Most people are familiar with answering machines or Voice Mail that play a prerecorded message to callers, and record a message from the caller. At home, answering machines can't answer if the line is busy. This can become frustrating for callers and a real concern if the line is in use for extended periods, like when using the line to access the internet.

An Internet Call Answering service is an alternative to adding a second line. You can surf the Internet on your single phone line without worrying about missing important calls. These services make it possible to hear who's calling while surfing the Web.

The Call Answering Services are very similar in how they work and their cost, except for Internet Call Manager (ICM). ICM is usually available through your local telephone company and optional features are available at a package discount price. These features vary by locale.

These services use a program that stays resident in the background of your computer until activated. When your phone line is busy, the call is forwarded to another number where the message is recorded and sent to your computer program at lightning speed over the internet (if it is on-line). Caller ID is usually included and you can hear the caller's voice through your computer speakers - you have the option of taking the call or letting it record. Most services also have forwarding or notification alerts, so if you are not at home, you can be notified of incoming messages. A number is provided to retrieve the messages your from any phone.

The Answering Service companies offer a Free Trial, but in order for the call to be forwarded to the answering service, "Call Forward on Busy" must be activated with your local phone company. The price is either a small one time fee or a small monthly fee. In some cases, this fee can be reimbursed if you terminate the service after the trial period.

These services are very low priced and should be considered in lieu of adding a second phone line for internet use.

Internet Telephone Services, referred to as PC-to-phone calling, allow you to make long distance and international calls over the internet at Low international and domestic rates using your computer microphone and speakers or headset.

Your online address book is accessible from anywhere in the world.

These services are a great cost-saving idea, but there are a couple drawbacks:

• When the internet is congested, there can be a delay (or lag) between the time one party speaks and the other hears what is said. This can be quite frustrating especially when the lag is 10 to 20 seconds.



• The ability to hear the other party over your computer speakers depends on the quality of your speakers, the telephone company line quality, the sensitivity of your microphone, memory and CPU cycles used by other programs, and the amount of background noise on either end. Headsets typically work better.

Broadband, or High-Speed Internet Access, users also have the ability to make calls over the internet using one of the services combined with the following accessories:

• USB gateway is a bridge that allows you to hook up your regular analog phone to your computer.



• Broadband gateway (e.g. Cisco ATA) is a bridge that allows you to hook up your regular analog phone directly to your broadband connection.

• IP Phone is a phone that hooks up directly to your broadband connection.

Video Conferencing is now available with some of these services.