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Record-A-Call

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(+3, -1)
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Record-A-Call is an automated phone based service that will place a call for you and record it. There are many devices and methods for recording telephone calls, but most people don't have the technical savvy to set them up. This is a simple service that does the work for you.

The service makes a profit by charging a small few-cents-per-minute fee for the call (as well as any applicable long distance charges).

To use the service, call Record-A-Call's 800 # from any phone, and answer the voice prompts to input your personal options and payment information, the number you want to call, and how you would like to receive the recording (audio file via email, or mailed to you on CD).

After your choices are selected, Record-A-Call places the call for you, and when answered, it plays a short intro note to meet with privacy and legal requirements. Something like: "[Caller's name] is using Record-A-Call to record the following conversation. To continue, press one." Thus the recipient can choose not to accept a recorded call.

If they accept, the call continues normally. At the end of the call, the voice prompts ask if you would like to make any more calls. If no, it disconnects, and you receive your recorded call via your chosen method later on.

I have seen systems similar to this for business use (quality assurance recording, etc) but nothing for one-time use for the general public.

waugsqueke, Mar 26 2004

Does 99.9 percent of this now http://www.spiderph.../About/Features.asp
click on recording to see more details [theircompetitor, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 06 2004]

Interesting. http://www.cioinsig...3959,1458014,00.asp
[skinflaps, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 06 2004]

Repo code http://users.erols....obcan/repo/code.htm
[bungston, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 06 2004]

www.myrecordacall.com http://www.myrecordacall.com
Simple and Easy To Use, Fully baked call recording. [dingle, Aug 11 2006]

[link]






       Nifty idea. I don't work in debt recovery, I'm just a private citizen, nonetheless, I have had a few occasions when I wanted to record a phone call. This would've been a nifty thing to have.   

       It would be slick if Record-A-Call could use caller id and/or a special customer-specific code to remember who you are, what your email address is, what your credit card number is, etc.
dijontoothpaste, Mar 26 2004
  

       You answered your own question, UB. One possibility, anyway - for evidentiary purposes. Or for whenever you would like to have a call recorded, whatever the reason. Legal issues, custody problems, financial matters, just goofing off... whatever.   

       That's beside the point, anyway. The fact is that telephone recording devices exist, and I think it's reasonable to accept that as sufficient to establish that people want to do this sort of thing. I'm just offering another, simpler way.   

       [below: That's a completely different idea, Mike, and is baked (and here somewhere, too I think).]
waugsqueke, Mar 26 2004
  

       I would imagine it is usually the case thatyou only realise you want a call recorded after it has taken place.
Why not make a phone with a built in memory chip that records every call, and gives you the option to save it after you hang up. Most calls would be automatically discarded, but the important ones could be kept and then transferred to a more permanent medium.
  

       [(above) well its a good idea then... linky?]
MikeOliver, Mar 26 2004
  

       The link does essentially this with the caveat that you first have to open an account online with your credit card
theircompetitor, Mar 26 2004
  

       Mike - no link, as it is not related to the idea.   

       tc - that site is lousy. Very hard to understand what the product even is, really. From what I could gather, it appears to be web-based, right? (Dunno, maybe it isn't, can't tell.) It's a conference calling thing too, which mine isn't. About the only thing in common that I see is the ability to 'record' something (which could be a phone call, not sure - there's some mention of recording Powerpoint files which seems decidedly un-phone-call-like to me, but whatever.)   

       My idea has nothing to do with the internet (save for the email delivery option). You just call a number and go from there.
waugsqueke, Mar 26 2004
  

       You need the web to open a credit card account.   

       The site lets you use the web to manage conference calls, which definitionally include one or more participants.   

       You could also use the web to manage the call (i.e. dial-out, mute, hangup) and to see who is talking at any given time. Obviously if you're doing demos with a PPT you want to have that in the recording.   

       But you don't need to use the web -- everything can be done via touch tone -- you just need to open an account ahead of time
theircompetitor, Mar 26 2004
  

       It's sufficiently different in scope and intent, I think. I've already pointed out there exist many ways to record phone calls, so that isn't the issue.
waugsqueke, Mar 26 2004
  

       //It's sufficiently different in scope and intent, I think. //   

       Well, it does much more than what you want, but it also does what you want, meaning you can call in, start recording, then dial another number and have the call recorded.
theircompetitor, Mar 26 2004
  

       + If this service is going to be useful, it must be much simpler than the thing in tc's link. It should be a "1-900" number* so it doesn't have to bill you separately, and it should be available to anybody without having to set up an account. The reason is that most people wouldn't need this until they got into legal trouble, at which point they don't have a lot of time.   

       * But also have a toll-free option with credit card billing incase you're calling from a pay phone.
AO, Mar 26 2004
  

       tc's thing has way too many bells and whistles. This is just record-a-call, nothing else. Pile too much on and people won't use it, won't know what it's for.
waugsqueke, Mar 26 2004
  

       In so far as hardware, at least, I think it's a reactionary reaction. I'm happier having unified devices, though clunky in early iterations, than carrying a tool belt. And these early versions inevitably pave the way to better hardware.   

       Bundling in either hardware or software is driven by market forces. Imagine having a separate phone for local and for long distance. I can't even stand getting the two separate bills.   

       And finally, though the link (or I) may not be efficient at explaining it, the linked service can do what waugs wants, which is let a user dial a number using only their phone, turn recording on, dial another number, and then get an email with a link to the recording.
theircompetitor, Mar 27 2004
  

       Yes, you've pointed that out twice, maybe three times now. I can't tell if you're missing the point by accident or on purpose. As I stated already twice, there are many ways to record phone calls. Yours is one. My idea is another. There's dozens of others.   

       The idea is for a specific service, which records phone calls, and does nothing else. If you have a service which does other things, it's not this.   

       Let's move on.
waugsqueke, Mar 27 2004
  

       We could talk about [UB]'s "debt recovery service". Is that the same as a repo man? I wonder if they really follow the repo code. "Goddamn gypsy dildo punk! Repo man's got all night... every night!". Now that was a fine fine film.   

       I like this. But instead of a service, it should be a program. Just record your message into your computer and tell it a time and number to call, and how many times you want it to call. In addition to messages, the laptop could send tones, to wade thru a touch tone menu and get to the proper number. It could page you out of meetings. It could also make a Bronx cheer.
bungston, Mar 27 2004
  

       I think this concept could be taken further. Specifically, set up a service where *all* incoming and outgoing calls are recorded and accessable via the internet or phone (you never know which call is going to be needed for future reference).   

       Also, I don't think the warning message is necessary. In many countries only one participant in the phone conversation needs to be informed that it's being recorded.
xaviergisz, Dec 08 2006
  
      
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