Let Automator answer your telephone

I have been using PhoneValet by Parliant for the last 1 1/2 years and it does a lot of this and so much more. Here is what my PhoneValet has been doing for the last year. Phone rings, iTunes running on my other computer (not hooked up to PhoneValet) pauses. Safari does a Google of the phone number, another Safari window shows me the city and state of the incoming call. Another Safari window shows me if they have ordered anything from us. Caller ID pops up on the screen. An instant message is sent to my SideKick. Now it is time for the 2nd ring. After I hang up, iTunes starts back up. http://www.parliant.com/

I've tried Skype, but for some reason the fact that this looks like iTunes makes me want it. I guess cos I'm already very familiar with iTunes, so this feels like I'll know how to use it. Whilst the Skype guys have done a lot to make their app nice to use, you can't beat an already-familiar UI.

That's some cool, innovative stuff -- so far, the whole VoIP hasn't done much to get my knickers in a bunch, but applications like this make me raise an eyebrow and think that maybe there's something to this after all.