Category : Communication (modem) tools and utilities
Archive   : ANS36E.ZIP
Filename : OFFER.TXT

01/27/93

Announcing Cygnus Data System's Voice Mail System.

ANSWER.EXE is a Voice Mail System which supports the ZyXEL modem,
CompuCom Combo modem, Cygnus Data System's DigiPhone, Creative Lab's
SoundBlaster, and LANtastic's Voice Card. Support is planned to be added
for additional voice hardware including The BigMouth, Watson, and other
sound boards.

ANSWER.EXE is designed to operate on IBM and compatible
computers. However, most XT systems are known not to be able to support
the high data rate required this software. Therefore, a 12 Mhz AT is the
minimum system recommended. The software requires at least 384 Kbytes of
memory, and should be used with at least 3 to 5 megabytes of available
hard disk space. ANSWER.EXE will play and record messages to and from a
floppy disk, but since message files are large, and floppies have limited
message capacity, a hard disk is recommended. Also required for
operation is a telephone line and a telephone receiver and one of the
supported voice cards.

The CompuCom modem samples voice at 10 Khz ANSWER.EXE and
therefore records at 10 Khz and so message files are 10 Kbytes per
second. This translates to 600,000 bytes of information per minute.
However, the ZyXEL modem implements a 2 bit Adaptive Delta Pulse Code
Modulation (2ADPCM) compression scheme. It sends 2 bits at 9600 Hz.
This corresponds to only 144,000 bytes per minute.

ANSWER.EXE when used with a voice mail card is a telephone
answering system which features four primary modes of operation - the
Personal Answering Machine, the Voice Mail Box, the Information Server,
and the PhoneBook Dialer. Each mode operates independently but may
access the same messages. Each of these modes is described briefly
below, and in detail in Chapter 5 of the User's Reference Manual.

The Personal Answering Machine will operate just as most common
telephone answering machines do, but can do even more. It will select
from as many as sixteen different outgoing messages and play it or them
to the caller, prompt the caller to leave a message after a tone, record
an incoming message, and allow the caller to edit the incoming message.
The outgoing message number and the number of rings before answering can
be programmed. Incoming messages may be played back from a remote
location. A presetable access code is required for this access.

The Voice Mail Box provides a system which can receive voice
messages for several persons by assigning each person a mail box number.
A System Operator assigns mail box numbers and maintains the mail box
accounts.

The Information Server is designed to present information to the
caller in response to the caller's touch tone signals. With this mode,
the caller can selectively receive the particular information of
interest. Callers may also leave messages in this mode.

The PhoneBook Dialer provides an outdialing feature which may be
used to automatically dial and redial a single number selected from a
PhoneBook or sequentially dial numbers from an ASCII list of phone
numbers. When redialing a single number from the PhoneBook, the computer
will present an audible beep when the call goes through. When in the
list dial mode, the called party will be presented with a menu much like
in the Information Server.

ZyXEL Modem Owners
------------------

This software supports the ZyXEL U-1496 modems and uses the 2ADPCM mode.
It requires a 12 Mhz AT or faster computer, a serial port, a telephone
line, MS-DOS v3.2 or higher or equivalent, and a hard disk. In addition,
RCVFAX.COM (distributed with the ZFAX software) is required to receive
incomming FAXs. To record messages locally (at the computer), a
telephone handset with a RJ11C connector at one end (please see section
5.4 of the ZFAX Utility Manual), or a second telephone used to call the
phone connected to the computer running the software is required.

COMPUCOM COMBO MODEM OWNERS
---------------------------

CompuCom has closed its doors. Although this software was promised to
its customers, CompuCom defaulted on its payment for this voice mail
software. As a result, I am now distributing the software myself. ROM
upgrades for your modem are available from The General BBS in San Diego
which as been serving as the CompuCom Technical Support board. The data
number is (619) 528-0895 and the voice number is (619) 624-0375. You
must have v2.77 or newer of your ROM to enable the voice features. You
can find the version of your ROM by using the AT command ATI3. To
receive the Voice Mail Software, fill out the order form below and mark
ONLY the ANSWER.EXE Software for the CompuCom. You do not need the other
items for the CompuCom Combo to operate voice mail.

The DigiPhone Voice Mail Card
-----------------------------

If you do not already have a voice mail card, Cygnus Data Systems
produces and excellant sound quality card which uses and external speaker
and microphone instead of a telephone handset to play and record
messages. It also has a telephone interface with full telephone
bandwidth audio quality. These are available for a very reasonable
price. See the order form below for ordering information.

Ordering Information
--------------------

If you do not run a BBS, disregard the BBS questions. But do tell me
where you got this order form from. If you are ordering ANSWER.EXE for
the CompuCom, only mark ANSWER.EXE Software for the CompuCom. If you
have a voice mail card not currently supported and would like to see
support added, fill out the order form without ordering any item and send
it to Cygnus Data Systems with information on your voice mail card.

--- cut here ---

ORDER FORM
==========
TO: FROM:

Cygnus Data Systems Name: ___________________________
6216 Agee Street #124
San Diego, CA Company: ___________________________
92122-3533
Title: ___________________________
Daniel Durbin
(619) 457-2532 (voice) (evenings) Address: ___________________________
(619) 457-2665 (data)
City,State: ___________________________
You may fill in the blanks Zip Code
of this form with your text Voice Phone:___________________________
editor in ascii mode before
you print it to your printer! BBS Name: ___________________________

Sorry, no online registration. BBS Number ___________________________
rev 1/93
==========================================================================

Item Unit Price Quantity Ext. Price

The DigiPhone . . . . . . . . . $125 x ______ = ______
(includes ANSWER.EXE Software)
Microphone . . . . . . . . . . $ 18 x ______ = ______

Speaker . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 14 x ______ = ______

DigiPhone Technical Reference . $ 25 x ______ = ______

ANSWER.EXE Software for CompuCom$ 25 x ______ = ______

ANSWER.EXE Software for ZyXEL $ 25 x ______ = ______

CA Sales Tax (7.75%). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______

Shipping . . . . . . . . . . . $ 5 x ______ = ______

=========================================================
|_| 5-1/4" Diskettes |_| 3-1/2" Diskettes

Total Enclosed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______ (U.S.D.)

BBS Name and Version #. . _______________________________

Heard about this from . . _______________________________

Please make check or money order drawn on a U.S.A bank in U.S. funds and
made payable to Cygnus Data Systems. California residents please include
7.75% sales tax. Purchase orders (net 30 days) accepted from large business.
All programs are Copyright (C) 1989 - 1993 by Daniel A. Durbin