version 1.1
©1995 Triplo Software
email: triplo@xmission.com
www: www.xmission.com/~triplo

What is PhoneWatcher?

PhoneWatcher is a personal telephone manager for your Macintosh and modem. With PhoneWatcher, you can track when your phone rings, any caller ID information, and make the computer alert you with sounds and visuals when your phone rings.

In order to use PhoneWatcher, you simply need an external modem. If you want to use the features available with caller ID, you need a modem capable of recognizing caller ID. PhoneWatcher has it's own built-in serial port arbitrators, and is compatible with any other software that wants to use the serial port (ZTerm, MacSLIP, etc.); PhoneWatcher only listens to the modem when no other application is using it.

There is a known incompatibility with Apple’s Express Modem/GeoPort software. We are currently investigating a fix (Apple: any hints would be appreciated).

Installing PhoneWatcher

To install PhoneWatcher, put the PhoneWatcher control panel in the Control Panels folder in your System Folder and restart.

 Using PhoneWatcher

To configure PhoneWatcher, open the
PhoneWatcher control panel in the
Control Panels folder in the System
Folder. Complete balloon help
is available.

Using the popup menu at the top, choose
the port that your modem is
connected to.

Use the set of checkboxes in the center
to define how your computer will react
when the telephone rings:

To make the computer play the
currently defined ringing sound when
the phone rings, select the top checkbox
labeled “Play ringing sound”.

To make the computer flash an icon in
the menu bar for 10 seconds, select
the checkbox labeled “Flash icon in menu bar”. 

Here's what the icon looks like when it flashes in the menu bar: 
To make the computer display the phone number of the caller when the phone rings, select the checkbox labeled “Display phone number”. This option is available only if your modem supports caller ID.

To make the computer speak the phone number of the caller when the phone rings, select the checkbox labeled “Speak phone number”. This option is available only if your modem supports caller ID and the Speech Manager is available.

Use the pair of buttons labeled "Play Ring" and "Record Ring" to play and record the sound that will be played when the telephone rings. Recording sounds is available only if the computer supports sound input.

Use the bottom button to view the log of telephone activity from the modem. It will include all rings and caller ID information, regardless if PhoneWatcher was set up to play sounds or display information.
 Use the button labeled
“Save…” to save the
phone log to a text file.

Use the button labeled
“Clear” to erase the
phone log.

When you are done
viewing the phone log,
click OK to return
to PhoneWatcher.

Beyond PhoneWatcher

If you have any questions, comments, bugs or whatever about PhoneWatcher, you can contact us at the addresses above. There will be some neat features added soon, like custom phone books and better ring sound handling. PhoneWatcher is shareware. I hope you like it.