This page details "self-dispatch", TAP/IXO (alpha), DTMF / Touch Tone (numeric), CallerID and Caller Name, and other fail-safe, non-internet based methods for messaging and notification integration with cell phones, SMS / MMS capable devices, pagers, faxes, e-mail addresses, and voice (via text-to-speech) devices and destinations.
Self-Dispatch services allow for call centers, emergency response access points, after-hours emergency personnel, and automated alarm and notification equipment to utilize a variety of fail-safe means to notify responders, key staff personnel, and other messaging equipment and devices utilizing both internet and non-internet based transmission methodologies, so that in the event of an internet outage or disruption, messages and alerts will still get though.
The Self-Dispatch services are of particular use when a given office, site, or building's internet connection is down or otherwise fails, and allows servers, equipment, and/or alarm systems an alternate path utilizing regular phone lines or cellular voice telephony to send out status messages, emergency alerts, and other messages to first responders, on-call staff, or other personnel immediately, thus bypassing the internet to allow for a rapid response.
For companies and entities which use a Voice-over-IP phone system, the Self-Dispatch services may be used to notify repair staff via a non-VoIP phone line that an outage has occurred and requires attention to restore telephone service to offices or buildings with VoIP telephone service.
Verizon Wireless, AT&T Wireless, T-Mobile, Rogers/Cantel, and other cellular customers who utilized their respective carrier's (now discontinued) TAP (modem) dispatch service may continue to do so with Interpage as a replacement TAP/self-dispatch provider via either the "TAP/self-dispatch" service plan (detailed below) or the Alarm/Equipment TAP/DTMF Access service based on the features and access methods required.
Questions regarding how either above dispatch services can replace the discontinued Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, AT&T Wireless TAP service(s) (or for TAP access to other carriers in the US, Canada, or worldwide) may be directed to +1 (650) 331-3900, or use the Interpage Online Inquiry page to submit questions about your firm's specific application.
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Overview of Self-Dispatch Services
Interpage TAP/IXO and Numeric/DTMF ("Touch Tone") Self-Dispatch Services allow for the integration between legacy, non-internet connected services with internet-based applications, services, and devices.
Self-Dispatch services provide non-"Internet", non-TCP/IP based connectivity to Interpage's text messaging, paging, e-mail, fax, and voice text-to-speech gateway services. Such access is typically useful for redundant emergency notification, legacy equipment which use Touch Tone or modem notification, operator dispatch services, remote monitoring equipment, and any other automated service which messages via TAP or Touch Tone/DTMF which must operate in the event of an internet or cellular outage.
Self Dispatch Overview ↓
Interpage's self-dispatch services do not rely on an Internet connection and thus provide a vital link in situations where an internet connection has failed (or is simply not available) for alerting on-call staff and emergency-response employees on their cellphones, pagers, email, fax, and voice telephones (via OutVoice).
Messages dispatched to Interpage via TAP/IXO, Touch Tone/DTMF, CallerID or Caller Name filtering, or other non-TCP/IP methods, can be distributed by the Interpage Scheduler (for a demo, log in as guest and leave the password blank), which allows customers to have their TAP and/or Touch Tone messages sent to a variety of end devices, such as pagers, cellphones, fax, Text to Speech, and/or email addresses. The Scheduler and Filtration interface uses simple HTML formatting, no scripting, and no special plug-ins or downloads are needed, and can be accessed from older browsers and (non-"smart") mobile phones as well as from all modern browsers and internet devices.
Both the modem-based TAP and the Touch Tone-based numeric/DTMF services can be used as replacements for recent shutdowns of cellular based TAP/modem access from Verizon Wireless, AT&T Wireless, et. al., as well as the removal of the "numeric paging" services from Sprint/Nextel, Verizon, and others, allowing customers to keep their current wireless provider and continue to utilize their wireless phones and devices as if the given carrier had maintained TAP and/or Touch Tone/paging access.
TAP & IXO Modem Access ↓
The Interpage TAP/IXO Gateway is configurable from the web via a simple, non-scripted, API-ready interface; (telnet access for scripting or manual log-ins is available as well), and messages may be redirected instantly via any Interpage delivery method.
The TAP/IXO dispatch service can be used as a more robust alternative to those offered (or which had been offered) by major wireless and paging carriers for delivering messages to cellular phones and pagers when internet or cellular connectivity fails, and offers custom filtering and scheduling of received messages and the ability to direct them to multiple destinations and by platform type (cellphones in the US/Canada and abroad, pagers, fax, e-mail and voice), based on time-of-day, day of the week, and/or content.
A demonstration of the Web-based "scheduler" is available here; please log in as guest and leave the password blank. You may also connect via telnet to interpage.net, log in as guest, and select option 6 from the main menu.
Additional information on Interpage's TAP Dispatch and Messaging Gateway is available on the TAP/IXO Gateway page.
TAP/IXO Gateway: Interpage's TAP to SMS & E-Mail Gateway allows automated equipment and self-dispatch systems to send SMS/text-messages, pages, e-mails, fax messages, and/or voice messages to one or more recipients. Emergency response departments, 24 hour "on-call" personnel, and other services which require an alternate to Internet access via dialup may benefit from Interpage's TAP/IXO Gateway to facilitate the dissemination of time-critical messages when Internet connectivity is down or otherwise inoperative. TAP, IXO and other dispatch protocols are supported.
TAP Self-Dispatch recipients may be any combination of SMS (or MMS) recipients, alpha or numeric pagers, international mobile phones, fax, e-mail, and even POTS (voice) telephones and cellphones recipients which lack text-messaging capabilities, utilizing the optional OutVoice text-to-speech notification service.
TAP Test Service ↓
Additionally, large customers of Cellular or Paging Carriers, those who dispatch to hospitals with private/in-house paging systems, or any group/entity which sends TAP messages to one or more carriers/recipients, may utilize the TAPTest service to ensure that their carrier, paging service, or messaging recipient is operational and able to accept messages. The TAPTest service may also be used to log TAP outages, thus serving as an independent auditor of a given carrier's TAP-based modems and dispatch to provide documentation needed for SLA and other credits related to outages and other events when a given TAP service is not working.
The TapTest page provides more detailed information and pricing on the TapTest service to ensure your TAP/IXO messaging platform is operational at all times!
TAPTest TAP/IXO Accessibility Test Service: TAPTest is a specialized self-dispatch service which regularly checks one or more given TAP/IXO access numbers, modems, or entire modem banks, to ensure that they are working properly and operating so as to be able to accept submissions via TAP. Cellular and Paging Carriers, Hospitals, Goverment Agencies, Public Safety, Corporate Campuses, and any operator of TAP-based services may employ TAPTest to ensure that any outages or problems are immediately reported to on-call staff before their customers and/or people who need to send vital messages discover an outage or problem, helping any company's or institution's image of dependable reliability.
Alarm Messaging Service ↓
A fail-safe or "last-resort" alarm notification service to notifiy via text message, pager, fax and voice is also available. The Alarm Notification Service is a variant of the DirectPage(sm) service, whereby an individual caller, operator, automated voicemail system, or any other device or system which dials out via Touch Tones (DTMF) may dial into Interpage's DirectPage Numeric Interface, enter a unique PIN or be screened by CallerID to identify the desired account, and then a numeric, alpha, or pre-programmed message, which will in turn be delivered to one or more e-mails and/or destination devices (such as cellphones, pagers, fax machines, or using text-to-speech voice synthesis via the OutVoice service).
Additionally, if your alarm service or notification equipment can not send out Touch Tones, the service can notifiy you based only on a call from said equipment, so that a single, short phone call to a dedicated number assigned only to your account will trigger an alert (Caller-ID matching is also available to prevent unwanted alerts from wrong-number callers).
Scheduling "where" and "when" received alerts are broadcast to is entirely controlled by the Scheduler Web-based interface (log in as guest and leave the password field blank) or via telnet access. Customers may "schedule" when received alerts are sent out, to whom, and via what mechaism directly from the schedule page, with any changes taking effect immediately.
Please review the Alarm Messaging & Integration Page for additional details.
WebAlert Service ↓
WebAlert also makes it easy to add alternate "on-call" personnel or responders via a unified web-based interface instead of processing manual changes at each office or piece of equipment which sends out alert messages.
The WebAlert page provides more detailed information and pricing for the WebAlert service.
Interpage Contacts ↓
To receive additional information about Interpage's Paging and Dispatch Services, please contact us via:
•Web-based Support/Inquiry Interface
•Telephone: +1 (650) 331-3900
•Interpage Contacts Page
We will be happy to answer any questions you may have concerning Interpage's TAP/IXO, Touch Tone integration, Paging, or other services!
Last modified 07/15/2026
