Voicemail software allows users to use their PC as an effective voicemail solution. If multiple modems or telephony boards are used, multiple telephone line support is possible.
This software is affordable and can generally be downloaded from the internet for a free trial before purchase. There are software products geared to home use, small business use and large, multi-line, multi-location businesses.
Features of voice mail software include:
- Multiple telephone support (up to 64 lines in some cases)
- Unlimited voicemail boxes
- Voicemail forward and paging
- Remote access to voicemail
- Call blocking
- Customized greetings (attached to built in address book)
- Unlimited and selectable away messages
- Fully programmable
- Call transfer (may depend on telephone service options)
- Outbound call system (automatically call a list of numbers)
- Free professional voicemail greetings
- Capacity license upgrades
- If an internet connection is added, voicemail can be accessed by email
Some providers include software for voicemail as part of a complete telephony suite which provides speech recognition software, multi-lingual service, call center options such as scripting with SQL and database support, T1, ISDN-PRI and analog support.
One of the following computer hardware elements will be required in order to allow your computer to field telephone calls, this may include:
- Voice modem (TAPI compliant) – choose cautiously. Many voice modems on the market have defective TAPI wave / voice drivers
- TAPI telephony card
You can also choose to purchase VoIP (SIP) service for voice over lines. These are internet services which are purchased for a small price and are sometimes free. These use some form of Express Talk software.
Providers of software for voicemail include:
- Call Master (complete telephony system)
- NCH Swift sound
- Ez Voice
- Phone System producers
- Xtreme 800
Selection Criteria includes:
- Cost
- Current OS / Network
- Storage capacity
- Additional Phone functions
- System resources: These phone services generally require a lot of RAM, as well as hardware to allow a computer to field voice calls.