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Listener Automated Call-In For On-Air Messages

J

Jay77

Guest
Is there some sort of non-hosted (not at the station physically) service that radio stations can utilize where listeners call a local number to leave "messages" that station can download to use in on-air promotions, etc?

Not sure if this should have been posted in the Programming section or not so I took a stab and posted here.

I'd like to offer to listeners the ability to call in and record Thanksgiving Memories, Christmas Greetings, etc but have no dedicated line and auto answering recording device at the station end.
 
I'm wondering if you can use something like Skype or Google Voice to do that. I haven't really investigated either but I'm just throwing it out there to ponder.
 
I have used a SIP provider who offers a local (ie: geographic) number to call in and unless you run a SIP client your end, the call will go to a voicemail and has the option of being e-mailed to you as a WAV file. As I'm UK-based, you may not find this useful but I have used sipgate.co.uk in the past and found it to be more than satisfactory.

Although you said "non-hosted", if you can spare bit of CPU-power, there is a free SIP server called 3CX which can function as a PBX, digital receptionist (press 1 for sales etc) and voicemail. Messages are saved as WAV files so if your automation system supports loading of a folder, you can just refresh the folder and see the newest files (or Dropbox them if you're an Enco user).
 
We define a spare Voice mail box in our Toshiba phone system for that purpose. It answers on the first ring, gives them our information and then we can define how long it records. Just like the number on my desk, it's a Direct inward dial system, only the phone is stuck back in behind the racks and no-one touches it. It can be retreived in any production room like any other phone call. We've used it for things as long as singing the national anthem, to kids christmas lists and outgoing only announcements. An additional 1MB line is only $18 a month and worth it. We can change the number after each contest or whatever is done.
 
I LOVE Google Voice for this exact purpose! I encourage you to really check it out. It has Voicemail, call-through (forward to another number) and TEXT capabilities. Works great for my little internet station. Plus you can move your number around if needed. First change is free additional changes are $10. Plus the voicemail is transcribed and emailed or texted to you. Love using it on my Android phone as it replaces my providers basic voicemail and gives me a free visual voicemail interface. Plus texting though Google Voice is free as it doesn't involve your provider's texting.

Just some ideas.
 
Magic Jack is just a few dollars a month, you get a dedicated phone number. When no answer and someone leaves a message, it emails it to you within moments as a wav file.
 
Another vote for Google Voice. Been using it since it was Grand Central and it's perfect for this application. The transcripts and voicemail forwarding via e-mail are a great feature (although the transcription process needs a little work).

And free is better than even a few dollars a month for MJ (or, as some call it - "Magic Joke").
 
Thanks for the great suggestions!

I will look into google voice for this task. I will also check out 3cx. My current phone system is the antiquated ATT Merlin. That' why i mentioned non-hosted as I do not have a voicemail platform.
 
I have had CallWave for years and have no complaints about the service. If I am on the phone when a call comes in, I get an e-mail minutes afterward with an MP3 attachment that contains the message. If the caller leaves no message but has not blocked caller ID, I get an e-mail with the caller's name and number. From what I have read in this thread, however, I could use Google Voice to get the same capabilities for free. CallWave costs me $3.95/month. Am I correct about the Google Voice capabilities?

The one minor nit that I have to pick with CallWave is that, if I am not home, the caller must wait for six rings before the CallWave's voicemail picks up. I have found no way to change this setting. Does Google Voice allow subscribers to set the pick-up on no answer delay?
 
DanStrassberg said:
I have had CallWave for years and have no complaints about the service. If I am on the phone when a call comes in, I get an e-mail minutes afterward with an MP3 attachment that contains the message. If the caller leaves no message but has not blocked caller ID, I get an e-mail with the caller's name and number. From what I have read in this thread, however, I could use Google Voice to get the same capabilities for free. CallWave costs me $3.95/month. Am I correct about the Google Voice capabilities?

The one minor nit that I have to pick with CallWave is that, if I am not home, the caller must wait for six rings before the CallWave's voicemail picks up. I have found no way to change this setting. Does Google Voice allow subscribers to set the pick-up on no answer delay?
Click to expand...

In my limited testing with Google Voice...the first part of your message...YES, however it is not an mp3 to your inbox but to your account on the web interface. You can download the message as an mp3 though through the web interface. The second part of your message...I have not found a way to shorten the duration rings before Voicemail answers.
 
Jay77 said:
In my limited testing with Google Voice...the first part of your message...YES, however it is not an mp3 to your inbox but to your account on the web interface. You can download the message as an mp3 though through the web interface. The second part of your message...I have not found a way to shorten the duration rings before Voicemail answers.
Click to expand...

Thanks! You've answered my question. I have a g-Mail account but I rarely check my g-Mail inbox. So getting e-mail there reminding me of missed calls would not be very worthwhile. I'd miss most of the missed-call notifications. Oh well, $3.95/month for CallWave comes to less than $50.00/year. I can afford it.
 
I used to use http://www.k7.net/ until I got google voice. Since I'm doing a local show I prefer to give out a number that isn't long distance, however if you want to pay for a toll free number, you can forward it to K7, the main reason I like K7 is it was the only free provider that sends UNCOMPRESSED WAV files to your mailbox that are great quality!
 
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