Thank for downloading FreeTel(tm). We are confident that you will find the product to be very useful. After installing, you may wish to take the time to visit our Web site at: http://www.freetel.com To install FreeTel, run "setup.exe" from the Program Manager. You can download newer versions of the software when they become available from our Web site above. TECHNICAL SUPPORT ================= If you have any problems, we suggest that you look through the online HELP system, read through this README.TXT file, or visit our Web page: http://www.freetel.com If you are still having problems, you can submit a problem or bug report to: => ftbugs@freetelco.com, or => FreeTel Communciations, Inc. Technical Support Department 540 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Suite 290 Los Gatos, CA 95030 Please use the enclosed bug report form: PROBLEM.TXT We encourage you to submit bug reports when you have a problem, since it enables us to make improvements to the product, in addition to solving your particular problem. KEY FEATURES ============ * FreeTel enables real-time voice communication over the Internet. You can talk to another FreeTel user who is currently on-line. * full-duplex operation on Sound Blaster 16 or Sound Blaster AWE32 cards. * half-duplex or full-duplex operation on other cards as the case may be. * Electronic Phone Directory * Advanced Caller ID * Superior Audio Quality * Multiple User Configurations * Phone Web Links * Keyboard Communicator * Caller Log * Booster Feature * File Transfer capability SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS =================== 1. 486sx/33 - minium configuration, although: - it should work on a 486sx/25 and maybe even a fast 386 with reduced sound quality. - on a Pentium (and if the calling party also has a Pentium), you will experience improved sound quality. 2. Windows 3.1, 3.11, Windows for Worgroups 3.11, or Windows 95 3. Sound Card (8 bit or 16 bit) - Sound Blaster 16 or AWE32 preferred. It will operate in full duplex with these cards. - For other sound cards, it will operate in either full-duplex or half-duplex depending on the card & driver. 4. Microphone & Speakers -- these plug into your Sound Card 5. Internet Service Provider (ISP) connection - usually, this is a dial-up PPP or SLIP connection available from most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) for $20 to $30 per month. - 14,400 baud dial-up connection (minimum) - improved sound quality on 28,800 connection - alternatives include: ISDN, Frame Relay, T1, etc. 6. WINSOCK software (usually provided by ISP). Any one of following: - Trumpet Winsock - NetManage Chamelean - Netcom NetCruiser Winsock - Microsoft Windows 95 built-in Winsock - Microsoft Windows for Workgroups Winsock - Netscape Navigator Personal Edition Dialer - GNN Dialer - other WINSOCK-compliant TCP/IP stacks RUNNING OTHER APPLICATIONS IN THE BACKGROUND ============================================ As a real-time application, FreeTel is very demanding of the CPU. On slow machines, FreeTel will require most of the attention of the CPU. For best performance, it is recommended that you do not run other applications while you are maintaining a FreeTel conversation. If you do, and particularly on slower machines, it can cause "dropouts" or "choppiness" in your conversations. Under extreme conditions, for example during the loading of a large application, when Windows does not permit other applications to task-switch, you can even lose your connection. If you plan on starting another application, it is a good idea to let the other party know, since he may not be able to hear you for the few seconds while the application is starting (and your hard drive is churning away). UNIX HOST ACCOUNTS TO SIMULATE PPP/SLIP (TIA, SLIRP) ===================================================== * If you are using a UNIX host account instead of PPP/SLIP and you are using a package such as TIA from CyberSpace to simulate a PPP/SLIP connection, note the following: - If you are using TIA from CyberSpace Development, Inc., make sure you are using a recent version. FreeTel works with version 2.05 but not with 1.04c - FreeTel also works with version 1.0c of SLIRP. FULL-DUPLEX SOUND BLASTER 16 DRIVERS ==================================== This section describes some options that you have available if you are using a Sound Blaster 16, Sound Blaster AWE32 or 100% compatible audio cards. * For best quality and performance, we recommend that you use the FreeTel _internal_ full-duplex Sound Blaster 16 driver. * If you are using the special beta Windows 3.x full-duplex driver version 3.50 downloaded from the Creative Labs Web site, we recommend that you do not use it as it has some problems. Same goes for version 3.51. * The Windows 95 Creative Labs full-duplex driver version 4.25 seems to work mostly fine, although it will not achieve as good performance as the internal driver. Some users have also complained about the machine locking up when this driver is used. CURRENT BUGS ============ The following are some current problems. * Windows 95 with Sound Blaster 16 Cards FreeTel provides full-duplex support for the SoundBlaster 16, Sound Blaster AWE32, and 100% compaitble sound boards. It contains a special internal driver to accomplish this. The behaviour of this internal driver is different under Windows 3.x versus Windows 95. Under Windows 3.x, the internal full-duplex driver seamlessly integrates with the regular audio wave support. You can switch back and forth between FreeTel and other audio software at will. Under Windows 95, however, the internal full-duplex driver disables the standard Wave audio support, and thus disables sound under Windows 95 (other than FreeTel). For more information, refer to the online HELP or our Web page. * The Media Vision ProAudio Spectrum audio card software does not interface to the MS mixer API properly. As a result, you can't change the microphone volume from within FreeTel. You must change the mic volume by using the ProAudio mixer. Also, some versions of the ProAudio mixer do not permit you to disable the microphone to speaker feedthrough. We are not aware of any workarounds for this. * Under Windows 95, the "Minimize All" toolbar option crashes the system. (The regular minimize function works fine, however.) * The ACE 5000 Sound card does not work with FreeTel. OTHER COMMENTS: =============== * The Sound Blaster Pro audio card can only operate in half-duplex mode. It is different from the Sound Blaster 16 which can operate in full-duplex mode with our internal audio driver. NEW FEATURES FOR VERSION 0.91 BETA ================================== * you can now manually override the voice (VOX) activation by pressing and holding the CONTROL key. You can use this to interrupt the other party if you have a half-duplex card. See help for details. * The new exclusive "Booster" feature enables you to reduce "dropouts" and "choppiness", when the Internet or ISP is overloaded, at the cost of increased delay. See help for details. * The directory can now be accessed while you are conversing with another party. * lots of bugs have been fixed. VERSION 0.92 BETA ================= * Version 0.92 Beta is a maintenance release that corrects a number of bugs. NEW FEATURES FOR VERSION 0.93 BETA ================================== * you can now transfer files to the other party from within FreeTel. See help for additional information. The other party must also be using version 0.93 or later for this feature to work. * When you minimize FreeTel to just the sponsorship window, it now "remembers" where it was previously minized to. * numerous bug fixes. VERSION 0.94 BETA ================= * Version 0.94 Beta is a maintenance release that corrects a number of bugs. VERSION 1.00 ============ * The Electronic Phone Directory has been improved. It now appears on the main window and includes a scroll bar. You can use the Dir/Keyb button to switch back and forth between keyboard communicator view and directory view. There is no longer a separate directory window. * FreeTel+ Registraction Code facility has been added. When you purchase a FreeTel+ Registration Code from our Web site http://www.freetel.com, you will obtain additional capabilities (see below). The Registration Code is of the form XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX. After you type it in and hit OK, it will be validated by the FreeTel server, and your title bar will change from FreeTel to FreeTel+. Your Registration Code is unique and should not be given to others. * FreeTel+: Unlisted Name capability has been added for privacy. This way, nobody can call you unless they know your name. * FreeTel+: Private Group capability has been added. * FreeTel+: Advertisements can now be disabled. Go to the options screen. * FreeTel+: FreeTel+ will minimize to an icon, can be scrolled off the screen, and can be hidden behind other windows (i.e., it is no longer topmost). * various bug fixes.