In the Origami tutorial below, you’ll find step-by-step instructions on how to create your very own Origami phone. Scroll a bit further and you’ll see our SAS staff making their own phones.

Download the Origami phone tutorial to learn how to make your own origami phone, or just keep scrolling for instructions.

The post Learn How to Make an Origami Telephone appeared first on Specialty Answering Service.

#1. Specialty Answering Service: Real Video of a Threatening Wrong Number

Watch as this small business owner gets harassed by a threatening wrong number.

#2. The Simpsons: The Lottery

Homer could have won the lottery had Bart given him the right numbers. Doh!

#3 The Simpsons: Don’t Interrupt Mr. Burns

Mr. Burns was interrupted from his meeting with Homer to answer a wrong number call. How dare they call the wrong number!

#4. Seinfeld: Vandelay Industries

As a ploy to extend his unemployment, George makes up a fake company under the name of Vandelay Industries and tells the unemployment office he’s close to a job with them. In order to follow through with the ploy, he gives them Jerry’s apartment phone number as their main office number so he can intercept the impending call. However, Kramer answers instead and tells them they have the wrong number.

#5. The Carol Burnett Show: Was That a Sign?

Due to a “wrong number” call in the middle of the night, Martha assumed that her husband was having an affair. Turns out he was!

#6. The Simpsons: Wrong Number

After Homer receives a seemingly urgent phone call, he brushes it off to Marge as a wrong number. Hmm..

#7. The Amanda Show: Prank Call

Mr. Oldman, the victim of countless wrong number pranks is again at the mercy of Moofin Doofin Wrecking Company. Will his house be spared this time?

#8. Family Guy: Wrong Numbers in the Early Days

Peter receives a wrong number in the early days of telephones. The caller meant to reach number “7”, but accidentally dialed “3”.

#9. Family Guy: 401-555-1125

Expecting an important package, Peter expresses his concern about giving his cell phone number to his housekeeper due to the language barrier.

#10. Spongebob Squarepants: Not the Navy!

Chaos ensues at the Krusty Krab and Spongebob is ordered to call the Navy, only to find out that they may have been overrun by robots.

#11. Friends: I’m Looking for Bob

After Chandler gets a wrong number call from a woman looking for her ex-lover, Bob, he pretends to be the woman’s love interest in hopes of getting lucky.

#12. Hey Arnold: Stop Calling Me!

Helga tries to enlist the help of Phoebe only to discover she’s called a restaurant instead. Later on, Harold also tries to call his mother and accidentally calls the same restaurant.

#13. Mr. Bean: Wrong Number

Mr. Bean helps a lost child search for his father. However, since they are missing the last digits of his phone number, Mr. Bean decides to write out and try every possible option.

#14. SNL: Wrong Number Breakup

Pete tries to break up with his girlfriend, Paula, but accidentally calls Carleen instead.

#15. Kids in the Hall: Is Frank There?

In an attempt to locate the man that has stolen his woman, Steve “2 phones” Macabee keeps dialing the wrong number and insists that he speak with Frank.

#16. Barnyard: Hello Motto

Otis accepts a call from the gopher gang leader during an important meeting, but blames it on a wrong number.

The post 16 of the Funniest Wrong Number Calls from Movie & Television appeared first on Specialty Answering Service.

#1. The Bat Phone

Where it appeared: Batman

Sure, you can get Batman’s attention with the bat signal. However, if you’re in the know, then you know that calls for help always originated from the bat phone.

#2. Sony Ericsson Phone

Where it appeared: James Bond

James Bond is a cool cat with a lot of gadgets, so it’s only right for him to have a cool phone too.

#3. Eyephone

Where it appeared: Futurama

What’s better than an iPhone? An EYEphone (minus the painful installation).

#4. Phone Booth Time Machine

Where it appeared: Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure

Don’t you wish you could go back in time and stop yourself from buying those MC Hammer pants? With Bill & Ted’s phone booth time machine, you can!

#5. Tiny Phone

Where it appeared: Zoolander

The chances of losing your phone are high, but look how cute it is!

#6. Gigantic Phone

Where it appeared: Zoolander 2

When small phones become retro, phones as big as a cargo container are all the rage.

#7. Shoe Phone

Where it appeared: Get Smart

Secret agents need secret devices. Although, having to take your shoe off every time the phone rings doesn’t seem that convenient.

#8. The Communicator

Where it appeared: Star Trek

“Beam me up, Scotty!”

#9. See-through Phone

Where it appeared: Clarissa Explains it All

Hands down the coolest phone from the 90’s.

#10. Hamburger Phone

Where it appeared: Juno

On an important phone call but getting hangry? Just take a bite out of your hamburger phone!

#11. Shell Phone

Where it appeared: Spongebob

“Shello? Clam you hear me?”

#12. Duck Phone

Where it appeared: Jersey Shore

Duck phones aren’t all they’re quacked up to be…

#13. Football Phone

Where it appeared: Friends

Imagine being rewarded for noticing extra money in your account with even more money and a football phone. Score!

#14. Morpheus Phone

Where it appeared: The Matrix

Not sure which pill to take? Just call up your mom on the Morpheus phone and ask her.

#15. Brick Phone

Where it appeared: Saved by the Bell

Before mobile phones could fit in your pocket and when mullets were still cool.

#16. Top Secret Gadget Phone

Where it appeared: Inspector Gadget

Inspector Gadget never had to worry about misplacing his phone – It was attached to his hand!

#17. Suitcase Phone

Where it appeared: Lethal Weapon

Roger Murtaugh is too old for his job, and his phone is too old for everyone.

The post Answer It: The 17 Most Famous Phones From TV And Movies appeared first on Specialty Answering Service.

What is Call Forwarding?

Call forwarding is a standard phone feature that allows a person or company to direct their calls to another number. For example, if a company was in a meeting and couldn’t answer the phone, they could forward their number to an answering service who would field calls for them until they were ready to handle them again.

There are 3 basic types of call forwarding: All Calls Forwarding, No Answer Forwarding, and Busy Forwarding – but the way in which you are able to forward really depends on your phone provider. Some phone providers allow you to set scheduled times in which your phone can forward automatically, some you have to manually forward, and some only offer specific types of forwarding, like all calls, conditional, busy, etc.

All Calls Call Forwarding

All Calls call forwarding is the most popular type of forwarding. Like it’s name suggests, when All Calls call forwarding is set up, all of your calls will route to the number you’ve chosen without ever ringing on your phone first. For example, a business usually forwards all of their calls to their answering service after hours when no one is in the office.

No Answer/Conditional Call Forwarding

Conditional Call Forwarding gives you a chance to answer your phone first before it forwards to another number. For example, an incoming call may ring on your office phone 3 or 4 times before being routed to another number. With conditional call forwarding set up, you still have the chance to answer the call yourself, and if you can’t, your callers won’t be routed to your voicemail as they will be routed to another number of your choosing. This other number could go to someone else in your office, a cell phone, an answering service, or really wherever you choose to send it! Some phone providers allow you to set the amount of rings or seconds before the call gets forwarded as well.

Busy Call Forwarding

Busy Call Forwarding is a type of call forwarding that will route your calls to another number in the event your phone line is ringing busy. For example, if you are already on the phone, any other incoming call will route directly to another number instead of hearing a busy signal.

If your phone has multiple lines or if you have a feature like call waiting set up, your busy call forwarding setting may differ. Since forwarding varies depending on your provider, you would need to contact them to see how those scenarios would affect your forwarding.

5 Tips on Call Forwarding with an Answering Service

If you’re using an answering service, there are a few ways you can route calls accordingly. Whether you are forwarding your calls or having your customers dial the number directly, you should follow these 5 tips to make sure the transition from your business to your answering service is as smooth as butter.

#1. Talk to Your Phone Provider

Before you start using an answering service, check with your phone provider to make sure they are able to forward calls. While most providers do offer the forwarding feature, some providers have a more complicated procedure that may take up longer than what you had originally expected. For example, to forward your line under most phone providers you would dial *72 followed by the number you wish to forward to and it’s done. However, there are some providers that have to forward the line for you, and it may not be as quick and easy. So, before you start using a service make sure you know exactly how your forwarding feature works so that you don’t waste any time. For people using an answering service’s free trial, you could waste valuable time if you can’t get your forwarding set up quickly.

#2. Know the Different Types of Forwarding Available to you

Make sure you become familiar with all of the types of forwarding your phone provider offers, and set up a game plan for how you want your calls to be forwarded. For example, do you want to set up a schedule where your calls automatically forward between certain times, or do you want to manually forward them just when you get busy? If you’re manually forwarding them, do you want to have the option of answering before your service or do you want your service to just handle all of the calls? Becoming familiar with your options before using an answering service is another great way to ensure you’re not wasting time and money.

#3. Don’t have Call Forwarding? No worries!

While forwarding is the preferred method when working with an answering service, it’s not the end of the world if your phone provider doesn’t offer it. Some other options include:

• Google Voice: If you’re dead set on forwarding your lines but your phone provider doesn’t offer it, another option would be to use Google Voice. While this would require you to get a new phone number, Google Voice is a service that won’t put a dent in your wallet (because it’s free!) However, there are some connectivity issues that come along with using Google Voice.
• Advertise the Number: If you are unable to forward your line, advertising the number your answering service gives you is an option, albeit not always a good one. In most cases, you cannot take the number with you if you decide to leave service, so you may want to advertise sparingly. For example, posting the number on your social platforms and on your answering machine is easy enough to update, but printing the number on your business cards would be a nightmare to change.

#4. Make Test Calls

Once you’ve forwarded your line, test the line just to make sure it was connected successfully. If you’re not sure what you should be listening for, you can always call the number you’re forwarding to first. For example, if you’re forwarding to Specialty Answering Service, you would typically hear a custom greeting that would play prior to an operator getting on the phone. These greetings usually say something like: “Thank you for calling ABC Plumbing, we will be with you in a moment. For quality assurance this call may be recorded.”

#5. Know your Forwarding Number

Make sure you’re familiar with the number you are forwarding to. When using an answering service, they will provide you with a phone number unique to your business. Do not lose this number! Write it down, tape it to your computer, email it to all of your staff so everyone in the office knows what the number is and how to forward in case you aren’t able to do it.

What Happens if My Line Comes off of Call Forwarding?

Occasionally, you may see that your line has come off of call forwarding. This can happen for a number of different reasons, like if you happen to lose power or if your phone has been disconnected. If your phones are forwarded all the time, it may be good to test the line every now and then to make sure calls are still being routed appropriately. Scheduling recurring tasks on your calendar is a great and easy way to remind yourself to test your line every couple of weeks or so.

If your line ever does come off of call forwarding and you are not around to re-forward them yourself, you can try contacting your phone provider who should be able to forward the line for you remotely. However, it’s important that you know your forwarding number like the back of your hand so you don’t accidentally give your provider the wrong number to send calls to. Yikes!

The post 5 Tips on Call Forwarding with an Answering Service appeared first on Specialty Answering Service.

Where Did it Come From?

In the late 80’s, magazine sales were tanking, which put the pressure on marketing agencies to come up with ideas on how to move more subscriptions. To spark sales, Sport’s Illustrated offered VHS tapes of sports bloopers as an incentive for new subscribers. This idea was marginally successful, but it was getting tough to fill up a tape with new material. There’s only so many times you could watch Jeff Francoeur misfire on the throw to first. So, the SI marketing team went back to the drawing board.

Sport’s Illustrated VHS Blooper Ad

And now for a John Slattery break.

Frog Phone = Football Phone

In 1986, the marketing director for Sport’s Illustrated, Martin Shampaine, came across a phone that resembled a frog, which then led him to the idea (obviously) of creating a phone that looked like a football. Because you know how many times you’ve tried to dial a frog.

Shampaine, the Einstein of his time, spent months working out the logistics of how the product could look like a football, and still have the functionality of a telephone. By the early 90’s, SI had successfully gene spliced a football with a phone and they were ready to show the masses.

Sport’s Illustrated Football Phone Ad

What started as a simple gimmick to try and get people to subscribe to a magazine, the Sport’s Illustrated Football Phone scored major points among fans and helped contribute to 1.6 million new subscriptions between 1986 and 1991. The company had so much success with the football phone, that they played around with other variations as well.

They eventually created the sneaker phone but by the mid 90’s, Sport’s Illustrated resorted back to offering VHS compilations as their premium freebie. Like anyone could ever throw a perfect spiral with a shoe.

Sport’s Illustrated Sneaker Phone Commercial

But will it help my time in the quarter mile? Yes.

Fast forward to present day, where technology has evolved from football phones to face and fingerprint recognition to unlock your cell phone. Technology is always progressing, but that doesn’t mean we’ll ever forget about the OG of sports equipment shaped telephones.

Spoof Football Phone Ad from Howler Magazine

Great line to watch out for: ‘Where’s the camera on this thing’

Sport’s Illustrated Football Phone Ad Transcript

But wait, there’s more! We’ve transcribed the SI football phone advertisement for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!

Girl #1: Buying Christmas presents for my boyfriend is one of the most impossible things ever.

Girl #2: Everything I give him, he always wants to return it.

Grandma: Stores are busy, the cashiers are impatient.

Girl #3: Christmas shopping is just about the only thing that wrecks the holiday season.

Narrator: Catch this, it’s Sport’s Illustrated’s most exciting Christmas gift ever – the football phone! Free with a paid subscription to SI.

Couple #1 (after being thrown the football phone): It’s a phone!

Grandma (after being thrown the football phone): My goodness, it’s a telephone inside of a football!

Girl #1 (after being thrown the football phone): Awesome! It’s a phone!

Guy #1 (after being thrown the football phone): Oh, cool! I would love something like this. Mom, if you’re watching, I would love something like this for Christmas

Couple #1 (after being thrown the football phone): He’s looking for the pass, it’s a phone call!

Narrator: it looks like a football, but works like a regular phone. The football phone plugs into a standard jack and has push button dialing, on/off ringer, mute button and automatic redial.

Guy #2: Hello, Colleen? This is fantastic, I’m at the stadium right now and I have a football phone!

Couple #2: Cute! This has got to be out of her price range, though, something like this.

Narrator: And the football phone is free!

Girl #1: No way… It’s free?

Girl #2: Free?

Girl from couple #2: That’s even better! And I don’t even have to go shopping for it, I hope!

Grandma: What do I have to do to get this?

Narrator: Here’s the unbelievable catch. The football phone is free if you get Sport’s Illustrated at their biggest Christmas savings ever. A year’s subscription at almost 65% off the cover price. You can be billed after the new year, or you can use your credit card today. So, call now!

Girl #2: I’d say you’re crazy. Nobody cuts prices before Christmas!

Girl #1: I’ll buy it for my father, my brother and my boyfriend!

Narrator: You only pay 99 cents an issue and the subscription includes the NFL, NBA and baseball previews, the yearend double issue and the 1991 swimsuit issue.

Guy #1:  I would love to have Sport’s Illustrated for Christmas, I never get anything I want.

Girl #3: Sport’s Illustrated, I should have thought of that a long time ago!

Grandma: All I have to do is buy this for all the men in my life and I wouldn’t have any problems at all!

Girl #1: My Christmas worries are over!

Guy #2: I hope she orders that for Christmas for me!

Guy #1: I would love to have this for Christmas. So, mom if you’re watching, please, for once (gestures to football phone).

Narrator: Don’t wait, call our toll-free number now. Get Sport’s Illustrated for all your favorite fans at SI’s biggest Christmas savings ever, and get the football phone free, plus a gift card.

Guy #2 (on the phone) get Sport’s Illustrated for me for Christmas. I want this phone!

The post Pay Your Respects To The Sport’s Illustrated Football Phone appeared first on Specialty Answering Service.