If you work in a family home, ideally you need two phone lines, one for family calls, the other for business. But there are cheaper options.

1. Distinctive Ringing

This gives you a second telephone number in addition to your home phone number. Both numbers come through on the same line to your home phone, but the second number has a different distinctive ring. In this way, you could tell the difference between home and business calls depending on which number was called. Some phone companies let you have three different numbers and distinctive rings. The service costs about $5 (£3) per month.

In the US it is sometimes called a Teen line.

In the UK, British Telecom calls such a service Call Sign; it is part of their "Select Services" (details at www.bt.com/athome or Tel: 0800 789 456).

2. Caller Identification (caller ID) or Caller Display

This optional service also requires either a telephone with a suitable liquid crystal display, or a small dedicate display that plugs into your telephone line. When someone calls, their telephone number is displayed enabling you to identify the caller. More sophisticated devices displays the name of the person if it has been programmed into the system. It cost about $5 (£3) per month.

In the UK, British Telecom calls the service "Caller Line Identification" (CLI).

Recommended links

A good US-based page on related products can be found at www.beepster.com/CALLERID.HTM

On Yahoo:
Business and Economy Directory

In the UK, products from Viking www.viking-direct.co.uk (search for "caller")