Do you have a call waiting modem?

[bare]

Dear old Verizon has increased the cost of a seperate line to the point that I am looking for a viable way to surf the net as well as take calls on my home/business line. I've tried the various "free" services without satisfaction. I've seen threads here, one I think by Duck Duck Goose looking for a solution to the same problem.

My question is how do the things actually work, do they cut off the internet access to allow the incoming call or do they just forward your call to an answering machine?

Any recomendations for brands or cost, I see I can get one from Dell for around 70.00.

[stuyguy]

I've got one of those services, but it's too new and untested for me to recommend it to you.

However, I did notice in my last phone bill that Verizon has a new service called Internet Call Manager for about $6.00/mo that seems to do what you want. (I live in NYC, so I can't swear they have it where you live.) I'm gonna check it out when I get a chance.

[Chez Guevara]

In the UK there are several ways of picking up incoming calls whilst surfing the internet.

After trying various options, the one I currently use is British Telecom's 'Call Divert'. I switch this on via my landline handset and divert calls to my mobile phone. I choose to answer or not, as the case may be.

The subscription to this service is minimal.

[astro]

The Verizon answering service I have (approx $ 5.00 month) simply takes the messages off line if I am on the net and I get a little double tone when I pick up the phone to let me know I have messages which sounds briefly when I pick up the phone until I save or delete the messages.

As far as sharing the line to allow voice and data concurrently I think there are modems that will allow this if you have the appropriate Verizon service but in
most cases would be simpler and better to simply get a second line in the long run.

[black rabbit]

I've got ICM at home... I highly recommend it.

I have to disable call waiting (by adding *70,<space> to my dialup networking settings.) When enabled, it functions like a caller ID; when a call comes in, it'll let me know who's calling. I then have the choice of ignoring the call, answering it (which kicks me offline and causes the phone to ring), sending it to voicemail (which I don't have), transferring it to another number (such as a cell), or sending out a message that says "Call me back in 15 minutes" or "I'll call you right back." Worth every penny.

ICM is a third party software/service that your ISP or phone company simply acts as a vendor for. Here's the home page:

http://www.internetcallmanager.com/

[kanicbird]

Another suggestion is to get dsl or cable (or satalite) - more $ but much faster and in my humbel O worth it and frees up your line.

you could use call fwd on busy to a cell phone as well.