[NTLUG:Discuss] Virtual Modems

[Michael Barnes]

I have a client with an interesting problem.  He collects data from a
number of remote sites that only have POTS lines, no hope of DSL or any
other kind of Internet access.  They have in their office a couple older
computers with modems on them.  On a schedule, these computers dial up each
site, download the data, and post it to an ftp site.  Now their management
has decreed all servers will be moved to a tier 3 datacenter.  Of course
the blade servers in the datacenter have no serial ports and there are no
POTS lines available.

Any suggestions on some type of virtual modem in software that can somehow
dial out through the Internet to a regular POTS line and modem?  I know
that somehow there is an interface between the Internet and the PSTN.  We
have VoIP phones that are on the same Ethernet connection as my computer,
but I can call any regular phone.

Thanks for any ideas.

Michael