Jim-about the line sharing device which doesn't require any additional 
payments to the phone company...I looked into these several years ago and 
learned the following:
1.  Once they "sense" what type of call is on line (modem, fax, voice), the 
box takes over and gives the caller (if voice mail) a weird sounding 
imitation of the tones you hear while waiting for someone to pickup.  A whole 
lot like what an answering service sounds like.  
2.  They usually, but not always, work.  How many clients do you want to get 
it in the ear from your fax machine or fax modem???
3.  You cannot give a client a separate number for your fax machine.
In short...for less than five bucks a month, distinctive ringing overcomes 
all these obstacles.
And yeah, touchtone costs a couple of bucks...for which you're able to make 
calls quickly and, if you're hooked up, from your computer.
--- Maximus/2 3.01
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