What do you need to use CallWave? At a minimum, you'll need Windows 95 and if you have version 4.00.950 or 4.00.950A you need to install a "Winsock" patch program. To see your version of Windows 95 go to Start/Settings/Control panel/System. This is discussed on Callwave's web page. You'll also need a PC faster than 90 mHz, a modem 14 kbps or faster, 8 mb of RAM, 10 mb free hard-drive space, a sound card and either MS Explorer 4.0 or Netscape 4.0 Browser or better. Although Callwave is free you'll need a feature added to your phone service that costs $1.00 per month called "Forward on busy." The web page tells you exactly what to tell the phone company. I called Sprint and they added the feature to my phone the next day. It is well worth the money and works only when you are on the Internet.

Here's how Callwave works. First, you download the software from their web site and follow the installation instructions. Next you call the telephone company and have call forwarding on busy added to your phone. It is important to read Callwave's instruction on exactly what to tell the phone company because all of your calls while on the internet will be forwarded to Callwave's Internet Answering Machine at 1-800-380-4341.

Once everything is installed and working properly each time that you log on to the Internet, your PC will automatically access Callwave and display a block on your desktop providing incoming phone call status. You can disable Callwave at any time by hitting its close window button.

Now let's suppose that you're browsing the web and someone calls. You hear a telephone ring. The Callwave block shows "incoming call" followed by "recording" followed by "downloading." The calling party hears a professional announcement that states that you are on the Internet and asks them to leave a message. After the message downloads to you it plays automatically and becomes saved for replay. What I usually do immediately is go offline by hanging up and call back the party so we don't end up playing telephone tag all day. Some folks don't bother going offline and instead call back over the Internet using DialPad we mentioned last month.

I love Callwave because I no longer have to stay off the Internet all day waiting for someone that's supposed to call which as you know, rarely happens at the time promised. Callwave is like having a second telephone line. What is interesting is that it only answers your phone if you are on the Internet. So if you already have an answering machine Callwave won't interfere with it.

About the only thing I find a bit annoying about Callwave is the size of the call status block displayed on the desktop. It has to be there all the time for it to be working and I have to move it around constantly to see things displayed underneath it.