Do you have a lot of voicemail messages? If your answer is yes, do you wish you could manage your voicemails like you do your e-mails? There is a solution and it is generically called unified messaging. Most voicemail systems now days are really computer servers. These servers allow you to manage your voicemail as if they are e-mail. However, each voicemail system could have a different way to access the voicemails and if you have multiple voicemails (e.g. office, home, cell) then you would need to go to multiple places to get your voicemails. This is almost as cumbersome as access voicemails via your phone. So like many other modern conveniences, someone has invented a better “mouse trap”. GotVoice to the rescue!
GotVoice is a web based service that will retrieve your Oceanic Digital Phone voicemails and your cell phone voicemails, convert them to MP3 files and send you either the file or an e-mail link to a webpage where you can listen to the message. The MP3 file can be played through your computer’s sound system, saved to your computer or forwarded like any other e-mail. This can save you time because you don’t need to type out what the voicemail said to save it and if the message needs to be relayed to others, you can just forward the MP3 file instead of having to repeat verbally. GotVoice works with Oceanic’s Digital Phone voicemail and all major cell phone voicemail systems (i.e. Sprint, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, AT&T and Mobi).
Additionally with the GotVoice system you can create new voice messages by recording it via your computer (you need to have a microphone for your computer), have the system call you on a regular phone/cell which allows you record a message that is uploaded to GotVoice or use the text to voice capabilities of GotVoice (although the message is a bit robotic). Once you have created the message, the system allows you to send it to landline phones, cell phones, e-mail addresses. The message will be played to the calling party if they answer the phone or the message can be left on their voicemail. For the e-mail recipients, the MP3 file is sent which allows the receiver to play your message on their computer. You can send your message to one person or up to 15 people at once. The first thing that comes to my mind is calling the soccer team to let them know that practice is cancelled due to bad weather. How’s that for a time saver?
GotVoice also makes the recordings a little more fun by having the system blending a background sound or music. A couple of my favorites are the tennis court and the Chinese New Year backgrounds. If you don’t like the sounds or music in the system, GotVoice allows you to upload your own MP3 sounds or music which will be mixed in with your message. How about sending a voice message reminding your guest about your Chinese New Year party!
Do you hate recording your voicemail greeting? GotVoice has a feature to make that easier as well. You use the same method as I described above for creating a new message but instead of sending it out to people, you tell GotVoice to upload it your voicemail system. So you don’t need to keep your same old voicemail greeting for years!
So how much does this cost? Like other web applications, there are different packages of features that range from free to less than $20 per month. Just go to www.gotvoice.com to get more information and sign up for a free or paid account. In addition, if you are an Oceanic Time Warner Cable customer, there are special free services for you. To get to Oceanic’s GotVoice services, go to Oceanic.com and sign on to My Account (https://secure.oceanic.com/MyAccount/ShowLogin.do)
Like any other good company, GotVoice is constantly trying to improve their services. One of the new services is a voice to text feature. Voicemails that are left on your Oceanic Digital Phone voicemail system can be retrieved and along with an e-mail with the MP3 attachment, GotVoice will send you a text transcript of the message. So if you are not in a place you can’t listen to the message, you will be able to read it. Another new feature available for play back are amusing avatars.
Check this new service out and save some time while having some fun.
