I want to connect my current phone service via my computer. I have a plan that allows free calls all over Australia so I want to use my current service provider and line but would like to use the PC as the handset I have ear problems which make using a handset or headset painful so using the computer speakers and a microphone would be attractive. Skype and similar do not give me what I want.

Have you considered using a speakerphone?

Have you considered using a speakerphone?

My thoughts exactly!

Why do you need to run the calls through the PC anyway?

This USB PPG + RJ11 phone adaptor (http://cuphone.stores.yahoo.net/pephga.html) might work, but I'd contact the manufacturer for sure.

This USB PPG + RJ11 phone adaptor (http://cuphone.stores.yahoo.net/pephga.html) might work, but I'd contact the manufacturer for sure.

This seems like a VoIP offer.

Thanks for the responses, The speaker phone seems a good option but I had a system some years ago that allowed me to run the 1 line phone through the computer as if it were a multi department business and act as a fax, a database of customers and suppliers and many other benefits (better than Outlook). This is what I was looking for.

I am curious of the system you had, there is so much, and only so much you can do with a CO line.

It was some time ago and I cannot remember the software name but it was more like a contact manager software - simpler than ACT but the incoming call feature was excellent. Very effective but as I did not need anything like this for over 20 years so, like many other things it has disappeared from my life (moved too many times). Obviously there is no such system available now or I would have had more helpful responses instead of the sarcastic ones above.

I have worked with Many phones/phone systems, dialers, Call directors, video conferencing(3 ISDN lines), Mitel Smart ones anything I could get my hands on. If it worked then it should work now. I will look around. I even used the Silicon Bilatteral Triggers(looks like a diode), With 1 wired at each jack, whoever picked up phone first, got the phone, any others lifted would hear silence. I would put them on fax or Computer line,
No DSL then, and if someone was on Computer or Fax, they would not be interrupted,
However if no one was using either, then the Phone System would allow this unused line to be used for voice.
I believe some cordless phones have a jack that allows use of a headset.