Desktop As a Cellphone Extension?

spaceman375 writes "Like many slashdotters, I've given up on landlines and have only a cell account. The problem: when I am home I don't want to carry my phone on my person, AND I don't want to have to run (possibly up or down stairs) to answer a call. Landlines solved this with extensions. I could go buy an xlink or other Bluetooth-to-POTS solution, but that takes money for equipment. My desktop has Bluetooth, as do my laptop and cell. All I want is a program that can use my cell's Bluetooth to make and receive calls from my Linux PC. I can do this with asterisk or related programs, but that is like buying UPS when I just need a taxi ride. Yet all I can find are programs that either use 'presence' to shift other-sourced calls to my cell, or ways to use a Bluetooth headset when receiving a call on a PC. Has anyone found a way to use their desktop to make and receive calls through their cell via Bluetooth?"

Let me get this straight...

[MikeV]

You don't want to be bothered with carrying the phone with you (the easiest solution), and don't want to be bothered with having to run up or downstairs to answer the phone, so your idea is to what - answer it from your PC, which if you're away from it would STILL necessitate you having to rush to it up or downstairs to answer??? Just pocket the stupid phone and be done with it.

Grand Central

[cps42]

I understand you dont want to run for your phone -- Bluetooth won't reach up and down stairs, so linking phone and computer are likely not going to solve your problem. Why not use Grand Central http://www.grandcentral.com/ [grandcentral.com] and a Skype number? Have Grand Central ring your cell and your Skype number at the same time. Then whichever you're closest to, you can answer.

Re:Let me get this straight...

[Khris]

I have to agree. It sounds like you're trying to reinvent the wheel when the problem can be solved by simply carrying your cell phone with you. It's not like it's a 50lb weight strapped to your back.

Re:Let me get this straight...

[rednip]

the problem can be solved by simply carrying your cell phone with you. It's not like it's a 50lb weight strapped to your back.

Do you carry your wallet all the time in your house? When I'm home, sometimes I don't even have pockets.

Re:Let me get this straight...

[MikeV]

Solution A: Put on a pair of shorts with pockets or put the phone on the desk where you're working and relocate it when you move your operations to the TV room.

Solution B: Spend hours looking for non-existent software to try to make some whizzbang blue-tooth solution work with your PC which is not really a solution since the PC is also stationary and you don't necessarily spend all your time at the PC if you have half a life.

Solution C: Buy whizzbang extenders.

The easiest is apparent. Unless you're a nudist, a pair fo shorts with pockets is something we all have. And unless we're physically challenged, we all have hands that can pick up the phone and transfer it to the next place we park our butts. And what's wrong with having to get up and run across the house anyway? For some that's probably the only exercise we get anyway - so a little running could actually do us some good.

Re:Let me get this straight...

[ls671]

Maybe the guy is ALWAYS on his PC when at home. Maybe he even falls asleep in front of the PC before waking up in the morning to go do his daily tasks ;-))

So, you're a cheap consumer?

[holophrastic]

You have a free solution -- putting your phone in your pocket, which is actually easier than leaving it somewhere.
You have a convenient solution -- you've listed a system that gives you the pots.
You have an extravagent solution -- you can go ups.

And you still aren't happy?!

Write your own, and stop whining. I'd kill to have those three solutions for any of my problems: do little, spend money, or get a lot. You aren't happy with any of them?!

Carry the phone with you

[Ernesto Alvarez]

I find it amazing that you're asking for a solution that requires no effort to set up, lets you answer the phone everywhere and does not require any investment. It looks like you're asking for the impossible. However the solution is very simple:

CARRY THE DAMN PHONE WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES

If you don't want to carry it, that's what extensions are for. You're asking how to convert your PC in an extension. Also, you'll need to rush to the extension (or your PC, and let me tell you that buying an extension is cheaper than buying a PC) every time it rings.

You're asking for the ultimate solution in telecommunications. It doesn't exist yet.

Ignores reality of houses

[SuperKendall]

In a number of houses, if you go in the basement the cell signal may die off. Just having it with you doesn't mean you'll always get calls... that's why something like a cell phone docking station that can stay up where signal is strongest makes sense.

Re:Let me get this straight...

[anagama]

Solution: Better guests.

My Suggestion

[webheaded]

Take your cell phone and put it on your computer desk. This is the most retarded question I've ever seen.

Re:Grand Central

[Anonymous Coward]

Why not use Grand Central?

Oo, oo, I know I know! I know the answer to this one! Lookit:

Because nobody can frickin GET a Grand Central account? I've been on the waiting list for that thing for about 2 years.

If you don't like the answer change the question!

[msh317]

You're thinking about the problem in far to conventional way - change the question - what you need is a number that friends, family, colleagues, business, etc can reach you. Your cell phone is just one of many systems designed to carry voice. A great example of reversing this problem is the former "Grand Central" now "Google Voice". (Note: I have it under good authority that if you are on the waiting list an additional one million new subscribers will be added as soon as July) There are dozens of other one number systems - Google Voice is just free. Now you have a single number of which your cell phone is just one of many ways to answer or place calls. PS - For those of you keeping up with the Skype/SIP discussion - Skype has agreed to begin providing interconnection to commercial SIP providers. They have been testing this for about a year and I can attest that the system works very good. I've been able to place calls to and from my Skype account from any phone including my Cell.