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How it works

Overview

Freedom Fone allows you to create two-way, communication services to interact with any audience, in any language, at any time and without recourse to internet or other media. There are no geographical limitations to Freedom Fone, it can be used in any country with a mobile network coverage. 

Using Voice to Share Information

Freedom Fone is free and open source software that enables you to create and share audio content using Interactive Voice Response or IVR. Audio contnet can be easily organised in multiple Voice Menus which callers can navigate using their phone keypad. You will be familiar with this kind of voice menu on automated helplines already: 

"Press 1 to change language, Press 2 to speak to a representative, Press 3 to record a message..." 

There are many innovative and creative ways to share information via voice menus. Freedom Fone provides a simple, user-friendly interface that allows you to design, change and update your own interactive menus to:

  • Share relevant audio information with your callers. Personalised audio information can take many forms, for example: short news items, mobile audio dramas or even a song! You might also want to replay a recorded message left on the service by a member of your audience.
  • Organise a poll to enable your audience to vote on an issue using their phone.
  • Collect SMS messages from your audience - these might be updates about specific news events, alerts or similar critical information in real time.
  • Get your audience to leave audio messages to share their opinion on a particular topic, leave a message or voice report.

Try out our online demo here.

Our Software

Freedom Fone was built as free and open source software that runs on Debian and Ubuntu Linux operating systems. Ideally, Freedom Fone should be installed on a dedicated server/PC that is then connected to a simple GSM device (we recommend either a 1 SIM card Mobigater or 4 SIM card OfficeRoute) that must be purchased separately. See GSM devices below. 

Freedom Fone provides an installer that automates much of the setup, empowering non-technical users to independently set up a sophisticated telephony server in under 30 mins.

Once you're set up, a graphical user interface lets you navigate the system where you can upload audio content, organise your voice menus, create an SMS poll and safely access, organise and evaluate all your caller data. 

What do I need to get started?

1. A desire to communicate
First and foremost you need assess who are your target audience. Do they have access to mobile phones/coverage? What other channels of information do they rely on? What languages do they speak? See the Creating Your Freedom Fone Service chapter in our User Guide. 

2. Freedom Fone software
Download the latest version of the free software. Contact us, if you would like us to post you a DVD. Or test it out with our online demo.   

3. A dedicated computer  
Freedom Fone is a system replacer and thus needs to be installed on a dedicated computer or spare partition. Minimum computer specifications are: 2GB RAM, 2GHz dual core processor, 80GB hard-drive, soundcard, ethernet port. Approximate costs $700.

4. GSM device/s
The number of GSM devices needed will depend on how many call in lines you require for your service. Freedom Fone works with the following GSM devices. They can be used in combination with each other. Ensure your equipment is located where there is strong GSM signal:

  • MobiGater Pro - 1 x SIM card: GSM USB device. Approximately 50 Euros from EuroDesign in Bulgaria.
    Note some users have reported problems with audio overlap where 2 or more MobiGaters have been connected to a Freedom Fone server. For this reason we do not recommend multi-Mobigater configurations. Equipment known to cause this problem is listed here.
     
  • Office Route - 4 x SIM cards: GSM SIP Gateway. Approximately 620 Euros from 2N TELEKOMUNIKACE a.s. in the Czeck Republic or their regional representatives. 
    Native support is built into Freedom Fone for this device.
    Make sure you request a licence that enables POP3, SMS and SNMP.

5. Live SIM card/s
Make sure your SIM cards have been activated. If they are pre-paid lines, add airtime and remove security PIN codes. You will need a SIM card for each call-in/call-back line.

We have had problems with DTMF detection by SIM cards in some countries - this means that the caller's key selections are not recognised when they try to navigate your Voice Menus. Be prepared to have to try a few cards from the same Mobile Network Operator, or even have to try a different Mobile Network Operator altogether.
  
6. Microphone
Preferably use a good quality microphone for recording your audio files.

7. Audio recorder
Mini-disc recorder (or mp3 recorder) for collecting audio in the field.  

Other factors to consider:

  • Constant power supply
    Reliable power supply or a 24 hour back-up system is reccomended to keep your service live and available for callers to access at their conveniance. 
  • Human resources
    Unless you are team of efficient and multi-talented individuals, various skills are necessary to set-up and maintain your Freedom Fone service. These include technical installation and set-up, generating and editing audio content, advertising your service for your target audience and reporting and evaluating your call data records. While some of these skills may overlap or be required only once (eg. installation + set up) we recommend that you dedicate a small team (min 2 people) to successfully operate your Freedom Fone service. 
  • Advertising budget    
    Once you have created the relevant audio content for a static or regularly updated service – the call in service will need to be advertised and marketed to you target audience so that they are aware how it works, what information you are making available and how to best utilise your serivce. 

Need assistance?

If you are interested in using Freedom Fone, we are available to answer any questions, provide you with more information and to assist with virtual technical support.

We also offer feature customization requests and consultancy and support services such as onsite support and training workshops.

Please contact us for assistance or more information.