Free tech support header

Can iCal automatically make a Google Voice call?

I have a conference call every morning - same number, same access code. I'd like to set up iCal so that as one of the "reminders" Google Voice calls my phone and connects me to the conference call automatically. This should be possible... Can you figure it out?


Dave's Answer:

That's a bit beyond me, but fortunately I have friends! I asked my good friend Michael Sitarzewski and he came up with an ingenious solution for you...

There are a couple of ways to make this happen, but the most elegant solution by far is to buy Phone Amego ($20) from Sustainable Softworks. Phone Amego is a software phone dialer that connects to a Bluetooth phone, a USB dialer, or (and this is where the fun comes in) Google Voice. Yes, you can dial numbers and contacts directly from your Mac, and because it's a Mac app, it supports AppleScripting.

Using iCal's event alerts and AppleScript, you can tell Phone Amego to dial a conference call number using Google Voice a minute before the call is set to begin.

The AppleScript required to hook Phone Amego to iCal is about as basic as it gets:

<code>
tell application "Phone Amego"
    ASGetURL "tel:16054772100"
end tell
</code>

Open the AppleScript Editor (in the "Utilities" folder ), copy and paste the above AppleScript, and save it to your Documents Folder. Don't forget to change the number!

mac applescript editor call google voice

If you're savvy, you can add the control codes (like a comma for pause) to get directly to your conference call.

Note: Google Voice blocks access to some of the "free" conference calling systems. You'll be able to call the main number automatically, but getting into the call automatically won't work.

Back to the project. Once you create and save the script above, open your meeting in iCal. Choose Alarm > Run Script. A dialog box will open, asking you to find the script to run. Find the AppleScript you created above and click "Select." Change the time to alert you to a few minutes before the call (being prompt is important!). I set this example to three minutes before. If you're on the right track, your meeting will something like the following:

mac ical reminder applescript

I'd encourage you to play with the settings, and do some local testing, but this solution will accomplish your needs: an automated call to your conference call using Google Voice.

If you'd rather not buy the software above, I've also created a shell based (Umm, that's Terminal.app on the Mac) solution using Mac OS X's built in PHP scripting engine. If you're geeky (and/or cost conscious like me) let me know and I'll post that version.

Michael Sitarzewski is currently President of HyperSites, and CEO of Callisto.fm. You can find him online at msitarzewski.com too.



Help others find this article at Del.icio.us, Digg, Netscape, Reddit, and Stumble Upon    

Subscribe!
Never miss another Q&A article! Click to subscribe: Add to Google Reader Add to My Yahoo! Subscribe in NewsGator RDF XML
Comments
Rather amazingly, there are no comments on this article yet.

I have something to say, now that you mention it, but ...
Starbucks coffee cup I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!











Remember personal info?


Please note that I will never send you any unsolicited email. Ever.

While I'm at it, please note that by submitting a question or comment you're agreeing to my terms of service, which are: you relinquish any subsequent rights of ownership to your material by submitting it on this site.






Recent Entries
Search
I Need Help!



Join The Club!
Sign up and get free weekly updates, news on my speaking schedule, seminars, workshops and more. It's cool. Just do it. :-)

© 2002 - 2010 by Dave Taylor. All Rights Reserved.

Note: This web site is for the purpose of disseminating information for educational purposes, free of charge, for the benefit of all visitors. We take great care to provide quality information. However, we do not guarantee, and accept no legal liability whatsoever arising from or connected to, the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of any material contained on this web site or on any linked site.

[whiteboard marker tray]
"Ask Dave Taylor®" is a registered trademark of Intuitive Systems, LLC.