[PLUG-TALK] Telephone systems

[Keith Lofstrom]

On Tue, May 09, 2023 at 06:30:41PM -0700, Rich Shepard wrote:
> Just out of curiosity I ask if anyone knows of a company using an automated
> telephone answering system that has choices _not_ recently changed?

Mine.  Though my answering system is an ooma.com Telo, and
the businesses belong to myself and my wife.  Caller's
choices are to leave a message for, and subsequently talk
to, human beings.   

The Telo box connects through the internet, connects to
ordinary wireline phones, provides two voice lines, and
costs less than $10/month.  Aggressive/customizable spam
call filtering, internet web page controls. 

When the internet fails (thank you ComCan't) the incoming
calls are recorded, and available by logging in with a
different computer/network, anywhere on the planet.

----

That said -- I can't control the clowns on the other end of
the line.  On Monday (Memorial Day), Unitus Credit Union
decided that I needed to verify my access to the online
webpage.  The account is "verified" by a phone number
(my Telo "landline").  This is a poor design for a person
with hearing loss.

Worse; their web-bot sent a verification SMS to that
landline phone, which I was supposed to enter into the
webpage.  WTF?  Landline doesn't do SMS.  I do not have
the motor agility to use a so-called "smart" phone. 
Probably time to switch to an ADA-compliant bank;
suggestions welcome.

In a subsequent posting, I will ask about alternative
methods to send and receive SMS messages without a mobile
"device" or similar 21st century slave collar.
 
Keith L.

-- 
Keith Lofstrom          keithl at keithl.com