BS: Using phone tree for notification

Subject: BS: Using phone tree for notification
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 21 Feb 11 - 02:24 PM

My immediate need has to do with farming alerts..but I guess it could also be used to call people and inform of concerts, etc...with their signing up for it of course.

Are there cheap or free ways to do this using a computer? We can't afford an expensive phone tree system and basically have one ordinary line and DSL. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Using phone tree for notification
From: Don Firth
Date: 21 Feb 11 - 02:30 PM

E-mail? Should be able to do essentially the same sort of thing, I would think.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Using phone tree for notification
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 21 Feb 11 - 04:02 PM

Skype.

Subject: RE: BS: Using phone tree for notification
From: Joe_F
Date: 21 Feb 11 - 05:39 PM

I don't know about your email software, but mine (Gnus) allows one to define an abbreviation for an arbitrary list of addresses.

Subject: RE: BS: Using phone tree for notification
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 21 Feb 11 - 05:50 PM

these tend to be farmers who do not check their email, if they indeed have it. phone will be the best for now. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Using phone tree for notification
From: Jack Campin
Date: 21 Feb 11 - 06:43 PM

From the sending end, Twitter is the cheapest and fastest way to go. But it only reaches people motivated enough to follow you or go to the relevant URL. Sample:

Flood news, UK


From the receiving end, bulk text messages might be better. Phone services here include SMS-to-speech services for when you text a landline. But sending SMS messages in bulk isn't cheap.

Subject: RE: BS: Using phone tree for notification
From: open mike
Date: 21 Feb 11 - 06:43 PM

are these calls all going to people who are members of an organization?
Perhaps you can divide the roster of numbers up and assign each to call between 2 and 5 people....the problem is that not everyone will follow through and all those on the list that do not get called will not receive the info. there is also such technology as a conference call, where every one is actually on the line at the same time...I have heard this done with businesses and for work training info that needs to be heard by all co-workers...when composing the information to be sent it would be best to use the guidelines for press releases: include the basic info--who, what, where, when as clearly as possible. (remember the game of telephone...that info can morph and change as it passes along)

this is what it says here:
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-phone-tree.htm

Generally, a phone tree is organized by a single person, to eliminate confusion. The person organizing the phone tree collects information about all of the individuals who should be included in the phone tree. For example, a small rural school might have a phone tree which could be used to notify people about canceled school days and other events of relevance to the school.

Ideally, the organizer would collect at least two contact numbers for each person, including a contact number with an answering machine or voicemail. Once the list of people is collected, it can be divided up to create an organized phone tree, which is copied and given to all members of the group. Because the people at the top of the phone tree are crucial, it is a good idea to pick the most reliable members of the group for these positions, ensuring that information will be passed on.

most phones allow a multi-call feature where one person can get several onthers on the line (usually by dialing * or #)

you might also consider a conference call..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conference_call

http://www.powwownow.com/ has some info and programs to do this with
land lines and cell phones..

there was an early chat feature for on-line communications called Powwow which was a start up company stemming from the McAfee virus protection company folks. I do not know if this is related. (or even if this program is still available...http://powwow.jazy.net/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PowWow_%28chat_program%29)
http://jazy.net/content/rest-peace-powwow-chat
I guess this "Tribal Voice" program no longer is current...

Subject: RE: BS: Using phone tree for notification
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 21 Feb 11 - 08:00 PM

Phone tree is probably the wrong term. I mean like sending a message to maybe 100 people via phone...mg

Subject: RE: BS: Using phone tree for notification
From: GUEST,pattyClink
Date: 21 Feb 11 - 10:41 PM

So we're talking about 'robocalls'?

Subject: RE: BS: Using phone tree for notification
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 21 Feb 11 - 11:50 PM

I think so...to notify farmers to put on their sprinklers or whatever. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Using phone tree for notification
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 02:52 AM

What about short phone calls "Please check your email immediately".

Subject: RE: BS: Using phone tree for notification
From: open mike
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 03:25 AM

google these:
group phone call
blast message
automated mass phone call
group message service

our school uses a system like this to announce snow days

and the sherriff recently sent out a call when there was a missing child in the area

when you gather the phone numbers of people make sure you
have a number that is connected to an answering machine or
voice mail...you might even include a couple numbers for some
folks...such as cell and land line...if you want to increase
the chance of your message being rec;d.

the message below is an ad for www.freeconferencecall.com
there might be something there..good luck and let us know
what you find!

Subject: RE: BS: Using phone tree for notification
From: DMcG
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 07:03 AM

There are online systems to send SMS messages from the computer, but these tend not to be very cheap - in the UK they are around 7p per message for low usage, and I don't know of anyone who links it to your '100 free texts a month' or whatever.