Answering Machines
Answering Machine Overview
The first answering machine named Ansafone appeared in the USA in 1960. Inventor Dr. Kazuo Hashimoto designed it for Phonetel. The early answering machines used magnetic tape for recording and playing back messages. The modern machines now use digital technology to store the message in digital memory. Some machine also use hybrid of two, the solid state memory for outgoing messages and magnetic tape for recording messages. The first patent for Digital Answering Machine architecture as awarded to Kazuo Hashimoto in 1983. AT&T was the first to bring out Digital Answering Machine to the market.
Types Of Answering Machines
Magnetic Tape Answering Machine
There are two types of machine, single cassette and double cassette. The double cassette magnetic tape answering machine consists of two cassettes. One cassette for outgoing message consists of endless loop so that the pre-recorded message is played back again and again to the caller after certain number of rings. After completion of outgoing message the incoming voice cassette starts recording the caller`s message till the line is cut.
In a single cassette answering machines the announcement is played first and then system fast forwards the tape to next available space for recording for recording the callers message. Thus in case of number of message already recorded the machine may take some perceptible time to start recording the message after the announcement message.
Digital Answering Machines
Digital answering machines function in similar fashion as magnetic answering machines but record messages in digital memory instead of tape.
Answering Machine Features
The answering machines have number of special functions such as follows:
- Remote Listening facility: Using this facility the owner of the answering machine can call his telephone from remote location and by entering a code on remote telephone key pad, can listen to the messages recorded on his machine.
- Answering machines can usually be programmed to take the call at a certain number of rings. This facility can be used to screen the calls which user does not want to take.
- Some machine have facility called `toll saver` which allows the user to save on calls if there are no message left for him to listen to. It works by answering after few (typically 2) rings if there are message inside the machine and if there are no messages machine replies after many rings (typically 4). This allows user to drop call if the machine does not answer after two rings thereby saving the cost of call.
- Some answering machines get activated by telephone calls after large number of rings, even when they are switched off.
