Answering machine

Answering Machine is a device used for answering and recording telephone calls. The device was first invented by Valdemar Poulsen in 1898.

History

The first answering machine was a device called a telegraphone, invented by Valdemar Poulsen in 1898. It was a magnetic recording device that used a steel wire as the recording medium. The telegraphone was the first practical device for magnetic sound recording and reproduction.

In the 1930s, the first commercially successful answering machine was the Ansafone, created by inventor Dr. Kazuo Hashimoto for Phonetel. This device was a tape-based machine that could record incoming calls.

Function

An answering machine contains a tape recorder or digital recorder, a telephone interface, and a control logic to manage calls. When a call is received, the answering machine plays a pre-recorded message and then records the caller's message. The user can later play back the recorded messages.

Types

There are two types of answering machines: standalone machines and integrated machines. Standalone machines are separate devices connected to a telephone line. Integrated machines are incorporated into a telephone and share a common power supply and housing.

Modern Use

With the advent of voicemail and digital telephone services, the use of standalone answering machines has declined. However, they are still used in business settings and by individuals who prefer a physical device to a digital service.

See Also

• Voicemail
• Telephony
• Valdemar Poulsen
• Telegraphone

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