[asterisk-users] Special Information Tones

[Don Kelly]

The message I play to people (or machines) answering is something like "DEX
Yellow Pages call for Jones Bail Bonds, press [1]"

This information, along with the caller's phone number, etc., is logged for
follow-up.

The key, as Cary points out, is to look for DTMF to confirm that the call is
not being transferred to voice mail or an unexpected intercept. (In 40 years
of doing this stuff, this is the most reliable approach I've found to
human/whatever answer-detect.)

To further protect from the six-year-old answering the phone or the
unfortunate forwarded-to-the-ex-girlfriend's-number, replace "[1]" with
"your password."

My experience suggests that saying "press [1]" (or "enter your password")
results in a little quicker reaction than "press any key." Then we remind
them to "please repeat your greeting." 

  --Don

Don Kelly
PCF Corp
People Come First

651 842-1000
888 Don Kell(y)
651 842-1001 fax



-----Original Message-----
From: asterisk-users-bounces at lists.digium.com
[mailto:asterisk-users-bounces at lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of Cary Fitch
Sent: Friday, March 20, 2009 8:25 AM
To: 'Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion'
Subject: Re: [asterisk-users] Special Information Tones