Help Newsgroup FAQs - Dialers

This document contains the AT&T Worldnet Help Dialers Newsgroup FAQs posted to the worldnet.help.faqs newsgroup every 30 days.

Dialers FAQ - Call Waiting

How can I make sure I don't miss any calls while I'm connected to the Internet?

Here are some possible solutions so that you don't miss that call while you're on the Internet.

Software Solutions

CallWave (Free basic; $2.95 - $9.95/month Premium)
How this works: http://www.callwave.com/findoutmore.asp?ct=hp1_fom
CallWave has developed two FREE alternatives to expensive second phone lines. The Internet Answering Machine is a free alternative to a dedicated modem line, and FaxWave is a free alternative to a dedicated fax line.
*CallWave offers a free basic service and a range of premium services priced from $2.95 to $9.95 per month.
BuzMe (Free)
How this works: http://www.buzme.com/buzme/service/free.asp
Sign up and download BuzMe's Internet Call Waiting and Voicemail software and receive and respond to phone calls while online!
With BuzMe you will:
- Receive and Respond to calls while online
- Save the cost of an extra phone line
- Save the cost of for-pay voicemail services
- Never miss an important call again
Pagoo ($5.95/month)
How this works: http://www.pagoo.com/More/ICWHowPagooWorks.html
Cheaper and more flexible than voice mail. Callers can leave you a message that plays on the PC. You either need to have Call Forward Busy Line from your local telephone company or you need to give out the PAGOO 800 number and your ID to callers. It can also page you or send e-mail when a message arrives (great for when you're away from the PC).
Internet Call Manager (For as low as $5.95 per month)
How this works: http://www.internetcallmanager.com/TellMeMore/tellmemore.shtml
ICM lets you keep in touch with family and friends when you're online. No more complaints about your callers always hearing a busy signal! You'll know as soon as someone is phoning 'cause a little pop-up window will appear on your computer screen with the name, number and location of your caller. ICM includes everything you need, so no Call Waiting or Caller ID is required.
Then, it's all up to you!
- Take the call
- Send the call to voice mail
- Transfer the call to another phone
- Play the caller a message
- Ignore the call altogether

Hardware Solutions

Emerson Switchboard
How this works: The Emerson Switchboard temporarily splits your phone signal into three separate lines - Computer, Phone, Fax. There's no software needed and no installation - works automatically.
No more busy signals, missed calls, or getting kicked offline!
- Get a quick phone call or fax while you're online.*
- Works with ANY computer, Internet service or phone line.
- Won't affect modem speed.
- Caller ID compatible.
- Instant connections for phone line, computer, fax and telephone.
- No software needed, no installation required.
- No extra phone jacks or wiring needed.
- Rings and flashes with an incoming call. Simply answer the phone while you are online.
*Length of time you can stay connected online while taking a call varies with each ISP carrier from 20-30 seconds. Requires call waiting.
Catch-A-Call
How this works: http://www.catchacallonline.com/catchacall-how-it-works.html
Catch-A-Call uses your telephone company's call waiting service (call waiting is required) to detect incoming calls while you are online. Catch-A-Call immediately rings and flashes a red light to notify you of the incoming call. If you choose to take the call, simply pick up the telephone plugged into Catch-A-Call and your Internet connection will automatically be placed on hold for a short length of time (anywhere from 2 to 30 seconds). When you are finished with your phone conversation, simply hang up. If your computer has not yet disconnected, you can resume surfing the Internet. If you stayed on the phone long enough to cause your computer to disconnect, simply click the Refresh button on your browser's tool bar and your computer will dial up again and reconnect to the same Internet page where you left off. It's that simple! With Catch-A-Call, you can stay connected to the Internet all day long without the worry of missing any calls or faxes.
Internet Caller ID
How this works: http://www.internetcallerid.com/how_does_internet_caller_id_work.htm
Hotcall
Using Call Waiting Caller ID, HotCall monitors your telephone for incoming calls. You are alerted when a call comes in. You can:
- Identify the caller and take the call
- Identify the caller and decide that the call isn't urgent
- Identify the caller and ignore the call
Net Sense Call Pending
Net Sense CPi lets you know when you have an incoming call in the simplest way possible. A chime will sound and a light will flash, letting you know there is a call pending. Press a button to take the call, press it again and you're back to the same Web site you were on before you took the call.
All you need from the phone company is standard call waiting service.

Modem Solutions

Call Waiting Modems
Actiontec manufactures modems with call waiting features:
http://www.actiontec.com/products/modems/index.html
With your V.90/V.92 56K Internal PCI Call Waiting modem, you can surf the Net at 56K speeds and feel confident that you will never miss a call! Actiontec's Call Waiting technology ensures that you can receive and screen phone calls while online, even if your ISP doesn't support the V.92 standard.
V92 Modems and Modem On Hold
The newer V92 modems just coming onto the market will be enabled with Modem on Hold (MOH).
Modem On Hold: Allows modems to stay connected 'on-hold' while you take an incoming call-waiting call, or initiate an outgoing voice call. (Works only if V.92 server modem is configured to allow this feature.)
The amount of time you can place your Internet connection on hold while taking another call will be up to your ISP: the V.92 recommendation will permit ISPs to set their modems to wait for 0 - 16 minutes, or, to wait indefinitely. V.92 client modems may include software that will warn the user when the ISP-determined timeout approaches, as well as to display call-waiting caller-id info (requires Telco caller ID service). Note that ISPs have an incentive to limit the use of this feature: when a call is placed on hold, the ISP modem remains unavailable to take other calls. The ISP may need to add more modems to maintain quality of service if this feature is enabled.

Links

***Note that Caller ID, Call Waiting, and Call Forward Line Busy are provided by your local telephone company usually for a fee(s).

Need Additional Help?

If you can't find the answers you need, please try:

The help file for the application you are using.
Our FAQs.

Note: AT&T DSL Service support is available at http://dslhelp.att.net