Just One Little Feature
Why oh why oh why is there not just one simple little feature for cell phones: a skip-to-leave-a-voicemail function/key sequence? Lovely as my girlfriend’s voice is, I already know she is going to tell me to leave a message and that she will get back to me. I already know she is not available. And goodness, I already know (if I’m listening to a Verizon-serviced phone) how to leave a voicemail. Is this a money-making move? I suspect it is. Keeping customers on the phone longer (the call begins when voicemail picks up) allows phone companies to make good money in very small increments. Consider this: Cingular features a direct to web button on most of their phones which, if pushed, almost always transfers web data before the user can mash enough buttons to stop the transfer (or in my case, try to rip the battery out) before charges are incurred.
The devil is in the details for the consumers, fighting large telephone companies making millions by charging customers cents. These annoyances are stupid, but when the realization that massively distributed WiFi has the potential to disrupt even mighty wireless telecom (especially in cities), perhaps users will see cell service improve. Looking at the bigger picture, perhaps voicemails as we know them will simply cease to exist. Maybe all those calls saying “I’m 10 minutes from X” will yield to a live network reporting user’s positions to selected other users. Wireless technology still could make our lives easier, less swamped with work, and more relaxed. Until them, I’ll be mashing buttons trying to disconnect my accidental and costly web connections.
Comments
John
Let's investigate the new words in this one. Suspectit - A suspicion that some things are out of our control and just a figment of our freudian nature. Charages - when one charge turns into a barrage of them and soon you are broke. :) I had to Alex. I agree, I hate Verizon's extremely long how-to-leave-a-message recording.
Justin Gehring
Some of the voicemails have the power to shut that off if you dig deep enough in the menu… As with most telephone companies though, does it really matter if the voicemail call took 30 seconds vs. 40 seconds… In most cases, that's rounded up to the nearest minute anyway… and it's very rare a voicemail is longer than a minute, unless John is leaving the message ;-). Just kidding sir John.
John
Oh Alex, you're no fun. I don't know when you changed your post but it was fun while it lasted. Spelling errors can be so funny. Have a nice little friday!