Desktop answering machine

[mikeize]

I'm looking for a program, or configuration of programs to act as an answering machine for ekiga. I really wish ekiga was extensible, because this issue would surely have been solved by now. However, there must be a way to use another program to function WITH ekiga, which answers incoming calls (after set number of rings), and records the message in wav or ogg or whatever, to say, the desktop. Perhaps this could even be done with a script? Ekiga rings 5 times, script picks up and plays your sound file, then initiates record (audacity?), and terminates when line goes dead or after a set timelimit.

I can't find anything like this on google. Anyone have some thoughts about this?

[nowin4me]

I dunno how hard you are willing to try but I am/will try and help

Try Vgetty (http://alpha.greenie.net/vgetty/) Apparently it's a bit out of date but it's better than none at all. I have NO experience in this software.

If you are a programmer try and contact them to see if they have a copy of the Source Code and then edit it for your self.

P.S I Googled this.

EDIT I found this (http://frank.harvard.edu/~coldwell/answering_machine/) I may help you.

EDIT 2 Here are my Google results have a look at them

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Linux+answer+machine&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=com.ubuntu:en-GB:unofficial&client=firefox-a

EDIT 3 Good luck and keep us updated on how you do.

[mikeize]

Thanks for the interest. I too found these search results, but unfortunately the program (v/mgetty) is designed for use with an actual phone line and modem. Now it seems to me that there would be a way to have this work (initiate?) with a 'softphone' like ekiga rather than a regular phone, but I have exactly *zero* coding/programming knowledge. I really am just surprised that nobody has done this yet. So for anybody out there who's looking for a good project, I think a lot of people would enjoy such a program.

[mikeize]

Bumpity-bump bump bump!

[mikeize]

surely someone has written this by now? :-)

[nowin4me]

I would make a request in the programming part of the forums.

Good luck!

[mikeize]

Ok, so I found something that looks promising: http://freshmeat.net/projects/lintad/

It's called "lintad". I tried to build it, but the instructions are pretty technical, and I got 'make' errors. Would somebody (smarter than me) do me the huge favor of trying this out? Or at least making me a .deb file? I really want this to work with a softphone like ekiga, and lintad seems to make the claim that it can do this. So please, check it out, and let me know if you can help me. Thanks!

[lisati]

I have a "VG-100" from Uniden that plugs in to a USB port and lets you share a normal phone between a phone line and Skype. One of the things it can do is act as an answering machine for one or other (or both). Perhaps there's something similar available that will work for ekiga. (And no, I haven't tried using it with Ubuntu yet)

[mikeize]

Thanks for the information! That is interesting, but I'm really looking for a 'software-only' solution to this problem, as it seems entirely possible to me. Also, I'm quite short of money just now :)

I just keep checking back around every month or two, in the hopes that some programmer has the same needs I do!

[mikeize]

Time for another bump of this thread. Surely/Hopefully someone has put such a thing together now..? ie, a 'soft' answering machine, that can work with any/all of the current skype/SIP phone apps for ubuntu. Thanks!

[nowin4me]

I think I might of found your answer (at last) use Google Voice (http://www.google.com/googlevoice/) to forward the phone number to Skype (http://www.skype.com/) and you should be able to put a voicemail on skype and maybe record your own message!

[MikeTheC]

“Hello! Thank you for calling Ubuntu Forums, the Internet’s premiere discussion board for Ubuntu Linux.

“Unfortunately, due to the recent outbreak of squirrels, none of our admins are available to take your call at this time.

“At the sound of someone, somewhere, being wrong in cyberspace, please leave your name, telephone number including country and area code, and a brief message. Nobody will, of course, get back to you as this is a fictional answering machine, but completing these steps may help to make you feel better.

“Thank you for calling Ubuntu Forums!”

[mikeize]

Thanks for your replies! I'm glad someone's reading this... I am definitely excited about google voice (spare an invite?). Still I must admit to being surprised that there is not a single, standalone answering-machine app for softphones. My wife uses Skype, but I much prefer Gizmo or Ekiga SIP phones. I'd learn to code, but someone would probably make the app in the meantime ;-)