A dual compact cassette tape based Panasonic answering machine

An answering machine, also known as an answerphone, ansaphone or ansafone (especially in UK and British commonwealth countries) or telephone answering device (TAD), is a device invented in 1935, by Benjamin Thornton. The Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a Magnetic tape sound This device would be attached to a telephone and could be set to record a voice message from a caller. By utilizing a clock attachment, the machine could also forward the messages as well as keep track of the time they were made. Unlike voicemail, which is a centralized or networked system that performs a similar function, an answering machine is installed in the customer's premises alongside — or incorporated within — the customer's telephone. Voicemail (or voice mail voice-mail vmail or VMS, sometimes called messagebank) is a centralized system of managing Telephone messages for a large group

While early answering machines used magnetic tape technology, most modern equipment uses solid state memory storage. Magnetic tape is a medium for Magnetic recording generally consisting of a thin magnetizable coating on a long and narrow strip of Plastic. A solid-state drive ( SSD) is a Data storage device that uses solid-state memory to store persistent Data. Kazuo Hashimoto invented the first digital answering machine in 1983 with US Patent 4,616,110 entitled Automatic Digital Telephone Answering Device. ^[1]

Operation

On a two-cassette answerphone, there is an outgoing cassette which plays a pre-recorded message down the line to the caller who rang the number after a certain number of rings. Once the message is complete, the outgoing cassette stops and the incoming cassette starts recording the caller's message, and then stops once the line is cut.

Single-cassette answering machines first play the announcement, then fast-forward to the next available space for recording, then record the caller's message. If there are many previous messages, fast-forwarding through them can cause a perceptible delay.

An answerphone may have a remote listening facility whereby the answerphone owner can ring their home number and, by either sending a tone down the line using a special device, or by entering a code on the remote telephone's keypad, can listen to messages when away from home.

Most modern answering machines have a system for greeting. The owner may record his or her message that will be played back to the caller, or an automatic message will be played if the owner does not record one. Answering machines can usually be programmed to take the call at a certain number of rings. This is useful if the owner is screening calls and does not wish to speak with all callers. Call screening is the process of evaluating the characteristics of a Telephone call before a conversation

See also

• Voicemail

References