Unless you use your dial-up modem for faxing or internet you probably don’t have much use for it. However there are some good software titles to make it useful again.
PhoneTray is a product (and yes there’s a free version on that site) that will show Caller ID and also has the ability to "zap" telemarketer calls as well.
Telemarketing blocker more or less does the same job as PhoneTray does.
Using Windows Vista? Not to worry, there’s Vista Caller-ID software – and it’s free.
For those of you out there that don’t have a dial-up modem but are interested in using it per the methods above, there are USB 2.0 compliant hardware modems you can purchase like this one (and you’ll be amazed at how small they are).
USB dial-up modems eh?
I always prefer to install a PCI or PCIe x 1 device if possible; especially for things like modems. (Unless they use ethernet access as in the case of the BT Home Hub / another router.) I find PCI devices are more reliable and stable. USB devices are good these days; but nothing beats a properly – installed device. Also in some cases a PCI device can be slightly cheaper than a USB equivalent.
If you have (a) spare PCI(e) port(s) available on your motherboard, then fitting a PCI or PCIe card is simplicity itself, and often well worth the tiny bit of extra hassle.
A PCI dial-up-modem is simplicity itself to fit: Earth yourself, remove the computer case’s side-panel: Line the PCI card up, push it into a PCI slot, screw the rear-end-panel to the computer case, replace the computer case’s side panel. Job done.
Now more on topic: I like the sound of the programs mentioned: I might install a dial-up-modem and give it a go.
…Just to mention: You might have to remove a small blanking plate or part thereof at the rear of your computer’s case before attempting to fit a PCI card: The connecting-part, the rear-end-panel of the PCI card will go in the space where the blanking plate used to be at the back of your computer. – I just thought that was worth mentioning as an afterthought. You may also have to install an appropriate driver afterwards unless the operating system automatically installs one on reboot: As with any device inside a computer, the PCI card won’t work without a driver.
Also another advantage of using PCI cards over USB external modules is that it keeps devices inside the computer rather than hanging all around it on wires and making the place look untidy.
I tried this a couple of years ago, but ran into problems with the V92 modem and my DSL. Maybe they’ve got those problems worked out now. But I won’t be trying it at this time, because now I spend 95% of my time in Linux and I don’t think there is a Linux program for this. I never could figure out a way to block toll free numbers was the reason I quit using it.
Believe it when I say that Dial In Free (http://www.dialinfree.net) is the real deal. I was a little skeptical at first, wondering what strings were attached. The only real “string” is that if you need technical support, there is a five dollar charge. However, the setup is so simple that unless you really don’t know what you’re doing, you’ll never encounter a charge. All you need to do is get your local number, create a dialer, and boom, free internet. The only drawback is, Dial in Free is only available in the 231, 616, and 269 area codes.