How to Set up a Mac as an Answering Machine & Fax Machine

Any Mac with the right hardware and software can work as a voicemail system.

WIth the right software and hardware, your Macintosh computer can act as a voicemail and fax machine. This frees up space in the office and consolidates much of your equipment into one machine. Also convenient is the ability to email audio files from the recorded voice messages as well as email digital images of the faxes.

Instructions

Voicemail

1. Purchase a Mac answering and automation product. Popular choices are Phlink by Ovolab and Phonevalet by Parliant. Both come with a USB device that the phone line plugs into as well as proprietary software.

2. Insert the program's installation CD into the computer and install the software as directed.

3. Hook up the hardware device to the computer and connect the phone line into the device's phone jack. Launch the program.

4. Set up the voicemail within the program. You can use a pre-selected greeting, a self-recorded greeting or have the OSX voice read text. Both programs can do multiple voicemail options, which is a good way to streamline the information. Callers are prompted to use their dial-pad to reach a specific mailbox.

5. Incoming faxes are automatically routed to OSX's built-in Fax program which reads the incoming documents.

Sending a Fax

1. Click File-->Print in the document you wish to fax.

2. Click the "PDF" button and scroll to FAX PDF.

3. Input the desired message information into the Fax window. Select a cover page, if desired, by checking the "Use a Cover Page" box and typing in the subject and message information.

4. Press Fax. The Mac will automatically transmit the fax using the computer's modem and the telephone line connected either to the modem port or into the hardware box used for voicemails.

References

• Phone Answering Products for Macs