Directory Assistance
Telephone companies save millions of dollars a year by automating their directory assistance procedures. Computer Telephony systems are currently employed to reduce the time operators must spend on calls. In most cases, an operator answers a call for directory assistance and locates a listing by typing commands using a terminal connected to a database. Once the requested number is located, a voice response unit plays out the digits to the caller, leaving the operator free to handle calls. Some systems will dial the number automatically for an additional fee.

Reverse Yellow Pages
People normally call information when they need to know the telephone number of a business. What if they have the telephone number and want to know the address associated with it? A Computer Telephony system can provide this information. Callers to a special number are greeted with a recording that prompts them to enter the telephone number. The system searches a listing's database and plays a recording of the company name and the address associated with the telephone number.

Pay Phone Message Forwarding
When a pay phone user calls a party and encounters a busy signal, a Computer Telephony system prompts the caller to leave a message that can be forwarded to the called party when the line is free. This not only accomplishes the caller's task, it improves the pay phone operator's revenue.

Customer Service
Telephone companies receive numerous types of calls from their customers, including new service orders, trouble reports, billing problems, and requests for information. Computer Telephony provides faster service for these callers by asking them for their telephone number and the nature of the problem. Much of the information a caller is looking for can be accessed by computer while an operator or agent is servicing another call. Once the repair information or billing record is sent to an agent, the call can be forwarded.

Fax Mailbox
Voice messaging systems can provide "fax mailboxes" for coverage when a fax machine is busy or out of service. Fax information is received by a Computer Telephony system and stored as a computer file for later retrieval. The system notifies the recipient of the fax by automatically placing a call and playing a pre-recorded message or by turning on the message waiting light on the recipient’s telephone.

Line Conversions
Customers with older analog telephone equipment may wish to take advantage of newer digital services such as T1, E1 or ISDN without replacing their phone system. A Computer Telephony system can convert incoming digital services to analog forma and can provide additional services, such as voice recognition or voice messaging.

Alternate Operator Services
Telephone companies are saving money by automating operator services using Computer Telephony system. Callers now place collect calls without the intervention of an operator. They dial a special number and are prompted to say their name and the telephone number of the party with whom they wish to speak. Before the call is connected, called parties hear the recorded voice and a recording that asks whether they wish to receive the collect call.

Voice Messaging
Telephone companies currently offer voice messaging service to the residential market using centralized Computer Telephony systems situated at the local central office. Callers who subscribe are given a password and mail box number and dial a special number to retrieve their messages. In addition to being more reliable that most home answering machines, voice messaging also offers the advantage of a second line by taking messages when the subscriber's phone is busy.

Customer Calling Services
Custom calling services like Auto Call Back enable customers to enter a code to automatically redial the last person who called them. A Computer Telephony system, installed at the local telephone central office, registers the calling and called numbers for each call placed through the office. When a customer enters the Auto Call Back code, the central office switch queries the Computer Telephony system for the phone number of the last party who called the subscriber; a call is then placed automatically to that number. Another service, Custom Call Forwarding, allows subscribers to enter' and update a second phone number into the CO's database. If callers don't reach them at the regular number, the system automatically tries the second.