TAPI works both ways. Programs that dial out don't access the COM
   ports directly, rather they access a TAPI device which communicates on
   behalf of the COM port.
   
   This logic applies to answering programs too. Really, it's TAPI that
   detects the ring, then alerts the answering program and then that
   program communicates via TAPI to pick up the phone and start
   communicating. This has nothing to do with apps talking to COM ports.
   
   These answering programs follow this logic (and perhaps others too):

     * MS Fax
     * MS Plus! dial-up server
     * WinFax Pro 7.0
     * pcAnywhere32

     * 5.9.1. Can I dial out while some other program is waiting to
       answer? 
       
   Because the answering programs communicate via TAPI, an outside
   program can jump in and use the TAPI device without the answering
   program even knowing about it. It's waiting for a signal from TAPI to
   answer the phone, and that won't happen while the other program's
   using the modem.

     * 5.9.2. How do I run several answering programs at once? 
       
   Only the newest class of modems (the voice modems) can do this. To do
   this, obtain one such voice modem, and download UNIMODEM V from
   Microsoft's web site.
   
   Once you installed all this, a little applet called "Operator Agent"
   will invoke the appropriate app to answer the phone. Because the apps
   themselves are waiting for TAPI signals, rather than signals from the
   COM port itself, Operator Agent can signal the appropriate app
   depending on the caller's response to its prompts. The Agent does its
   job by sending a voice message to the caller, asking them to press a
   key from 1 to 3 for voice, fax, or data. It then alerts the
   appropriate program.
   
   Alternately, you can use Distinctive Ring. If your modem supports
   SmartRing (USR's Vi, Compaq's Presario modems, and IBM's MWAVE are
   some SmartRing capable modems) and you have more than one phone number
   for your phone line, you can configure what kind of program answers
   what kind of ring. Bring up the Modems control panel and bring up
   properties for your modem. You'll notice two new tabs (if your modem
   supports them): "Distinctive Ring", and "Call Forwarding".
     * Distinctive Ring lets you specify what kind of program (either
       Voice, Fax, or Data) answers a particular ring. The ring choices
       may be as simple as "one ring, two rings, three rings", or may use
       a kind of Morse Code (with intermixed long & short rings if your
       modem supports that). Once you specified what ring goes with what
       kind of app, OK it, then launch your answering apps. NOTE: TAPI
       apps identify themselves as one of these three kinds of programs
       when they open a TAPI port, so you don't need to worry, for
       example, if you replace MS Fax with WinFax Pro 7.0.
     * Call Forwarding lets you forward calls to a different number when
       you dial out using a TAPI dial-out client (HyperTerminal, or for
       sending a fax, or for Dial-up Networking). Specify here what kind
       of code you use to forward your calls, and hit OK. The system will
       issue the call forwarding command when you dial-out, and undo it
       when you disconnect.
       
   The Distinctive Ring options won't kick in until you launch more than
   one kind of answering program. However, they don't require an external
   applet to monitor the phone line with.

     * 5.9.3. You mean I can have a terminal server, fax receiver, AND a
       voice mail receiver running all at once? 
       
   Yes. Depending on the kind of call, determined by Operator or
   SmartRing, TAPI will alert the correct program.
   
   NOTE: This is an interesting bug in UNIMODEM V. If you use Operator or
   SmartRing without running some kind of voice message app, the system
   will patiently wait for a voice messaging app to answer the phone. In
   fact, it will wait forever (or at least until you try to dial-out,
   then it will reset the "Ring Monitor" and all is well again.) If a
   call for Data or Fax comes in, it will answer correctly, until the
   next voice call comes in.
   
   I'm waiting for someone to write a "fake" voice messaging app that
   only resets the ring monitor when a voice call comes in. This way, you
   can take advantage of SmartRing or the Operator without shelling out
   big bucks for a voice mail app, or you can answer the voice calls
   yourself, so the Fax and or Data servers can still operate.

     * 5.9.3.1. How to obtain and install UNIMODEM V from Microsoft 
       
   Visit the Win95 OSR2 updates page to find and download UNIMODEM V
   (Listed as the VoiceView update). To Install UNIMODEM V, use
   Add/Remove Programs/Windows Setup and Have Disk... or find the
   UNIMDM.INF file, right-click on it and hit "Install". Then you might
   want to try re-detecting your modem, or choose from the additions to
   the modem list to find your voice modem.
   
   4.00.950B users will already have UNIMODEM V built in. NT Workstation
   4.0 also includes it.

     * 5.9.3.2. ...and I can dial out while they're all running too? 
       
   Absolutely. This multiple app functionality doesn't prevent you from
   dialing out, because the apps are still listening to a TAPI port
   rather than a COM port. Now do you think TAPI sucks?

     * 5.9.4. Top ten TAPI server apps (Apps that answer the phone) 
       
   10. WinFax Pro 7.0 with Delrina's CommSuite
   
   9. MS Fax (Comes with Win95)
   
   8. UNIMODEM V's Operator Agent
   
   7. Dial-up server which comes with MS Plus!
   
   6. pcAnywhere32
   
   5. ... (Uhh... any ideas?)