Please LOCK: Good answering machine (found)

[Spidey]

Looking for a newer answering machine. My old one that still works is just getting annoying. Its the old kind with the big 45 min tape, so its always clicking and clunking, wont auto stop when the phone is picked up, and you cant delete messages if you call it away from home.

Just wondering if they make answering machines that can have more than one message, depending on the number called. I have a small business out of my home, which the number rings on smart ring. Do the newer ones have the ability to distinquish between the rings, so only that message plays, either my business or my personal depending on the number dialed. Right now with my answering machine I have business and personal messages left on the same machine

Looked at Futureshop and they have nothing.

Thanks

[Kevinck]

If you really want to have multiple message boxes with personalized messages you might just have to bite the bullet and get voicemail. I think they do the multiple mailbox route.

[ksk]

Don't know about stand-alone answering machines being able to distinguish between rings but many models have multiple voicemail boxes. Without the ring distinguishing between numbers called you might have an outgoing message like "to leave a message for ABC Computers, press 1".

[Spidey]

If you really want to have multiple message boxes with personalized messages you might just have to bite the bullet and get voicemail. I think they do the multiple mailbox route.

ILl have to do some more research. I hate to pay for stuff like voicemail every month if I can just pay once for an answering machine and be done with it.

Thanks for the input though

[k2200]

GE phones are very bad. So, I will stay away from GE answering machine too.

[Kevinck]

GE phones are very bad. So, I will stay away from GE answering machine too.

I thought that way until i got one. Turns out there are a few levels of GE phones, one being good and the other bad.

I bought and tried one of these GE phones.
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&dept=7&WLBS=fsweb16&sku_id=0665000FS10015650&catid=&newdeptid=7
Absolutely awful. Constant buzzing and distortion.

Then i bought and tried the slightly more expensive GE model.
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&dept=7&WLBS=fsweb16&sku_id=0665000FS10009254&catid=&newdeptid=7
This one is a great deal for the price. Sounds great and has great reception all around my house.

So don't discount all GE stuff. I can't comment on their standalone answering machines though.

[Darryl]

I have a digital answering machine that I purchased last year I think. I don't use it any more. I'm pretty sure it is GE. I liked it, but got voicemail. When I get home I will dig it out and get the model number for you so you can check it out.

I really don't imagine it will distinguish between rings, but have you looked at software answering machines? I would bet there are Windows programs out there that can distinguish between rings. I know you can get answering machines that run as applications, provided you have a voice modem, and some are pretty cool. They let you do a lot of things traditional machines don't; Like specific messages for specific callers.

Darryl

[Spidey]

I have a digital answering machine that I purchased last year I think. I don't use it any more. I'm pretty sure it is GE. I liked it, but got voicemail. When I get home I will dig it out and get the model number for you so you can check it out.

I really don't imagine it will distinguish between rings, but have you looked at software answering machines? I would bet there are Windows programs out there that can distinguish between rings. I know you can get answering machines that run as applications, provided you have a voice modem, and some are pretty cool. They let you do a lot of things traditional machines don't; Like specific messages for specific callers.

Darryl

Yes let me know. I think some of them can distinguish the smart ring. I know new fax machinec can

[Darryl]

It's a 29785GE2-A. I couldn't find anything on GE's website, but I found a few 3rd party links:

http://www.audiotronic.ca/sections/electrProd.asp?send=eng&codfab=GE&codprd=29875GE2

and

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0665000FS10015114&catid=10566&logon=&langid=EN&dept=7&WLBS=fsweb8

and

http://www.radioshack.ca/estore/category.aspx?language=EN-CA&pagenum=1&category=Digital+Answering+Machine&catalog=RadioShack&swlang=true

Doesn't look like it has that feature. Sorry.

Darryl

[Spidey]

It's a 29785GE2-A. I couldn't find anything on GE's website, but I found a few 3rd party links:

http://www.audiotronic.ca/sections/electrProd.asp?send=eng&codfab=GE&codprd=29875GE2

and

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0665000FS10015114&catid=10566&logon=&langid=EN&dept=7&WLBS=fsweb8

and

http://www.radioshack.ca/estore/category.aspx?language=EN-CA&pagenum=1&category=Digital+Answering+Machine&catalog=RadioShack&swlang=true

Doesn't look like it has that feature. Sorry.

Darryl

Thanks anyways. I saw that one. I may have to go in and fire a few quesitons at the stores

[Spidey]

Picked one up from Staples. Has 4 mailboxes, auto disconnect, can delete messages from another phone, etc, etc. Will set it up this weekend and let everyone know how it goes. Got an additional 10% off as well because the box was damaged ;-)

[deep]

Use your PC. Free software + old modem = multiple mailbox answering machine with unlimited storage and crystal clear sound.

BTW, I bought one of those $29 GE digital answering machines, and it's pathetic.

[Spidey]

Use your PC. Free software + old modem = multiple mailbox answering machine with unlimited storage and crystal clear sound.

BTW, I bought one of those $29 GE digital answering machines, and it's pathetic.


Dont have any slots free for a modem, plus then I have to leve my PC on all the time, which I dont do.

Ill try this one out and if I dont like it Ill return it and get anoher brand or model

[pluto]

It's a 29785GE2-A. I couldn't find anything on GE's website

GE doesn't make any consumer electronics products - they got out of the business years ago and sold the name to Thomson (RCA)

I'm not sure why we don't see Thomson phones and answering machines though.

I have the $29 GE digital answering machine, it does suck but is good enough for my purposes.

What brand is the machine you ended up getting Spidey?

[Spidey]

I did get a GE one, 29869 series. Ill give it a shot and if I dont like it Ill get another brand.

Its got all the bell and whistles I like. I'll let everyone know the verdict.

Ken

[Spidey]

Well after a few weeks of testing, this machine seems to do the trick. It doent distinguish rings, but it does have 4 mailboxes (please press one for...)

Its nice to delete messages over the phone and the auto hangup is good. Basically everything I was looking for. It now sounds more professional when people are phoning my business and can leave messages in that mailbox.

So I give it a thumbs up if anyone is looking for an answering machine like this.

[Spidey]

bump

[Rehan]

Spidey, check your PM's for a warning about your silly bumping.

[Spidey]

Spidey, check your PM's for a warning about your silly bumping.

I did. I thought locking threads helped you guys out