www.pagerealm.com/tc2k -> www.pagerealm.com/tc2k/
THE TELECRAPPER 2000 TELEMARKETER INTERCEPTION SYSTEM Description The Telecrapper 2000 (TC2K) is a computerized system designed to both int ercept incoming Telemarketing calls on the first ring, and then carry on a virtual conversation with the telemarketer. Here's how it works: First the TC2K computer (any standard PC) is connected to the phone line via a Caller ID modem or serial Caller ID device. The user creates a set up text file that declares all of the Caller ID strings he considers "an noying" and wants intercepted on the first ring. When a call on the user s "hit list" arrives, the computer intercepts the call and picks up the extension. It gives the ability to identify legitimate calls anywhere in the house by simply waiting to hea r a second ring. As if that feature wasn't enough, the TC2K then plays a wave file over th e extension for the telemarketer to hear. The user can declare a list of wave files, in a specific order, that he wishes to be played to calls o n his "hit list". The first wave file is played immediately after pickin g up the extension, the TC2K then waits for the telemarketer to respond, then the TC2K waits for silence (for the telemarketer to finish speakin g), then plays the next wave file on the list. The cycle of play wave fi le, wait for response, wait for silence is repeated for each wave file t he user has declared in his setup text file. This way the TC2K can carry on a "virtual" conversation with the telemarketer and the content of th at conversation is completely up to the user. All the user needs to do i s record his own set of wave files to be played and declare them in a se tup file. Perhaps best of all, the "virtual" conversation between the TC2K and the telemarketer is recorded for the user to enjoy and share with his friend s and other TC2K users. We hope to have a forum in the near future to di scuss and trade TC2K conversations. Productivity: Americans have an aversion to telephone solicitation. Because of the pace of American life, productivity is constantly sought after and guarded. Phone solicitors are particularly annoying then because they steal our p roductivity. We spend time with them that we would otherwise use for mor e productive purposes. The telemarketers on the other hand have very sophisticated computer tech nology on their side to insure maximum productivity from their telemarke ters. Computers do all the dialing and interfacing and only engage a hum an on their side of the telephone when they're sure they're talking to a human on our side. No-Call Lists and gadgets like the Telezapper only shift the telemarketin g call traffic around. Telemarketing is no less attractive to advertiser s because their technology still works the same ... Only the TC2K has the capability to turn the tables on the telemarketing industry. With similar computer technology on OUR sid e, we can reduce the productivity of the telemarketers and make the enti re enterprise less attractive. The more TC2K devices in use, the less pr oductive every telemarketer becomes. They will spend more and more time talking to OUR computers and less and less time on potential sales. Open Source: I am not pursuing patents or copyrights on the TC2K. To do so would great ly reduce the potential number of TC2K devices in use and therefore dimi nish its effectiveness in reducing telemarketing productivity.
This should be enough to allow any user with an intermediate knowledge of electronics and software to create his own TC2K for under $20 (not including the price of the PC or modem).
How To page should serve as prior art should anyone else try to patent or copyright the TC2K in the future. I have been in contact with Windows programmers that have visitted this s ite and share my disinterest in telemarketing. They are cooperating on a software only version of TC2K. My version of the TC2K is not user frien dly and requires significant computer know-how to implement and use. A " Modem Only" approach would be more user friendly but was beyond my know- how. As soon as their solution is operational, I'll post it here. They h ave agreed to provide their solution as open source too, so anyone shoul d be able to use it.
Emai l Me and I will put you in contact with the other TC2K-M programmers. Even a non-PC based device could serve a similar purpose. Currently, you can purchase phone line dongles for under $30 that play sounds on the ph one line. You can also purchase phone line dongles that perform the Call er ID functions. A dongle device should be manufacturable for under $50 that combines the 2 functions and has the same basic functions (and effe ct on the industry) as the TC2K. Example TC2K Conversations: Here's some examples of telemarketing "virtua l" conversations with my TC2K. You might have to Right Click, Save Targe t As, and then unzip the WAVs to play on your computer.
Acknowledgements: * Thanks to Kevin T for sparking this whole idea during lunch at Arby' s * Thanks to Dave Jacobs for creating "Scanner Recorder" and making it f ree.
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