Hi gynx-ga,
I believe the DialMate CM1001 from WoodTel, Inc. will do what you want
at a cost of $199. You will also have to buy three-way calling
service on your home phone line if you don't already have it.
This feature is called "call bridge." Here is a description extracted
from WoodTel's web page on the call bridge function of the DialMate:
"As a call bridge device, you can call DialMate from any phone, wait
for three rings and then hang up. After five seconds, you can redial
DialMate's number. On the third ring, DialMate will automatically
answer and upon entering the preprogrammed security code and the digit
'1', you can then call any number. The first leg (from your location
to DialMate) of the call will be charged to the phone number where you
are calling from, but the second leg (from DialMate to the called
number) will be charged to DialMate's location. You would normally use
call bridge when you are within the local (toll-free) calling area of
DialMate or your cellular phone allows free air time to call a
designated number. It also extends cellular phone calls to
international destinations without paying a premium and without
modifying your calling plan.
During call bridge, the first leg of the call (from your location to
DialMate) will be charged to the phone where you are, but the second
leg (from DialMate to the called number) will be charged to DialMate?s
location. For instance, call bridge allows you to make a local call
to DialMate (from a pay phone or office phone) and then use your home
line to make long distance calls.
Call bridge is equally useful for cell phone users who have unlimited
free calls at certain times within their roaming area or those who
have free air time calls to a designated number. By bridging the
call, you will be charged only for the second leg of the call (the
land-based line where DialMate is installed)."
The source for this quotation is:
http://www.woodtel.com/callbrid.htm
The home page for the company and product is:
http://www.woodtel.com/gate.htm
You can get the DialMate directly from WoodTel.
If you need any further information, please ask for a clarification.
Search strategy:
I first pursued a more expensive solution, where you would have two
phone lines at your home and call in on one of them and out on the
other. This would require a two-port PBX to connect the calls. I
search Google for "home PBX" and found a product called the Concero
Switchboard that would do this. It costs $395 from
http://www.talkswitch.com/.
From the talkswitch.com description of the Concero Switchboard, I
learned that this function is known as "call bridge" (specifically,
from
http://www.talkswitch.com/pbx_feature/call_back_call_bridge_sb.php
}. I then wanted to search for other products that might do the same
thing, so I searched for
home OR SOHO pbx call bridge
This led me to a review of the DialMate on WoodTel's web site:
http://www.woodtel.com/think.htm
I did another search for
woodtel dialmate
to find the home page. From there, I found the call bridge page and
concluded that this feature with three-way calling would be cheaper
than bridging two telephone lines. Since the home page quotes
Computer Telephony Magazine as calling the DialMate "The world's
simplest and cheapest follow-me device," I thought it would be
adequate for your needs. There may be other such devices, but I
believe the market is likely to be pretty small.
--efn |
