Frequently Asked Questions (Part 2: Installation)

1. What operating system do I need?
2. What hardware do I need in addition to my pc?
3. How do I know what kind of modem is installed on my PC?
4. What is a voice modem and where can I get one?
5. How do I import my license file?
6. Does the shareware version contain all the same feature as the full version?
7. Is there a time limit on the shareware license?
8. Why do I get a message saying it cannot find a voice capable modem?
9. Why do I get a message saying it failed to connect to Voicent Gateway?
10. Can I use the Voicent software with Voice of Internet Protocol (VOIP) service?
11. How can I download the program and install the program on another computer that is not connected to the internet?

1. What operating system do I need?

Voicent software product supports Windows 2000, 2003, XP and Vista.

While Windows XP/2000/2003 supports both VoIP (Internet) line land (analog) telephone line and , Windows Vista supports only VoIP (Internet) line through Skype.

2. What hardware do I need to run the Voicent products?

First, you need to decide whether you are going to use Skype or voice modem(s) to make phone calls. Skype is easier to setup. It does not require a physical phone line or any hardware other than your computer.

If you use Internet SKYPE:
All you need is a  broadband Internet connection.

Your computer should be at least Pentium IV with 512 Meg of memory or more. If you use Voicent Natural Text-to-Speech, you need at least a Pentium IV computer with 1.5 Gig of memory.

If you use regular phone line:
A voice modem is required for each phone line. You also need one or more working telephone lines. It must be analog phone line. Analog phone lines are mostly residential lines, fax lines that connected to corporate PBX systems, or lines provided by VOIP router/adapter.

Your computer should be at least Pentium III with 512 Meg of memory or more. If you use Voicent Natural Text-to-Speech, you need at least a Pentium IV and additional 1GB of memory.

3. How do I know what kind of modem is installed on my PC?

Please refer to Voice Modem FAQ for more information.

4. What is a voice modem and where can I get one?

A voice modem provides phone jacks on your computer so your computer can connect to a regular phone line or to a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) line. A voice modem is capable of playing and recording audio over a telephone line. You can get a Voicent voice modem  from our online store.

Please refer to Voice Modem FAQ for more information.

5. How do I apply and import my license file?

If you have purchased the product, your product license file will be sent to you through email. However, you must request your product license with your Voicent Gateway ID. To apply, please select Help à Request Product License… from the program main menu. Or you can visit Voicent’s website at /store/license to apply for your license.

After you submitted your license request, you should receive your license file through email within one business day. Your license file is sent as an attached file of the email message. Save the attached file to a folder of your choice, such as C:\temp. Please note that some email programs directly include the license file in the message body instead as an attached file. In this case, please follow instructions in B).

A). In the Setup License dialog, click Manage Licenses … button. Click the Browse button. In the Open File dialog, select license file you saved from the email attachment. Click Install New License Button. The installed license should appear in the Installed Licensed window. Click Done button

B). If your email program included the license file directly into the email message, please select the copy paste lines radio button. Then copy the lines from “######### VOICENT LICENSE BEGIN ##########” to “########## VOICENT LICENSE END ##########” (include these lines); then paste it to the text window below the copy paste lines radio button. Click Install New License button, then click Done.

Voicent Gateway should automatically restart. Now if you invoke AutoReminder and/or BroadcastByPhone, the correct license should be displayed in the title bar.

6. Does the shareware edition contain all the same features as the professional edition?

Yes, but every phone call contains a Voicent ad message in the shareware edition. The goal of the shareware is to enable you to try out our software before purchasing it. There is no time limit. You are welcome to use the shareware as long as you want. In addition to the ad message, there are other limitations in the shareware edition. For example, AutoReminder has a maximum 5 appointments per day limitation.

7. Is there a time limit on the shareware license?

No. You can use it as long as you want. If you decide to purchase a full version, you do not need to re-install the software. All you need to do is import the product license.

8. Why do I get a message saying it cannot find a voice capable modem?

Please refer to Voice Modem FAQ for more information.

9. Why do I get a message saying it cannot connect to Voicent Gateway?

Voicent application programs such as AutoReminder and BroadcastByPhone, Agent Dialer, IVR studio, Telephone CRM and Natural TTS are separate programs from the Voicent Gateway. The Gateway is the program that makes the phone calls. In order for the application programs to work, a connection with the gateway has to be established.

Check whether Voicent Gateway has started or not. Click on the gateway icon on the taskbar, the status should be running. If the gateway is still in the process of starting up, please just wait until the status changes to running, and then invoke application program like AutoReminder or BroadcastByPhone again.

If Voicent Gateway failed to start, or if AutoReminder and BroadcastByPhone still cannot connect to a running gateway, please check your firewall and antivirus programs. Windows Vista or XP contains a built-in firewall program that can be accessed from the control panel. These programs might block Voicent Gateway from accepting connections.

The following processes are part of the Voicent Gateway. Please refer to your firewall or antivirus program manuals for ways to unblock the gateway.

vxengine.exe: telephony engine of the gateway
spengine.exe:  speech engine of the gateway
javaw.exe:       VoiceXML interpreter
javaw.exe:       Voicent applications server

Voicent Gateway normally listens on ports 8155, 8255, 8355, and 8455.

If you are not sure whether Voicent Gateway is blocked by your firewall or antivirus program, you can disable or uninstall it first. You can then enable and reinstall it later. To disable the Windows XP firewall, please click the Start button, then select Control Panel, then click Windows Firewall. From the firewall window, select the Off checkbox.

10. Can I use Voicent Software with a Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) service?

Yes, Voicent software works all all type of VoIP service.

The easiest and cheapest way is to use Skype. When Skype is used, you do not need a physical phone line or any other hardware. And it's almost free. It is $30 per year per line with unlimited calls. That's $2.50 per month.

If you use other VOIP service like Vonage or MagicJack that provides a voice terminal (adaptor), then you must use a voice modem to connect to the adapter to make phone calls.

11. How can I download the program and install it on another computer that is not connected to the internet?

When you download the Voicent program, you must first download the Smart Download program. This is a small executable file that is used to manage the download process. The actual Voicent installation package is more than 80 Meg and it is downloaded one small piece at a time and is automatically assembled upon completion of the download by the small download program.

Here are the steps to download and copy the installation package:

1). Click on the download link from the Voicent download page
2). Run the SmartDownload program. Click the Download button.
3). When the download finishes, copy the Voicent installation package from the download directory to your CD or USB drive. The download directory is shown in the SmartDownload main window and the Voicent installation package is voicent.exe.

Now you can run the voicent.exe program saved on your CD or USB drive on any computer to install the Voicent programs.