TalkWorks PRO 2.0 brings professional voice and fax messaging to home offices and small
businesses. It comes packaged with the newest release of Symantec's WinFax PRO 9.0, giving
the consumer a tried and true fax resource, to complement the voice messaging capabilities
of TalkWorks Pro. The package's integrated voice mail, message notification, call
tracking, and fax-on-demand capabilities keep the business user in touch with customers
and other contacts 24 hours a day without additional fees or additional mailbox charges as
the business grows.
INSTALLATION
Installing TalkWorks PRO was easy, even pleasurable. First, we inserted the installation
CD into the CD-ROM drive of our computer, which had a 200-MHz Pentium Pro processor and 64
Megs of RAM. The computer also included a modem that supported voice, fax, and data
transfer. (A must for this review.)
The CD started automatically, sparing us from having to poke about manually. Soon, we
were presented some information about Symantec's products, as well as a selection of
guided tours. From this introductory screen, we elected to install the software. A moment
later, the Install Shield initiated, and the program's files were copied to our hard
drive. Throughout this process, the setup program played some soothing music.
After the files were copied, we restarted the PC and waited for our next prompt. When
it appeared, we proceeded to configure the software. We entered various pieces of
information, including user name, identification code, voice number, and fax number. Since
we only had one modem installed on the computer, we indicated the same number for both
voice and fax.
At this point, we had both TalkWorks PRO and WinFax PRO installed on our computer.
Then, we were greeted by an attractive configuration utility, which presented us with
access to many of TalkWorks PRO's features. For example, we had the opportunity to set up
the answering machine and the multiple mailbox system. Other options included the setup
screens for the notification and forwarding system (including pager notification), a modem
setup wizard, a phonebook wizard, and a place to create new faxes and cover pages. For
starters, we set up a simple answering machine.
DOCUMENTATION
Along with a copy of TalkWorks PRO, Symantec provides two manuals, a user's guide for
TalkWorks PRO, and a user's guide for WinFax PRO. Thus, each of these software suites has
a volume describing its installation, configuration, and use.
Since the installation for TalkWorks PRO was so simple, we scarcely glanced at this
section. Instead, we started out by reading the Getting Started section, where we paid
particular attention to the setup of the answering machine and multiple mailbox system.
Subsequent chapters explained, feature by feature, how to use the different parts of
the program, including (but not restricted to) receiving and retrieving messages, placing
and answering calls, setting up fax on demand, and setting up a call answering system.
Not surprisingly, the structure for the WinFax PRO manual was very similar to that for
the TalkWorks Pro manual. The WinFax PRO manual, however, dealt solely with faxing.
FEATURES
This software is perhaps most notable for its flexibility. It can be used effectively on a
PC at home or in the office. Also, users can call any telephone, fixed or mobile, to
receive voice messages and faxes. Furthermore, users can call into the software from a
remote location, and retrieve messages from yet another remote location.
So much for the general virtue of flexibility. The product also offers a wide range of
specific messaging features, including answering machine and fax-on-demand functionality.
Answering Machine Features
Through its answering machine, the program can handle incoming calls and faxes. The
program can, in addition, handle both calls and faxes on the same line, provided the user
does a little configuration work.
TalkWorks PRO logs all incoming calls (received calls, faxes, and even hang-ups), and
it attempts to identify the caller, although it requires a caller ID enabled modem for
this functionality. Messages can be restricted by date and time. And, if a caller ID
enabled modem is available, messages can be restricted by caller.
Fax-On-Demand Features
By providing fax on demand, TalkWorks PRO lets you respond to document requests
twenty-four hours a day. For example, a customer can obtain a fax any time of day or night
simply by dialing an auto-attendant and following the recorded instructions. Typically,
the auto-attendant asks the user to select documents by number. Then, the documents
selected by the user are automatically faxed back to the user.
New WinFax PRO Features
One of the nicest things about the TalkWorks package is that it comes with the complete
version of WinFax PRO. Now in its ninth version, WinFax PRO provides powerful faxing
capabilities. It allows the user to send high-quality faxes right from the PC.
New features in the ninth version include a send screen designed to simplify faxing.
With this screen, the user can preview faxes before sending them. In addition, pages in an
outgoing fax can be rearranged or re-faxed, or documents can be merged from multiple
sources into a single fax.
OPERATIONAL TESTING
At first glance, the most striking thing about TalkWorks Pro is its affiliation with
WinFax PRO, a popular personal faxing solution. Indeed, the two software suites are
packaged together. Yet the combination of the two suites goes beyond the packaging.
TalkWorks PRO and WinFax Pro are fully integrated.
Message Center
The integration of the new TalkWorks PRO and the familiar WinFax PRO is evident when you
view the Message Center. From this interface, which resembles the Outlook interface, you
can manage all incoming and outgoing messages, including fax messages. You can, of course,
access all the WinFax functionality, which includes creating and sending new faxes and
creating cover pages using a wide array of saved graphics.
The Message Center also lets you access the new TalkWorks PRO functionality. By
pressing the appropriate buttons, you can launch the two new applications belonging to
TalkWorks PRO. These include a telephone applications and an answering machine
application.
Telephone Application
The telephone application provides a nifty interface that resembles a real phone, and not
a cheap one at that. Like all phones, it comes with the standard alphanumeric interface, a
flash hook, and a redial button. It also comes with volume control, speed dialing (with
storage for up to 12 different numbers), a hold button, and a talk button that actually
initiates the call. Numbers can be dialed using the number pad on the computer keyboard or
through the point-and-click method using a mouse (which we do not recommend - it takes a
little more time).
The nicest feature about the phone is that it can be used simultaneously with a real
phone, meaning that picking up the phone while the TalkWorks telephone is in use does not
disconnect the call, and vice versa. This means that a sort of speaker phone function is
built into the system. You can either use the handset on your telephone, or speak through
the microphone on your PC.
Answering Machine Application
We did not find the answering machine application as useful as the phone application.
Basically, the answering machine application gives the user an interface that looks like a
real answering machine.
One of the main functions of any answering machine is to answer incoming calls for the
user and store them in a convenient place until they are retrieved. Accordingly, the
TalkWorks answering machine shows the call and fax logs, both of which can be accessed
from the interface. However, this display only duplicates the what the Message Center
accomplishes.
What is nice, however, is that the user has a convenient place to record outgoing
messages. Like all answering machines, this one has buttons to play, stop, and delete
messages. Other controls include fast forward, rewind, and volume control.
When we set up the answering machine, we relied on the prompt supplied by Symantec.
Somebody called, and the answering machine picked up after a couple of rings. So far, so
good. We noticed, however, the caller was confused by the unfamiliar voice. So, we decided
we'd be better off recording our own prompt.
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
TalkWorks PRO 2.0, in combination with WinFax PRO 9.0, incorporates faxing capabilities
with voice mail and remote access capabilities. What more could it offer? E-mail! Just
think: But for the lack of e-mail capabilities, the product could be a unified messaging
application.
We don't mean to suggest there is anything wrong with the product as is, but e-mail
functionality seems the next logical step. Symantec has progressed from a fax-only
solution to a fax plus voice solution. So, we wouldn't be surprised if Symantec eventually
moved on to a fax plus voice plus e-mail solution.
CONCLUSION
Just about everybody is familiar with Symantec's WinFax PRO. Now, Symantec is combining it
with TalkWorks 2.0. Together, these products represent a significant improvement over any
previous release of either product.
Symantec lets users realize the potential of all-but-ubiquitous - but underused -
voice/fax/data modems. That is, Symantec's new offering does more than let users exploit
the fax capabilities of their modems, it also lets them use the voice capabilities. So,
while many users are already used to the idea of doing without a bulky fax machine, they
may soon get used to the idea of doing without a standalone voice mail system. |
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