feature will allow the software to try to reach you and connect you with the caller.
* multiple mailboxes:  allows me to have multiple unique callboxes, each with their own actions (some can take messages, others can call-forward, others can just hang up, etc.  So I have one main mailbox (where unknown callers or those not in my phonebook go), I also have a mailbox for me as well as a mailbox for my partner.  People in the phonebook are directed to one of these mailboxes based on their "profile" in the software's phonebook.  Then each of those mailboxes have a submailbox to try to reach each of us via cell (using the call forwarding mentioned above)
* customized caller handling:  pretty much mentioned above, but each caller found in CallSoftPro's phonebook can have custom greetings and/or custom call handling so I can control who gets to try to reach me via cell and who gets to leave a message and who gets their message forwarded to my email/cell phone and again, based on caller, email message may be sent to specific email addresses (so if joe calls, send Brian and email and if Mary calls, send me an email).
* Active-X Support (so Call Soft can interact with other programs like web servers, word processors or applications written by third parties)
* Run as a Service (so it doesn't require a user be logged onto the PC....it will start when the PC boots even if no one logs on.  And it will restart in the unlikely event of the app crashing) or as an App
* When message is received, CallSoft can call a number (such as your cell) and then play the message
* Add callers to your phone book based on caller ID name or number (so if you don't know Tony Bagadonuts number, you can still match with caller id based on his name)
* Lookup caller using the internet (if caller id leaves out name, or if you just want the address, you can right click a name to have it use one of several popular reverse telephone directories on the web)
* Auto-reboot if modem fails to respond over time (so you can put that PC in the basement and not worry about it)
I think all the CallStation features (and they are great) are also in CallSoftPro including:

* TAPI Compliant (will share the modem with other apps)
* Speakerphone (if supported by modem) so no need to use the actual telephone
* Text to Speech support (so it can "speak" something such as an outgoing greeting vs. recording an outgoing greeting) SAPI 4 & 5 support and various voices available via downloads
* Have messages emailed to you
* Check messages remotely via another telephone
* Answer on Ring n Schedule (allows it to answer call on different ring counts based on a schedule you set up)
* Caller ID and Phone book support (so when caller id would show "Wireless Caller" for many of my friend's cell phones, if the number is in the software's phonebook, it will use the name found in the phonebook entry......very compelling.
* Broadcast Caller ID to network PCs
* Fax support (for sending/receiving faxes including auto-fax detect so you don't need a separate software or tele line to handle faxes)
I have no affiliation with either software product other than end-user.


<edit:  included urls>
Call Soft:  http://www.toscintl.com/callsoft/
CallStation:  http://www.imptec.com/callstation.htm

mouser:
great post John  :up: :up: :up:
Very helpfull summary.

vegas:
In case anyone is still paying attention, Call Station 5.0 was just released.  I have no need for it, but every previous major version upgrade has been quite substantial, so probably worth a look.

Cheers,

vegas

Curt:
<edit:  included urls>
Call Soft:  http://www.toscintl.com/callsoft/
-johnfdeluca (November 26, 2006, 11:42 AM)
--- End quote ---

- is this address right? 404: not found.

The only Call Soft I could find in a hurry: http://www.mycallsoft.com/

Anyone know of some good voice mail software?

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