Adler's Answering Service began in 1977 by Bertha Adler in the spare room in her house with one extra phone. The first customer was Athens TV Cable, but quickly grew to include clients of all business fields: medical, professional, service oriented and utilities.
Three clients have been with Answertel since 1977: Dr Robert Pitman of Limestone Veterinary Clinic, Hollis Kennedy House Moving and Dick Chittam Realty.
Ms Adler rapidly advanced to using a corded switchboard.
She, her husband John, and their daughter Laura, were the full time staff. Gradually additional staff was added to give the Adlers some time away from the "board".
In 1984, Adler's Answering Service incorporated with members of the medical, professional and private sectors becoming stockholders. The company moved to 101 W. Bryan Street where it was located for several years. Also during this time the equipment was upgraded to a computerized system built by John Morgan of Morgan Data Systems.
Ms, Adler decided to pursue other interests and left the company in the early 1980's. Patsy Moss became manager and continued adding services to provide to the clients. In the late 1980's the name was changed to AnswerTel of Athens, Inc., to reflect a new phase of telecommunications offered. The motto "more than just an answering service" was being proven by the services being offered: fax service, billing service, appointment setting, typing, and other secretarial services.
In 1992, Marie McGuire, who is the present general manager, was appointed to that position. A wide range of advancements in the telecommunications field was being seen, and Mrs. McGuire used many of the changes to the benefit of AnswerTel and the clients. In 1995, new computer equipment was purchased which utilized ISDN lines. AnswerTel was the first in the nation to use ISDN in the answering service field. AnswerTel was now able to offer fax message delivery, email message delivery to PC's or mobile phones and alpha or numeric paging.
In 2005, AnswerTel management made the decision to change the system platform in order to provide a much wider variety of features that the clients were requesting. February, 2006, saw a new beginning with AmTelco's Infinity and Intelligent Series platform. While traditional answering service features are still available, accounts can now have scripted message forms to meet individualized client needs, messages can be sent to cell phones with the text messaging feature and appointment scheduling is in real-time by using web-based scheduling programs. Voicemail can be as a stand-alone feature or in conjunction with live operator service to provide clients with total service at a very economical price.
AnswerTel staff is involved in on-going training in order to provide the most up-to-date technological services to our clients -- while maintaining the personal service that is important to each one. Our goal is to provide courteous, professional service while offering the clients the choices of the latest technology to make their lives as efficient as possible.
