MortimerCat
asked on
I am looking for a computerised telephone call handler.
I have a requirement for an automated telephone ordering system, but I do not know what equipment I would need.
The basic concept is that a client calls the auto-responder. They are prompted to enter an account number. This is validated, then the caller is asked "how many". This quantity is entered on the telephone keypad, which adds an order to the computer system.
A sample "script" follows:-
Caller dials number
X says:Welcome... Enter Your Account No.
Caller enters 3894374
X looks up 3894374 in the User Database
X says: Account validated, enter quantity required
Caller enters 12#
X logs order
X says: Your order has been placed, goodbye.
x hangs up.
My problem is that I do not know what X is. What equipment do I need to answer a call, and treat the telephone touchpad as data input? I am just looking for a few brand names that would perform the above.
The basic concept is that a client calls the auto-responder. They are prompted to enter an account number. This is validated, then the caller is asked "how many". This quantity is entered on the telephone keypad, which adds an order to the computer system.
A sample "script" follows:-
Caller dials number
X says:Welcome... Enter Your Account No.
Caller enters 3894374
X looks up 3894374 in the User Database
X says: Account validated, enter quantity required
Caller enters 12#
X logs order
X says: Your order has been placed, goodbye.
x hangs up.
My problem is that I do not know what X is. What equipment do I need to answer a call, and treat the telephone touchpad as data input? I am just looking for a few brand names that would perform the above.
ASKER
Thanks for that.
I have not had much experience with installing and configuring open source software so I think I would prefer a Windows package solution if there is one.
I have located some software called Voiceguide. Has anyone had any experience with that?
I have not had much experience with installing and configuring open source software so I think I would prefer a Windows package solution if there is one.
I have located some software called Voiceguide. Has anyone had any experience with that?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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http://www.asterisk.org/
A free, fully featured PABX system. There is also a LiveCD version, that you can run without installing anything onto your computer, so you can try it out (though you can have it install to a hard drive, if you'd like). The LiveCD version also has configuration wizards, which make it a lot easier to get going.
http://asteriskathome.sourceforge.net/
In terms of hardware, you will need to purchase for you computer a "FXP" card or device, so you can connect it to your phone line. Asterisk supports a range of different hardware that does this job.
For the ordering system you describe, you'll probably need to do more manual configuration than Asterisk@Home will let you do though its Web UI, but you can log into it and manually tweak configuration files.