[external voice modem] Serial-to-USB adapter? USB modem?

[Gilles]

Hello

I'm looking for a cheaper alternative to the $250 Hi-Phone Desktop
Lite:
www.way2call.com/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=22

I saw Zoom external voice modems recommended, but they are meant to be
connected to a serial port... which few new computers have these days.

I was wondering if a serial-to-USB adapter is reliable, and if not,
whether I should just consider USB modems instead, although they seem
less reliable than the former:
www.ivrsoft.com/voice-modems.htm#compatible_voice_modems

Any feedback appreciated,
Thank you.

[Andreas Marschall [exMVP TAPI]]

Post by Gilles
I'm looking for a cheaper alternative to the $250 Hi-Phone Desktop
I saw Zoom external voice modems recommended, but they are meant to be
connected to a serial port... which few new computers have these days.
I was wondering if a serial-to-USB adapter is reliable, and if not,
whether I should just consider USB modems instead, although they seem

Gilles,
I don't have a recommendation for a voice modem currently available,
but I want to clarify that all voice modes driven by MS UniModem TSP suffer from the same basic
disadvantage in voice mode: the don't have proper call progression detection capabilities, i.e. they cannot determine whether the callee answerered the call.
In addition almost all voice modems driven by MS UniModem TSP are not full-duplex:
http://www.tapi.info/default.aspx/TAPI/UnimodemFullDuplexSupport.html?diff=y
Opposed to that, AFAIK the Hi-Phones devices do have this capabilities.

So the basic question on product selection is: what are you trying to do with the telephony device.
What is your use case?
--
Best Regards
Andreas Marschall
Microsoft MVP for TAPI / Windows SDK / Visual C++ 2003-2008
TAPI / TSP Developer and Tester
My TAPI and TSPI FAQ:
http://www.I-B-A-M.de/Andreas_Marschall's_TAPI_and_TSPI_FAQ.htm
My Toto® Tools (a collection of free, mostly TAPI related tools):
http://www.I-B-A-M.de/Andreas_Marschall's_Toto_Tools.htm
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