Problems with Automated Answering Systems

hickphil · Post by **hickphil** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 3:26 pm

I don't know if anyone else is having this problem or not. When I call into a number that has an answering service, and I try to enter an extension from my phone, the answering system does not recognize the entry. But if I enter the extension from the softphone, answering systems seem to pick it right up. Also, when I use the voicemail, I have no problem entering prompts from my cordless phone. I'm using a GE cordless phone. So far, after 6 days of using the Magic Jack, its great, this is my one and only complaint. (and its a small complaint at that) Anyone have any ideas?

gary · Post by **gary** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 4:01 pm

This is a known problem. It does work sometimes but not always.

HolmanGT · Post by **HolmanGT** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 4:03 pm

hickphil,

This is a well reported problem and to date now solution other than you one you found using the softphone.

I would search this site for any possible answers, but I would also suggest trying a different phone. Maybe a little more high end then the GE phones. I believe it is just the quality and accuracy of the the touch tones generated by individual phones.

Then take a poor quality Touch-Tone and pass it thru a couple of additional links that may or may not interpret the tones correctly and you end up with the problem you are having. I have also read on this forum that it just depends on the Automated Service you are accessing, some work ok, some don't.

Hopefully some clever MJ Engineer will find a fix for this problem, but until then "The Softphone" is the only known work-around.

hickphil · Post by **hickphil** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 4:07 pm

Thanks Gary. Its definitely not a deal breaker though, just more of an annoyance to use the softphone.

hickphil · Post by **hickphil** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 4:10 pm

I also did think that my cheap phone could be the cause.

What else can I expect from a $20 phone from Wal-Mart.

Darkman90808 · Post by **Darkman90808** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 4:50 pm

I'm using a medium quality (~$100) Plantronics with the same problem. I just use the softphone but would rather not have to. I don't think it's the phone.