MacPhone Auction

[JDW]

MacPhone, from INTERMATRIX:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Macintosh-MACPHONE-Telemanagement-System-/120576810208?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c12f01ce0#ht_500wt_1154

Some months back, James at RetroMacCast put up some MacPhone Ad photos I sent to him, taken from one of my vintage MacWorld Magazine issues:

http://api.ning.com/files/nc43522kOLkvaYRcuPKBaTsov7rpT5yED11gzOEUJXuH9XEVkPdtpABhWYZbe8l2HKfakE-YJ-uhs5skkhBDOXT9v4w3jkRX/MWNov84_MacPhoneAd1.jpg

http://api.ning.com/files/nc43522kOLkoHWse0xi0W6hHRiT87itpSsRiMpDqXcm2aXCQaLx1*lyLuD-EITLfBhY-5UYRLp25LhkzNarH0CqDFZk93A2q/MWOct84_MacPhoneAd.jpg

http://api.ning.com/files/nc43522kOLmfNROeVmZt*l*PbP1zf9ofBl-i5uIhI4fcLuINCIzQCY7XocxedlLMrKRTv8BbX8h9-XyfMPWLzWsXosGx9q8L/MWNov84_MacPhoneAd2.jpg

Might be a fun auction to bid on. (No, I won't be bidding myself. I'm too cheap to pay international shipping these days.)

 

[Paralel]

I like how the one section of the ad has Mouse written in quotation marks.

It's really a concept that was way, way ahead of its time.

 

[ppuskari]

Man I need to stay away from this group again..

I just bought that MACPHONE the guy had up on ebay... Expensive but really cool. It also satisfies my vintage Mac collecting bone as well as my odd telephony collecting bone at the same time!

This is going to be awesome to take into work and attach to a voip adapter and patch into our CISCO phone system. fun fun!

Thanks guys for putting that link up!

To the guy looking for the software, when it comes in I'll attempt to email it to you if you still need it and if it comes with the software. I"m hoping!

 

[Mac128]

I just bought that MACPHONE the guy had up on ebay... Expensive but really cool.

Well at least you didn't pay the original list price of $200 for it! But make sure you are a "Mac Lover", or you have to give it back, no matter how much you paid for it. :beige:

Actually the MacDialer software is the most important part of it. And MANY of us are interested in it. (Hint Hint). The phone itself doesn't have that great a review. You would be better off wiring your own phone equipment into the interface. Essentially, the software is a contact database which communicates with the hardware via the speaker port. Other than a limited contact list which logs the calls and provides for call notes, it is little more than one of those touch-tone pocket dialers that were so popular before cellphones, sending tone signals over a phone's mouthpiece to initiate and terminate calls via a GUI interface. In fact you may find this review of Borland's Sidekick which was the successor to the MacPhone of some interest. Essentially it offers a suite of desk accessories (addressing some of the criticisms of the MacPhone), without the inferior hardware of the MacPhone. However, it requires a modem for the phone interface, as does the Habadex application (another rolodex stand-alone auto-dialer program which was also sold with an interface box which plugged into the sound port in lieu of a modem). More than likely, without plugging in the MacPhone, if you hold your phone up to the speaker of your Mac, you'll be able to dial with the software alone.

But, both in 1984 and today, the MacDialer software has enormous value as some of the only useful applications which will run on the 128K and 512K. The hardware is superfluous. Congrats, and please do fill us in with the details once you get it and start using it! Especially once you make those all important backup disk images }

Below is a review from Doug Clapp's Complete Macintosh Sourcebook:

MacPhone

Love it or cringe. MacPhone is a telephone that sticks on

the side of your Macintosh. It comes with specialized soft-

ware or can be used as a regular telephone.

The first temptation is to fire up the software. The

MacPhone software lets you store and automatically dial up

to 200 names and phone numbers. It allows Touch~Tone

compatibility with various phone services, supporting up to

twenty prefixes of twenty-two digits each. Phone calls are

automatically logged. Who you called, the starting and

ending time of the call, the date the call was placed, the cost

of the call, and consultation charges comprise the log. A

note pad is included for notations about the calls. The notes

are automatically added into the MacPhone phone log.

There’s a memo pad to record longer notes about (we

assume) the calls you’re making. If you wish, an audible

tone signals the passing of each minute and/or hour.

Our favorite feature is a built-in area code directory for

looking up the state, region, and time zone of any old area

code. The call was from-let’s see-Washington, D.C.? No

need to call back.

Is this the greatest thing since hexadecimal arithmetic?

No. Here’s the problem: Although the software is peachy,

it’s an entire application! When you’re using the MacPhone

software, you won’t be using your Macintosh for anything

else. It’s rare that anyone would want to use just the phone

software. Ideally, the package would be a desk accessory (or

a series of accessories). In that configuration, the software

would get much use. As a stand-alone application, we’d

guess it will often stand alone in your disk case.

lf, however, you make a raft of calls, want the capa-

bilities of the software, and won’t miss using other applica-

tions while using MacPhone, you may be well satisfied. The

software is enticing; you may wish you had an extra Mac-

intosh to dedicate to this system.

The phone itself is a very inexpensive unit that plugs

into the speaker port at the rear of the Macintosh. Cheap

plastic, poor quality, and poor electronics; you'll find

people asking you to “Speak up, we must have a bad con-

nection.” But that isn’t the problem; it’s the phone you’re

using. The phone is covered by a ninety-day warranty.

Last comes the appearance of the MacPhone hanging

alongside the Macintosh. Some may feel this is a real “Buck

Rogers” combination-snazzy and so high-tech. Others may

feel otherwise. At least, even when used as merely a pe-

destrian telephone, MacPhone isn’t another piece of clutter

on your desk. $199.95

 

[ppuskari]

:approve:

But make sure you are a "Mac Lover", or you have to give it back, no matter how much you paid for it. :beige:

Well no problem there. For a guy that drove 4 hours each way to pick up a Magi II automation desk with Macintosh II all intact, I can assure you it's going to an Apple Lover :lol:

Also for sure backups will be made and imaged. Original software is getting so unbelievably hard to come by these days.

 

[Mac128]

Original software is getting so unbelievably hard to come by these days.

Yes it is. I will be most interested to learn exactly how the MacPhone hardware works though. I know it basically becomes a pass-through external speaker for the Macintosh and uses DTMF touch-tone signals to control the phone, but I am unclear as to exactly how that works.

In other words, in order to send the off-hook signal, does the receiver actually have to be lifted? Or will the DTMF signal trigger the hardware connection? In which case, I would expect the external speaker would then act like a speakerphone, until the receiver is lifted (optimal). In which case, does the receiver hook merely act like a headphone switch, cutting off the signal to the external speaker? If so, can the phone be returned to the hook, without disconnection the call (on-hold) – i.e. the on-hook signal is only sent from within the software?

Or, does the phone control the on/off-hook signaling like a regular phone? In which case, you would have to pick up the receiver first, before clicking "dial". And while hanging up the phone physically ends the call, does the software continue timing the call, until you click "hang-up"? Either way, the physical hook must act like a headphone jack as well, disconnecting the pass-through speaker while the phone is in use. I sort of think it is this latter low-tech solution, otherwise, why not provide a microphone jack to turn it into a true speakerphone? I suppose poor noise cancelation in those days would have been a factor, but a headset jack would have been nice and made much more sense in an office setting.

The HabaDialer was basically this kind of interface box, without the attached phone, and comes with warnings in some reviews that causing the Mac to beep or otherwise produce sound during the call could disable your callers hearing briefly! But unlike the Habadex software, which was designed to work with a modem as well, the MacPhone most likely does not allow that kind of interaction. It would be interesting to see if the MacPhone MacDialer software offers the option of connection type.

Of course, even with a limited DTMF style phone software interface, using it with a modern speakerphone instead of the MacPhone would be a great way to utilize a 128K Mac.

I also have to wonder if that 200 name contact limitation is a function of RAM, or an actual restriction of the software. In which case, I would think 200 would be more than a 128K could handle and a Mac Plus could upwards of 1600!

Can't wait for you to get it! The more I think about it, this was a bargain, sorry I didn't see it first! :beige: :beige:

 

[ppuskari]

Recon mission complete:

MacPhone finally arrived.

1. Original Box

2. MacPhone base unit

3. MacPhone cords

4. MacPhone Handset

NOTHING else in box but one of those old "flat pens" with the plastic cord attached to it and the cord disintegrated into several deplasticized rings....

So looks like we are still on the hunt for the software. It looks like it was actually a daily use item too with a little cheat sheet of numbers and pop up dialer screen hints on an ImageWriter printout glued to the face.

Pics will follow at some point.

 

[ppuskari]

Okay, I thought I could edit my own posts maybe not after some time period. Maybe I need to rtfm

But quick update through RetroMacCast I might have found probably the ONE individual that may have the software for this MacPhone wish me luck. My membership is still pending so I can't leave a comment for the guy until then.

 

[tomlee59]

In other words, in order to send the off-hook signal, does the receiver actually have to be lifted?

In order to signal the phone company to pay attention to your line, you must produce an off-hook condition by causing some minimum current to flow. Typical values are of the order of 20mA. If you don't do that first, DTMF tones and the like will be ignored.

 

[Mac128]

Found the software! Now who's got a spare $199? :beige:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230497671133

 

[Robbyvegas]

I'm looking to purchase one of these. Anyone have one that they are willing to part with or know where I can pick one up?

To be more specific, I'm looking for an Apple Screen Based Telephony MacPhone, an Intermatrix MacPhone, and/or a Nortel Meridian Telecenter MacPhone.

Thanks,

Rob