voice mail, data and fax protocols, and sound quality. The price span from low to high ($199 to $329) isn't that great, so you don't have to dig too deep to get what you really want.
Modem Performance
The US Robotics Sportster Voice 28.8 Faxmodem PVM ($279) -- which supports the 33.6-Kbps baud rates -- is the fastest modem in our performance benchmarks, but there are several modems with 28.8-Kbps data pumps that are almost as quick as the Sportster. Hayes Microcomputer Products' Accura 28.8 ($259), Best Data Products' Smart One 2834VLX External Modem ($209), and Aztech Labs' AT3300 Audio Telephony ($199) can really move data through telephone wire with their Rockwell data pumps. The next best in performance is the Spectrum Signal Processing V.34 Office F/X Modem Board ($299), which uses IBM's Mwave 2780 DSP data pump. We recommend getting the fastest modem possible b
ecause fast and reliable connections are the lifeline for telephony users.
The Hayes Accura 28.8 has the second-best-overall data-throughput performance in modem testing, and it is best among all the telephony devices that max out at the 28.8-Kbps baud rate. Hayes also supplies several telephony utilities. You can switch between voice and data on the same telephone call with VoiceView's TalkShop, cruise the Net with Quarterdeck's InternetSuite 2, and make free long-distance calls over the Internet with Quarterdeck's WebTalk. Hayes' internal card is easy to install, thanks to its Windows 95 plug-and-play capabilities, and it has a lengthy five-year warranty.
The Spectrum Signal Processing V.34 Office F/X Modem combines fast data throughput with excellent audio, thanks to its on-board Mwave chip. The internal card enhances its Sound Blaster Pro-compatible audio with QSound 3-D effects. This 3-D sound adds to the fun of playing games, which Spectrum supports with a joystick port. The company also enh
ances its product with software tools that let you receive and store fax, voice, and e-mail messages.
Feature-Filled Telephony
Boca Research's Sound Expression 28.8 SRS ($329) is the most expensive telephony device that we tested, but it has the most features that we think a multimedia/communications card should have. You can broadcast faxes to multiple users and schedule your PC to send them at night when telephone rates are lower. Voice-mail features include caller ID support, multiple password-protected mailboxes, and automatic call detection that distinguishes among voice, fax, and data calls. The card has excellent 16-bit stereo sound, and it has a 15-pin MIDI joystick connector for DOS-based games. The plug-and-play card is easy to set up and has a five-year warranty.
Creative Labs' Phone Blaster 28.8 ($270) has ho-hum performance in our throughput tests, but its feature set is surpassed only by Boca Research's Sound Expression 28.8 SRS. The Phone Blaster includes Microsof
t Phone to create a centralized telephony message center. It also comes with Pacific Information Systems' SuperVoice 2.2b, which creates up to 1000 voice-mail boxes and fax folders and can even play music when you put a caller on hold. NetSpeak's WebPhone provides point-to-point voice communication over the Internet and other TCP/IP-based networks. The sound-capable internal card also has utilities for mixing audio files, adding effects to WAV files, and embedding audio files into Windows applications.
Zoom Telephonics' ComStar 28.8 Modem Board ($229) is another feature-filled telephony device that deserves mention. This is a well-rounded telephony solution that has a strong set of features, that's easy to use, and that costs $100 less than Boca's telephony solution. The internal device has an external speaker and a free-standing microphone that is easy to move into a comfortable position for telephone conversations. You can plug in a headset to maintain private telephone conversations. The ComStar 28.8
Modem Board has some slick features, such as a speed dialer that works from a point-and-click directory and Radish's VoiceView software for switching between voice and data on a single telephone line.
Telephony on a Budget
At $209, Best Data Products' Smart One 2834VLX External Modem is an inexpensive telephony box that provides fast data throughput with a 28.8-Kbps modem. The tiny, 7-ounce Best Data telephony device has all the voice-mail features that you'll need to handle communications when you're on the road. The system can activate a remote pager whenever you receive new messages, and it has an automated attendant for message handling. Password protection ensures voice-mail confidentiality.
Connectware's PhoneWorks 28.8 ($200) is a low-budget internal telephony solution that's a good choice if you don't need blazing modem performance and are happy with your sound card. Once you get past the rocky installation of the device drivers, the internal card's telephony features f
or fax management, voice mail, Internet access, and Internet Phone are easy to use. Connectware also offers ISDN terminal adapters to increase your bandwidth down the road, and the card has a healthy three-year warranty.
Telephony Boards
