
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.

Please keep in mind that the software is still in beta, and thus contains
a few bugs.  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.

