Phone appliance with display screen and methods for using the same

Abstract

A phone appliance and method of use are provided where the phone appliance can be used to make VoIP communications calls. In a preferred embodiment, the phone appliance includes an RF connection for connecting to a computer or other computing device for facilitating the placement of the VoIP communications calls. The phone appliance further includes a display or portal for depicting advertisements provided by various advertisers. The advertisements provided can be used to defray all or part of the cost associated with making VoIP communications calls. The portal can also be used to communicate with businesses for ordering products. such as ordering a pizza, and to perform various services, such as purchasing stocks. In an exemplary system, the phone appliance is used to transmit to a control center information related to the user of the phone appliance, such as interests and buying habits, and queries for receiving additional information for various advertised products and services. The control center transmits the queries to the appropriate vendors for providing the user with additional information. Other functions and features are provided to the phone appliance, such as being able to download e-mail messages stored within or received by the computer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A recording system for recording voice communications during a voice communication call, comprising:
 at least one phone appliance for transmitting or receiving voice communications;   a converter configured to convert at least one voice communication from analog to digital format; and   a computing device configured to facilitate recording the at least one voice communication in digital format on at least one computer memory of the computing device or a disk of the computing device, wherein the at least one voice communication is recorded during a voice communication call.   
     
     
         2 . The phone appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one phone appliance includes a key for enabling initiating recording of the at least one voice communication. 
     
     
         3 . The phone appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one voice communication in digital format is compressed. 
     
     
         4 . The phone appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the stored at least one voice communication can be retrieved for use. 
     
     
         5 . The phone appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one phone appliance includes at least one transceiver for transmitting or receiving the at least one voice communication. 
     
     
         6 . The phone appliance according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one phone appliance performs data communications including Internet access for viewing and interacting with Internet content. 
     
     
         7 . A system for recording voice communications during a voice communication call, comprising:
 a computing device in operative communication with a phone appliance for enabling initiating recording of at least one voice communication, wherein the at least one voice communication is an analog or digital voice communication transmitted or received by at least one phone appliance;   the computing device receiving and recording the at least one voice communication, wherein the at least one voice communication is recorded during a voice communication call; and   the computing device is enabled to facilitate retrieving the recorded at least one voice communication.   
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one voice communication is compressed. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the computing device or a control center records at least one voice communication on at least one memory or a disk. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the system includes at least a converter to convert at least one voice communication from analog to digital format. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one phone appliance includes at least one transceiver for transmitting or receiving the at least one voice communication for recording. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one phone appliance is configured for data communications including Internet access for viewing and accessing Internet content. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the computing device determines a fee for storing the recorded at least one voice communication. 
     
     
         14 . A method for recording voice communications during a voice communication call, comprising:
 establishing a voice communication call with a phone appliance, wherein the voice communication call is an analog or digital communication call;   converting at least one voice communication from analog to digital format;   compressing the digital at least one voice communication;   initiating recording the at least one voice communication by the phone appliance, wherein the at least one voice communication is recorded during the voice communication call; and   facilitating recording or storing of the at least one voice communication by a computing device.   
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , further comprising enabling recording the at least one voice communication via a key. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 14 , further comprising retrieving the recorded or the stored at least one voice communication. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 14 , further comprising transmitting or receiving the at least one voice communication for recording via a transceiver. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising storing that at least one voice communication for recording in at least one memory or at least one disk of a computing device or a control center. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 14 , further comprising performing data communications including Internet access for viewing and interacting with Internet content. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 14 , further comprising determining a fee for storing the recorded at least one voice communication. 
     
     
         21 . A method for recording voice communications during a voice communication call, comprising:
 receiving, by a computing device, a communication for enabling recording at least one voice communication, wherein the at least one voice communication is an analog or data communication call;   recording the at least one voice communication, wherein the at least one voice communication is recorded during a voice communication call; and   retrieving the recorded at least one voice communication by a computing device.