Call center telephone capability… right-click and dial

I want to be able to initiate a phone call from the computer. I have regular old analog phone service, but I still want to be able to, for example, highlight a telephone number in a Word document or in a webpage, right-click on it, and choose DIAL… and for the computer to take the phone off hook and dial, and then I pick up the call with my desk phone/headset and the computer drops off.
I suppose I could do the hardware part with an old modem card or external modem (I still have a US Robotics external in a box somewhere), but then I would still have to deal with the software component. It would be more elegant if there were a telephone that was controlled by the computer (by USB, perhaps) that came with software to do the job.
Any ideas?
Thanks in advance!
Answer #1
That is interesting… let me search…
Answer #2
Well I think there is no way becouse the pc will not be able to this trick “I pick up the call with my desk phone/headset and the computer drops off.”
The pc will not know (becouse there is no way) that you have picked up the phone so, even if you could do the other stuff, this part will be always impossible… So the call in pc will be always up creating noise during the call and unabling you to drop the call in the end…
Sorry for that becouse it was a really good idea if it was possible
cheers
Answer #3
Just use a data/fax/voice modem, and software like Classic phone tools.
http://www.avanquest.com/USA/software/classic-phonetools-9-27401
I have one of those modems installed in this puter, but only use it for sending faxes, and have never really used phone software. I do have BVRP Phone tools installed, but that does faxes and can be used as an answering phone.
Answer #4
While a 56k modem will probably work using the right software,Call quality wise there better options out there.
Since your from the US (did a lil research) you could just use google voice,It’s integrated into Gmail and it’s
100% free (For calls to US or Canada),The quality is excellent and it works really well,If you want some more
flexibility however (software) then you could use Skype and buy credit,You could also get your own private
skype phone number if you want.
Answer #5
ndpratas replied: The pc will not know (becouse there is no way) that you have picked up the phone so, even if you could do the other stuff, this part will be always impossible... So the call in pc will be always up creating noise during the call and unabling you to drop the call in the end...
As I recall, the modem software I used years ago used the SPACEBAR as the “hang up” command. You’d listen to the modem play it’s tunes, then if you got a busy signal that the modem didn’t recognize, or if you wanted to give up an unanswered call before the timeout, you just tapped the spacebar…
And, of course, that is why I mentioned the USB-controlled phone. It wouldn’t have the problem.
Answer #6
Get Skype, its super cheap and will do everything you need.
Answer #7
userman replied: ndpratas replied: The pc will not know (becouse there is no way) that you have picked up the phone so, even if you could do the other stuff, this part will be always impossible... So the call in pc will be always up creating noise during the call and unabling you to drop the call in the end...
As I recall, the modem software I used years ago used the SPACEBAR as the "hang up" command. You'd listen to the modem play it's tunes, then if you got a busy signal that the modem didn't recognize, or if you wanted to give up an unanswered call before the timeout, you just tapped the spacebar...
And, of course, that is why I mentioned the USB-controlled phone. It wouldn't have the problem.
Use a USB VOIP phone (with Skype) ?
* edit – or perhaps your router has a VOIP socket ?