While staying home sounds easy, it’s not. It’s pretty hard to spend all of your time in isolation. However, just because you can’t go into work or school doesn’t mean you can’t still have fun and be productive.

If you’re looking for some fun things to do (or at least to keep you distracted) during the lock down, we’ve compiled a few of our favorite blog posts. Below you’ll find engaging activities like trivia and crossword puzzles, some educational pieces like learning the history of the answering machine, and just some funny, lighthearted ones sprinkled in between!

1. The Ultimate Novelty Phone Guide: Take a walk down memory lane and check out these awesome novelty phones. You’ll have a blast reminiscing and if you feel the urge to splurge, we’ve included links where you can still buy them.
2. Call Center Crossword Crunch: Keep your brain active and challenge yourself to a crossword puzzle all about call centers. Don’t worry, we’ve included  all the answers in case you need a hint or two.
3. Learn How to Make an Origami Telephone: Practice your fine motor skills and jump into the world of Origami! After you’ve made your own telephone, check out some other tutorials online. (Pro tip: if you don’t have Origami paper, don’t worry! Just cut a regular piece of computer paper down to the suggested dimensions.)
4. Telephone Trivia: Do you know how much the first telephone weighed? Test your trivia skills with our telephone quiz!
5. Live Answering Service Coloring Book: Coloring is a nice, relaxing way to kill time and get creative. Our coloring book is for everyone, so feel free to use it to keep your kids busy, too! (Pro tip: check out our Night Before Christmas Coloring Book for some more fun.)
6. A Free Printable Phone Themed Matching Pairs Memory Game: Remember those memory games you used to play as a kid? Well this is like that, only better. Our telephone match game will have you so entertained you forgot you were even in quarantine!
7. The History of the Answering Machine: What was once a staple appliance in almost every home in the late 80’s and 90’s has just about become obsolete. Learn all about the history of the answering machine here.
8. The 17 Most Famous Phones from TV and Movies: Are you a movie buff? Then we bet you’ll love this blog that lists the most iconic telephones in cinematic history. Did we miss any? Let us know @SpecialtyAnswer on Twitter.
9. Meet the Voder: Learn all about the first voice synthesizer on our website dedicated to The Voder. (Pro tip: Turn your volume up!)
10. Surviving in a Call Center: 5 Essential Hacks to Trick Out Your Cubicle: Bookmark this one for when you’re finally able to return to work or school. Even if you don’t work in a call center, these tips will help turn your boring workspace into a calming, chill environment that encourages success!

The post 10 Ways SAS Can Help Keep you Busy During the COVID-19 Quarantine appeared first on Specialty Answering Service.

After Poulsen’s Telegraphone, the next model of answering machine wouldn’t be created until almost 20 years later. In 1914, Thomas Edison created the Telescribe, followed by Truman Stevens’ Phonograph created in 1925. While both the Telescribe and the Phonograph were unsuccessful products, they led to the design of other models that would launch the technology of telephone recording devices into a whole new playing field.

Starting in the 1930’s, the first automatic answering machine was created by Willy Mueller, and by the 1980’s there was a new model coming out almost every year. As new answering machines developed, they became smaller and more efficient by offering features like call screening, remote operation, digital voice prompting and more. At the turn of the new millennium, technology began to take off at a rapid speed, and answering machines soon developed into voicemail boxes that were pre-programmed into telephones. Not long after that, smart phone technology was introduced and today in 2019, separate answering machine devices are pretty much obsolete.

To learn more about answering machines, please check out the complete history of answering machines, where you can get an in-depth look at machines throughout the years. In our timeline, we’ve included pieces of history like newspaper clippings, TV advertisements, and more!

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If you don’t know what a novelty phone is or what one looks like, don’t worry. Check out our Ultimate Novelty Phone page to take a trip down memory lane. Some of the phones can still be found on eBay, and with Christmas just around the corner, we’re sure your loved ones would love to have a phone shaped like Crest toothpaste. Who doesn’t love a good novelty telephone! Click here to learn more about novelty telephones!

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In short, typos stink and proper grammar is a lot more important than you think, which is why you need a professional message taking service at your disposal.

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Hilariously depicted, manning your front desk, and sure to create a spooktacular experience on every call… SAS presents, “Bad Receptionists: Trick or Treat?”

From Dracula to Frankenstein, and every frightening and funny character in between, take a listen to our Halloween Hotline horrors. Guaranteed to give you a good laugh, it’s the very best of All Hallows’ Eve from the very best in small business answering services!

#1. The Sleep Clinic Hotline

Receptionist: Freddy Kreuger

Answering for: 9-10 Never Sleep Again

Greeting: “You have reached 9-10 Never Sleep Again sleep clinic hotline. This is Freddy speaking. Can I transform your nightmares today?”

#2. The Candy Store

Receptionist: Michael Myers

Answering for: Lampkin Lane Candy Store

Greeting: “Thank you for calling Lampkin Lane Candy Store. Are you looking for a sweet Halloween fix?”

#3. The Hockey Supplies Store

Receptionist: Jason Voorhees

Answering for: Crystal Lake Hockey Supplies

Greeting: “Thanks for calling Crystal Lake Hockey Supplies! What can we get you checked out with today?”

#4. The Wedding RSVP Hotline

Receptionist: Chucky

Answering for: Wedding RSVP Hotline

Greeting: “Hi, I’m Chucky, wanna play? You’ve reached the Wedding RSVP Hotline. Are you a guest of the bride or the groom?

#5. The Party Planning Hotline

Receptionist: Pennywise

Answering for: Party Planning Hotline

Greeting: “This is Pennywise, the dancing clown. You’ve reached the Party Planning Hotline. Would you like to place a balloon order today? They all float down here.”

#6. The Holiday Character Hotline

Receptionist: Jack Skellington

Answering for: Rent-a-Claus

Greeting: “Jack speaking, are you calling to book a Sandy Claus for your upcoming holiday party?”

#7. The Thanksgiving Hotline

Receptionist: Scream

Answering for: Turkey Carving Infomercial

Greeting: “Have a screaming good time this Thanksgiving with the best turkey on the block. Now, let’s teach you how to gut it like a fish.”

#8. The Dog Food Recall Hotline

Receptionist: Werewolf

Answering for: Wolves Are Aware Dog Food Poison Control

Greeting: “Thank you for calling Wolves Are Aware Dog Food Poison Control line. Hoooowwwl can I help you today?”

#9. The Hardware Store

Receptionist: Frankenstein

Answering for: Nuts N’ Bolts Hardware

Greeting: “Thank you for calling Nuts N’ Bolts Hardware. What can we scrap together for you today?”

#10. The Blood Bank

Receptionist: Dracula

Answering for: Once Bitten, Twice Shy Blood Bank

Greeting: “Fang you for calling Once Bitten, Twice Shy Blood Bank. Are you calling to provide a transfusion today?”

#11. The Home Inspection Hotline

Receptionist: Ghost

Answering for: Specter Home Inspections

Greeting: “Hello, this is Casper. It’s a bootiful day at Specter Home Inspections. Are you experiencing a class 4 vapor?”

#12. The Funeral Home Hotline

Receptionist: Zombie

Answering for: We’re so Glad You’re Undead Funeral Home

Greeting: “Thank you for choosing ‘We’re so Glad You’re Undead’ Funeral Home, where we specialize in apocalyptic services. Are you calling about our ad in Zombie Daily?”

#13. The Cleaning Hotline

Receptionist: Witch

Answering for: Double Double Toil and Bubble Cleaning

Greeting:  *Ah hee hee hee* (cackle). “Double Double Toil and Bubble Cleaning hotline. What is your broom emergency?”

#14. The Fabric Store Hotline

Receptionist: Mummy

Answering for: Imhotep Fashions Garment

Greeting: “Welcome to Imhotep Fashions Garment hotline, where we specialize in gauze and linen remnants. How can we wrap you today?”

#15. The Hotel Reservation Line

Receptionist: Jack Torrance

Answering for: The Overlook Hotel

Greeting: “Hello and thank you for calling the Overlook Hotel’s reservation line, here’s Johnny! Would you like to book our presidential suite?”

#16. The Pumpkin Patch Hotline

Receptionist: Jack-O-Lantern

Answering for: Pumpkin Patch Almanac

Greeting: “This is Jack-O-Lantern with the Pumpkin Patch Almanac. Can we provide you with growth and harvesting estimates today?”

#17. The Boat Rental Hotline

Receptionist: Pirate

Answering for: Scalawag Boat Rentals

Greeting: “Well, shiver me timbers, it’s another call! You’ve reached Scalawag Boat Rentals. Argh you calling about our wooden plank special?”

#18. The Family Counseling Hotline

Receptionist: Uncle Fester

Answering for: Addams Family Counseling Services

Greeting: “Thank you for calling. You have reached Addams Family Counseling Services, where ‘we gladly feast on those who would subdue us.’ How can we torture you today?”

#19. The Bike Store Hotline

Receptionist: Billy the Puppet

Answering for: Tricked Out Trikes

Greeting: “Welcome to Tricked Out Trikes. Wanna play a game?”

#20. The Pest Control Hotline

Receptionist: Betelgeuse (Beetlejuice)

Answering for: Deetz Family Pest Control

Greeting: “Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice! What pests are you looking to get rid of today?”

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At Specialty Answering Service, we think that a little flair keeps the energy going, for you and customers. You’ll answer those calls like your job depends on it, and the buzz around the reception area will be all about what a fun place it must be to work. Any office that allows and encourages creativity is one that values the employee experience while cultivating an extraordinary atmosphere of customer care. To that end, we’ve come up with 20 industry-specific greetings that will get the ball rolling. Where it goes from here is entirely up to you.

#1 – Airline

“Thank you for flying Amazing Air, the sky’s the limit.”

#2 – Architecture

“It’s a wonderful day at Baxter Builders, your one stop shop for a home that won’t blow over.”

#3 – Auto Mechanic

“Thank you for calling What’s With My Car auto. There’s no noise we can’t decipher.”

#4 – Bakery

“You’ve reached Last But Not Yeast bakery, keeping gluten free relevant, one roll at a time.”

#5 – Dentist

“It’s a pearly white day at D Street Dental, where cavities run and hide.”

#6 – Dog Training Facility

“Thank you for calling It’s Not Your Dog, It’s You training arena, where we teach new owners how to speak puppy.”

#7 – Education

“The More You Know learning center, taking you from failing to fabulous in no time. This is Eduardo speaking.”

#8 – Electrician

“You’ve reached Zap It electrical, offering shockingly reasonable rates all year long.”

#9 – Electronics Repair

“You’ve reached That Darn Computer, experts in wheel of doom and blue screen of death repairs.”

#10 – Eye Doctor

“You have reached Eyes R Us – vision so clear, you’ll have eyes in the back of your head.”

#11 – Financial Institution

“You’ve reached Five Star Finance, where your investments pay our bills.”

#12 – Hair Salon

“Thank you for calling Your Real Hair salon, creating dynamic looks on a dollar store budget.”

#13 – HVAC

“Thank you for calling HVAC Professionals, where we’ve mastered the art of blowing hot and cold.”

#14 – Interior Design

“Thank you for calling Intelligent Interiors. Bring us your old and ugly, and we’ll give you rainbows and unicorns.”

#15 – Lawn Service

“It’s a great day at Larry’s Lawns, cultivating grass so perfect, you’ll think it’s turf.”

#16 – Lawyer

“Thank you for calling Mitchell and Mitchell criminal law. Ask us about our “I shot the sheriff but I didn’t shoot the deputy” complimentary consultation.”

#17 – Plumber

“It’s a beautiful day at Pacific Plumbing, where one man’s leak is another man’s livelihood.”

#18 – Podiatrist

“Welcome to Neighborhood Podiatry, where stinky feet are our business.”

#19 – Real Estate

“Thank you for calling Ready Real Estate, featuring an oven full of cookie dough with every open house.”

#20 – Tutor

“Thank you for calling Tudor Tutors, skilled experts in everything but gym class.”

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While The Voder machine doesn’t look like a creepy robot in any way, the noises it was able to produce say otherwise. If you don’t believe us, check out the website for yourself @ https://www.whatisthevoder.com! Beware, the sounds you are about to hear are spooky (look out for Mary and her lamb), and may incur nightmares. You’ve been warned!

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