How do I make a telephone call?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tracey
  • Start date Start date
T

Tracey

I am attempting to set up my computer to be able to make
and receive telephone calls and can find no clear
directions.
 
-----Original Message-----
Great. Thanks.

I thought that by being on this particular site, further
Click to expand...
explanation would not necessarily be required for
something this simple, but let me elaborate. This should
be a no-brainer, but I am not familiar with Windows XP.
I am looking for a simple method to make phone calls
Click to expand...
through my computer, using a microphone and a set of
speakers. The last version of Windows that I used, which
was Windows ME, was simple. You went to the Control
Panel, configured the Phone Tools, and away you went. I
can find nothing similar to this, and, using the Support
and Help on the Start Menu is both frustrating and, so
far, fruitless.
Commentary on my mental facilities aside, I am looking
Click to expand...
for a direct answer to a simple question. If you can
help, great. If not, so be it.
The key phrase is "phone tools." That is the name of a
3rd-party application (from BVRP, iirc) that was
probably bundled with your computer or modem. If you still
have the driver disk for the modem or a general drivers
disk for the computer, it might be there. If it is, it
may or may not be compatible with XP.
 
-----Original Message-----
Great. Thanks.

I thought that by being on this particular site, further
Click to expand...
explanation would not necessarily be required for
something this simple, but let me elaborate. This should
be a no-brainer, but I am not familiar with Windows XP.
I am looking for a simple method to make phone calls
Click to expand...
through my computer, using a microphone and a set of
speakers. The last version of Windows that I used, which
was Windows ME, was simple. You went to the Control
Panel, configured the Phone Tools, and away you went. I
can find nothing similar to this, and, using the Support
and Help on the Start Menu is both frustrating and, so
far, fruitless.
Commentary on my mental facilities aside, I am looking
Click to expand...
for a direct answer to a simple question. If you can
help, great. If not, so be it.
The key phrase is "phone tools." That is the name of a
3rd-party application (from BVRP, iirc) that was
probably bundled with your computer or modem. If you still
have the driver disk for the modem or a general drivers
disk for the computer, it might be there. If it is, it
may or may not be compatible with XP.
 
Tracey said:
Thank you for the info, it makes perfect sense. I assumed, in error, I
Click to expand...
suppose, that Windows XP would provide for this capability. I am now in the
market for software appropriate for telephone and fax use. I believe there
are many "free downolad" options available on the net.
----- Wislu Plethora wrote: -----


explanation would not necessarily be required for
something this simple, but let me elaborate. This should
be a no-brainer, but I am not familiar with Windows XP.
through my computer, using a microphone and a set of
speakers. The last version of Windows that I used, which
was Windows ME, was simple. You went to the Control
Panel, configured the Phone Tools, and away you went. I
can find nothing similar to this, and, using the Support
and Help on the Start Menu is both frustrating and, so
far, fruitless.
for a direct answer to a simple question. If you can
help, great. If not, so be it.

The key phrase is "phone tools." That is the name of a
3rd-party application (from BVRP, iirc) that was
probably bundled with your computer or modem. If you still
have the driver disk for the modem or a general drivers
disk for the computer, it might be there. If it is, it
may or may not be compatible with XP.
Click to expand...

Gateway used to bundle BVRP phone tools with their computers. It may be
possible to get it to run in one of XP's emulation modes if you cannot fine
an XP version. Bear in mind that it will only work with analogue dial up.
Cable or DSL is a no no.

I had it on board long ago when I was running Win ME. I only ever used it
for the odd fax. I found it too fiddly for telephone use. Preferred ordinary
handset and am now on adsl so could not use it in any case.

Richard.
 
Hi Tracey,

As I guess that you are on broad band what you need is a web based phone
service. I have just "Googled" for Web based phone calls and this produced
several likely services. You can take your pick from PAYG per call, weekly,
monthly charging. Could not spot any freebies :-((

Richard.


..
Tracey said:
Richard,

Thanks for taking the time to reply. The last computer was a Gateway,
Click to expand...
running on ME. The Phone Tools were "fiddly", but came in handy from
time-to-time, particularly for faxing and the availability of a
"speakerphone". Thanks for the heads-up on the DSL compatibility. I'll be
looking elsewhere for Phone/Fax software.
 
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