Specifications

76 CTI
TM
Buyers Guide 1997/1998
that was connected to the CompuNet
2000, we heard a hum in the back-
ground. The humming wasn’t very bad,
but it was noticeable. And, after a
while, it did start to distract us.
At first, we thought the problem was
our headset. However, when we
switched to a high-quality headset, the
humming persisted.
Then, thinking the problem might
be interference, we took pains to
block or remove every potential
source of interference. We moved the
keyboard away from our 20-inch
monitor. We replaced our computer’s
case. We shielded the phone wire with
some electrical tape. Nothing worked.
Perhaps we didn’t have an interfer-
ence problem after all.
Finally, we tested the analog line. We
removed the line from the CompuNet
2000 and plugged it into an analog
phone. No more humming. The line
was good. Evidently the problem was
the unit itself.
We asked Integrated Technology if
they were familiar with the humming
problem, and they replied they had
never heard of it before. They also
offered to send us a new unit for review.
However, time constraints prevented us
from accepting their offer.
We don’t suppose all CompuNet
2000 units emit the humming noise we
heard. Integrated Technology would
have heard complaints by now, particu-
larly since the device is widely
deployed. For example, the company’s
technical support staff tells us Siemens
uses the product extensively. So, we
suspect the humming was an aberration.
The Sound Of Music
The CompuNet 2000 is designed to
integrate with your sound card, so you
can play back multimedia applications
from your PC into your phone handset
or hands-free headset. When we tested
the product’s ability to play back
music, the CompuNet 2000 performed
flawlessly. We could play any comput-
er sound we liked, including WAV,
AIFF, MIDI, and even RealAudio.
Musical Calls
Our next test was to play back some
music while on the phone with some-
one. This would test the amplification
circuitry, as well as the merging of the
sound card channel and the analog
phone line channel.
Using the product’s dialing interface
(Figure 25), we called one of our engi-
neers and played Beethoven’s Für
Elise, which was in a MIDI file includ-
ed in the C:\Windows\Media directory.
At first, the computer volume was too
loud, drowning out the voice of the
CompuNET 2000 user. We lowered the
computer volume (accessed through the
Windows 95 tray icon area) and raised
the amplification on the CompuNet
2000 from the CompuNet 2000 key-
board. After a bit of adjusting, we
found the perfect setting.
This merging of the sound card
channel from the computer and the
phone line was an improvement we
recommended in our review of the
Plantronics Headset Switcher Adapter.
Apparently, the designers of the
CompuNet 2000 agree that the “merg-
ing” is useful.
Merging two different sound channels
could help call center agents upsell their
customers. For instance, an agent trying
to sell a seminar tape or a music CD
could play a segment of the tape (stored
on the computer) to a potential cus-
tomer. The agent and the customer could
continue talking to each other even as
the recording played in the background.
Internet Calls
We tested VocalTec’s Internet Phone
application, which is included with
CompuNet 2000. First, we made an
Internet call to someone in Germany.
Next, we made a local call using the
CompuNet 2000 keyboard and its ana-
log connection. All parties, including
the one in Germany, started talking, and
we could all hear each other perfectly.
C T I LABS
FFiigguurree 2255..
CompuNet 2000: Dialing screen.
FFiigguurree 2266..
CompuNet 2000: Window for entering call notes,
which are saved into a log file.