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Re: An idea...

In <4up76a$pa2@login.freenet.columbus.oh.us> mlamorte@freenet.columbus.oh.us writes:
> digitizing circuts, right? So why not write some code and modify the
> VoiceMaster software a bit, and come up with a voicemail application for
> the Apple II?
> 
> I think it'd be pretty simple: just use VoiceMaster to record a generic
> outgoing announcement and all the numbers. When the phone rings, the modem
> picks up. Instead of sending the outgoing message to the speaker, we
> re-direct it to the modem, which would play it over the phone line.

Most voice modems use AD-PCM compression or even MACE 6:1. The modems that
support speakerphone are such a pain (USR!) that I wouldn't recommend them to
my worst enemies. And, you'd still need software to drive the modem.

To work with AD-PCM modems, you need to compress the audio signal first and
then send it to the modem via the serial port.

It's not true that Macs can't handle power failures. You can configure them to
reboot in case of power failures or even at predefined times. Newer Macs
(second generation Power Macs and -Books) also have a sleep mode that still
passes thru activity on the phone line. I don't think the difference between an
Apple II and a "sleeping" Mac is that significant. Finally, some UPS provide
power-down notification so you can take extra steps (APS PowerChute).
 
> It would be realtively simple to incorporate time-date stamping (provided
> you have a ProDOS-compatable clock, of course), pager-call, and
> message-forwarding, too. 

This sounds like an awfull lot of work. :-) You not only have to write the
actual answering machine but also lots of other components for detecting dial
tones (yes, and they vary GREATLY), busy tones etc. You would have to implement
hard disk recording etc.
It would be radically more simple to just work on a _basic_ answering machine 
that connects with a Digital Storefront box.

- henrik

--
Synergetix
Fast Eddie Labs