I feel real nervous about tomorrow

First of all I'm severely physically disabled. Here's my web page if you want to read more about me, http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Hall/1697/Index.html

I can't even handle the regular phone. When I had my old G4 and running OS9 there was a Mac Speakerphone modem and with HotFax 1.0 for Mac phone/fax software, all of a sudden I could use the phone for the first time in my life through my computer hands-free.

In June I decided to buy a new iMac with OSX. To my displeasure I found out there was no speakerphone modems, no phone software for OSX.

That's why I mainly bought Parallels in the first place, there's HotFax 6.0 only for XP and there's a couple of speakerphone modems only for XP. All because I want to use my damn phone like I did before!

I already tried a cheap serial speakerphone modem from England that didn't work. So I sent it back. So I bought another real expensive serial speakerphone modem that's made in America. It arrives tomorrow.

So please everybody just think good thoughts about me tomorrow.

 

have you looked into skype ( http://www.skype.com ), I use a bluetooth headset and call out on that.

Just a thought.

Good luck tommorrow

 

I use skype too. However there's 3 reasons it's bad.

1. it can't dail 911 in case of an emergency. 2. Starting next year it will cost money even for local calls. I just can't afford that. 3. I can't use a headset so there's an echoing problem.

I just got my modem, now I'm just waiting for my nephew to hook it up for me. He'll be coming anytime now.

Thank you BenInBlack for your well wishes.

 

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Good luck with the modem. Have you explored the possibility of using a voip service with a software interface?

People with disabilities who get on with life, to the best of their ability, are a real inspiration. If more people lived life to the full of their ability..........just imagine.

Say hello to your Nephew for me, he must be a fine lad. It's 4:45am here in Pomona, Queensland, Australia, and it looks like being another fantastic day. I hope it's the same for you.

Regards
John L. Daddow
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I've just realised I didn't explain myself very well there. I understand Skype is a voip service. What I meant was viop that is provided by an isp. With a voip enabled modem.
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Success!!!!!

The speakerphone modem works!!!!!!

I'm on bulid 1940. I'll think that I'll turn off my automatic updater, why mess with success? Unless Parallels knocks my socks off, like USB 2.0 or the ability to burn Windows CDs in one of their updated bulids. I think that 1940 is also Leopard compatible!

Constant, everything that I read about voips is there about the same as Skype. That is, you can't call 911, they charge you for EVERY call that you make, you really need headsets which I can't do because I have no control over my arms to put the headsets on my head.

 

I have one more question.

I have my Parallels to autoconnect. However each time I start Parallels I still have to go into the USB menu and check the USB HS Serial Converter.

Is there a way that Parallels can detect the USB devices without you doing anything everytime that Parallels starts up?

Thanks.

 

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USB has been a real trick, and this is probably just a bit of the trick it hasn't got yet.

I know it doesn't make much difference, but voip works with speakers and a microphone.

Have a good day.
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It probably won't help you because of the charging for every call, but Vonage is a VOIP supplier that supports 911 dialling and their softphone product is available for the Mac.

http://www.vonage.com

 

Could you use Vonage on your computer? I checked them out months ago and they used their equipment on a regular phone. Which it's useless to me unfortunately.

Good, I'm glad that some VOIP's are coming around and supporting 911 calls. To me not supporting 911 calls is ridiculous!

However with my recent success of my new speakerphone modem working in Parallels, I don't have to worry about VOIP's, no 911, being charged with EVERY call that I made and having echoing problems without headsets anymore.

THANK YOU PARALLELS!!!!!!!!!

 

I think you've got the right answer there... For future reference, reading up on vonage, it does seem like they have a product called "Softphone" which is a pure software phone with a native Mac version.

 

Softphone, I'm glad to know about about it. I feel like the more options that I have, the better off I'll be in the future.

Thanks Mr. SA.

PS they have to stop charging people for their local calls also.

 

Again, headsets are highly recommended on Softphone in which I can't use. Maybe in the future VOIP technology will improve so it only needs your computer's speakers and mic.

I've just read up on Softphone.

 

JFYI, Vonage has unlimited local and long distance calling for $25 / month. If they can get Softphone working with a mic and speakers that might be a great solution for you.

 

I imagine that Softphone and Skype are the same in one respect. Both can work with just the computer's speakers and mic, but without the headsets there's echoing problems.

$25 a month for unlimited local and long distance calls, NOW THEY'RE TALKING!!!!!!

However like I said I just bought an expensive speakerphone modem that works in Parallels fortunately. So I'm not hurting anymore. I just keep Parallels constantly running in the background of my Mac and when I want to call somebody I can quickly access Parallels and HotFax 6.0. It works like a charm.

However THANK YOU EVERYBODY that responded to this thread to try to help me out.

 

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Steveamundo, I understand your current position, but for anyone else reading that my be interested, if a piece of foam rubber is placed over the mic, this will eliminate the echo. The mic will need to be placed close to the mouth, and the further away the speakers are, the better.
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I'm interested in different options for the future too!

However I have intrnal mic and speakers. There's not any way to put on a piece of foarm on my mic unfortunately.

 

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Your only a few short dollars away from external units.
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The thing is, I already bought an extrnal mic and speakers for my speakerphone modems years ago. However they both plugged into my speakerphone modems.

Now I have an Intel iMac with a build in mic. Thus I don't know if my computer has the plug in for an extrnal mic.

 

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At first, I thought to myself, surely Apple couldn't be that restrictive. But then, that old straight jacket analogy came to mind, and, well, maybe they are.

Might be time to get the nephew over again. Have him pick it up and inspect all around for a small hole the same size as a speaker jack hole. About 3mm diameter. If the conversion to imperial measurement causes a problem, might be time to lobby your federal representative about changing to metric. But that's another topic hey.
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