Voicemail to e-mail

[ipodmusicman]

Hi, I posted this on a different board, but I really need some help and I am hoping that somebody here in the Vodacom section can please help out.

I am looking for a voicemail service whereby callers can call and leave messages and those messages are then e-mailed to me. I don't want to use my existing number (which is a service that is offered by Vodacom and to contract numbers only). I want a seporate number that is dedicated for this purpose. I want to use the voicemail feature as a way for people to leave audio feedback for me to play on my podcast.

I personally cannot believe that nobody is offering this service in SA. There are so many out there in the USA, etc, even free ones like k7.net, but I cannot expect people who want to contribute to my podcast to call an overseas number.

Thanks

 

[fingers121]

Funnily enough Telkom have such a service, called Mail Manager Plus, and this enables you to get Voice and fax messages as an e-mail.

I think the cost is around R25/month and it works pretty well (for Telkom at least)

You just need to have (if you don't already) a Telkom landline and the service activated, there is a web portal that you can use to upload a voice message, and you can check your messages too from any phone by dialing 10121 if you are not in reach of your e-mail for whatever reason...

Have a look at http://www.telkom.co.za/attheoffice/services/mailmanager/index.html for more info

 

[ipodmusicman]

Actually, no Telkom doesn't have the service that I am looking for because with them, you have to have an existing line. I mentioned in my post that I don't want to use my existing number, may it be Telkom, Vodacom, etc, but want a dedicated number for this purpose.

Go to http://www.k7.net and google for others and you'll see what I mean.

 

[kaspaas]

Why not use K7 - it is cheaper to call the USA than a local cellphone.

 

[fingers121]

Actually, no Telkom doesn't have the service that I am looking for because with them, you have to have an existing line. I mentioned in my post that I don't want to use my existing number, may it be Telkom, Vodacom, etc, but want a dedicated number for this purpose.

Go to http://www.k7.net and google for others and you'll see what I mean.

OK, so get a dedicated new Telkom/Vodacom/whatever number then? Won't that work?

 

[ipodmusicman]

That would work, but that costs money, more money than I am willing to spend and since I am not making any money out of this, I am hoping for an already established solution. With Telkom, you'd need to install a new line and so forth, go figure the rest and the Vodacom solution requires you to have a contract, has a 120 second message limit, and so many features I don't need, etc, etc,

Believe me, many South Africans won't just call a US or UK number to leave voicemail - that is why I need a local solution. Just wish SkypeIn numbers were available for SA. Would make life SO easy!

 

[ipodmusicman]

I have now gathered that such a service that I am looking for is not available here in SA from any communications provider. Basically, you'd have to put something like this together yourself.

Now here is Plan B and I'd like to know if this is possible.

I get hold of an old or entry level cellphone, insert a prepaid sim card, hook it up to a PC using a data cable and get software that would receive the call, play a greeting and record the message the caller leaves.

Is this possible? And if so, how? And what software can I use?

Please help?

 

[fingers121]

I get hold of an old or entry level cellphone, insert a prepaid sim card, hook it up to a PC using a data cable and get software that would receive the call, play a greeting and record the message the caller leaves.

Is this possible? And if so, how? And what software can I use?

Please help?

With Telkom's new rates, it would be cheaper for you to use your US option, as calls to local cellphone numbers are more expensive the phoning the States

 

[Tallboy]

I have now gathered that such a service that I am looking for is not available here in SA from any communications provider. Basically, you'd have to put something like this together yourself.

Now here is Plan B and I'd like to know if this is possible.

I get hold of an old or entry level cellphone, insert a prepaid sim card, hook it up to a PC using a data cable and get software that would receive the call, play a greeting and record the message the caller leaves.

Is this possible? And if so, how? And what software can I use?

Please help?

An old smartphone like a Nokia 3650 or 6600 is probably your best bet. There is lots of "answering machine" type software for these phones (use Google or try Handango)

 

[vodacom3g]

Hi, I posted this on a different board, but I really need some help and I am hoping that somebody here in the Vodacom section can please help out.

I am looking for a voicemail service whereby callers can call and leave messages and those messages are then e-mailed to me. I don't want to use my existing number (which is a service that is offered by Vodacom and to contract numbers only). I want a seporate number that is dedicated for this purpose. I want to use the voicemail feature as a way for people to leave audio feedback for me to play on my podcast.

I personally cannot believe that nobody is offering this service in SA. There are so many out there in the USA, etc, even free ones like k7.net, but I cannot expect people who want to contribute to my podcast to call an overseas number.

Thanks

I heard today there is a voicemail to e-mail service available. The way I understand it, any voicemail left in your mailbox is mailed to you as a .wav file.

Would this work for you?

 

[jarr]

I heard today there is a voicemail to e-mail service available. The way I understand it, any voicemail left in your mailbox is mailed to you as a .wav file...

interesting... is this a new service, v3g?
any costs involved?

 

[ipodmusicman]

vodacom3g, I've read about the one that Vodacom offers, but the following prevent me from getting it:

a) You got to have a contract (which means that I'll be paying for something I don't need in order to get the facility)
b) 120 second voicemail limit. I want people to be able to leave longer messages if possible.

 

[ipodmusicman]

An old smartphone like a Nokia 3650 or 6600 is probably your best bet. There is lots of "answering machine" type software for these phones (use Google or try Handango)

I'll check it out. Thanks.

 

[vodacom3g]

interesting... is this a new service, v3g?
any costs involved?

Is the Pope Catholic?

I'm sure it'll cost something, will find out today. did not see it as a VAS on 4me.....maybe it's still coming.

Is a cool service, I'll definitely use it. Also you can now keep voice mails for future reference.

 

[jarr]

Is the Pope Catholic?

lol, yeah i seem to have made a few brain-dead comments in the early morning hours

 

[Edinetz]

Mailbox plus is the VAS service costs R20 a month - took a month for Vodacom to get my mailbox working after subscribing after being told it was not possible. Messages are still limited to 2min

 

[vodacom3g]

Yes, quite right. I was looking for a separate service, but it's part of Mailbox Plus @ R20 / month.

 

[Artagra]

One way to do it would be to get a cheap-as-possible contract with free weekend minutes, and add this service to it. Then, sell the phone, and use the sim card to make calls after hours with the free minutes. That way, you should defray a lot of the costs.

As to why no-one offers a service like you see overseas? Why, because voice lines in SA are super expensive - thank Telkom. In the US you can buy space in a rack at a Telco and have lines terminating on a voice service running on a server there - saves the telco costs (don't have to install lines to you) so you can buy hundreds or thousands of lines.

Artag

 

[ipodmusicman]

I've looked into the option of installing an answering machine application on my Nokia 6600. I installed the app, did a test call, pulled the AMR file off and converted it to wav. I must say, I am happy with the quality and it is something that I can use. It isn't the ideal solution, but it will do for now.

Anybody have a spare Nokia 6600 or similer phone lying around collecting dust?

 

[Artagra]

Got you a solution that's cheap and won't need an extra line

What you do is this - give the 'direct to voicemail' number for your existing cell out as your "voicemailbox" (it's something like 083 (extra number) 123 4567. Then get the monthly voicemail to email service. Sure, it will be a bit irratating in that your normal messages will be mixed in with other messages, but it's the cheapest option.

Artag