NEWS AND NOTES Families Eye Low-CostAlternatives To DSL And Cable (NAPSA)—If you’re among the three-fourths of Internet users with dial-up, you’re not alone. Only 15 percent of U.S. households have broadband. You don’t want to give up dial-up, which at $10-20 per monthis less than half the price of broadband, but you worry that someone whocalls you while you’re online will get a busy signal. Fortunately, calls can now get through even when you're online with a dial-up modem connection. With simple-to-use Internet answering machine software, you get all your important phone calls even when online, and save $20 or more a month by avoiding extra phone lines, DSLorcable. The software uses the Internet to let you know who’s calling, and let you take the call if it’s important. Internet answering machine services cost only a few dollars a month. These services can offer functionality that is not possible with a traditional phoneline. One company, CallWave, lets you hear the voice of the caller and delivers only the calls you want. You can block out telemarketers and other unwanted calls. CallWave offers a limited version of its software for free, and more extensive versions only cost about four dollars a month—hundreds less per year than the cost of Dial-up Internet users can now hear who’s calling while they’re online. a second phoneline or broadband. The system provides incoming call notification and call delivery to users on dial-up lines, and even lets broadband and wireless connected Internet users manage their calls. Instead of missing your calls, you can hear them instantly over your computer’s speakers. One Michigan man, waiting for a liver donor, credits CallWave for saving his life. When the hospital called he had only 40 minutes to respond. He got the message immediately while online and called right back. Since Internet answering machines use any Internet Service Provider for call delivery, you don’t need new equipment or more wires in your house. For more information or to subscribe, go to www.callwave.com.
