I’m Calling It: Voicemail Is Dead

I got a new iPhone about ten months ago. (My last one got stolen.) I dicked around with the settings. I set up e-mail, threw some apps on there, as one does. I figured I’d set up voicemail when I had a sec.

I’m still waiting for that sec.

If I call myself I still get the “Welcome to your new mailbox!” I really meant to set it up, but the problem is, I haven’t missed it.

(More on Techland: iPhone 3GS Prices Drop to $97)

It turns out that I don’t really want my messages in the form of spoken words. It takes too long to listen to them. If there’s a number or an address in there, you have to write it down. Sometimes the reception fades in and out. The whole business of raising the phone to my ear and getting the message says to whoever I’m with, I’m not paying attention to you, I’m checking my messages.

It’s just not efficient. It takes all the inconvenient aspects of two-way communications and exports them to the world of one-way communication.

What I’m doing, by not setting up voicemail, is forcing people to text or email me. Whereupon I can glance at what they’ve sent me, quickly and unobtrusively, and take it in in one visual gulp. Whatever informational content is in there stays with me, for instant access, essentially forever. There’s probably a neat information-science way of putting this, but voicemail just seems hopelessly antiquated, like they’re snail-mailing me a wax cylinder of their voice.

So I’m calling it. Voicemail is over.

Get it? ‘Calling’ it? I just got that.

More on Techland:

They Should Make It: Cheap Smartphones With Free Service

How To Get Android Running On Your iPhone

Tweetie 2 Is Now Twitter For iPhone, Out Now

The 12 Best Android Widgets for 2012

With all due respect to smartphone apps, sometimes you don’t want to open a new program just to get some quick info or perform a minor task. That’s where Android widgets come in handy, bringing the functionality of those apps right to the phone’s home screen. But not all widgets are wonderful. Some are glorified app launchers, while others are downright ugly. Here are the 12 best widgets that no discerning Android user should be without.

Review: Soulo Converts iPad into Karaoke Machine

Karaoke lovers typically fall into two categories: Those who enjoy it, and those whose arms have to be twisted to get up and sing in public. Enter Soulo, a software and microphone kit that can turn an iPad or other Apple device into a karaoke machine. It gives you instant karaoke in the privacy of your own home, or wherever you carry your Apple gadgets. That’s the idea, anyway.

gum0nshoe

Maybe when my parent’s generation dies off, I don’t think they know how to operate a keyboard on a phone…
richardsrussell

I’m holding out for the telepathy app.
doubleang

I still use it frequently for work, but you’re right; when it comes to my cell, I would prefer people not leave messages. My dad occassionally calls, leaving one of those: “Hey, this is dad. give me a call. bye.”, and then my damn phone has a blinky little green light and a voicemail indicator in the status bar for weeks. Obviously he is unaware of the miracle that is instant caller ID

I think I’ll leave my voicemail functioning, just in case someone really important calls and wants to give me a million dollars or something, but I may change my voicemail to something stating that if they leave a message, it better be for something freaking important/
http://www.mabfan.com Michael A. Burstein

There was a recent article pointing out that many people barely use their cell phones for phone calls nowadays. Texting is much more prevalent.
http://thisisablogyo.wordpress.com thisisablogyo

I was just talking about this a week ago, about how annoying it is having to access voicemail, and PAY! to access it.
captainnoble

I can’t wait. I hate checking my voicemail at work and, in fact, I’m notorious for waiting two weeks or so before I do get caught up on them.
Kemper

From the obits:

Voicemail expired peacefully today after a long illness. It was proceeded by its parents, Answering Machine and Message Service. It is survived by it’s distant cousin, Text Message.
ghaff

Google Voice helps a bit. The transcription is pretty imperfect but it’s usually good enough to get the gist of the message and often the number if there is one. And, at any rate, the email tells me that there is a message which is useful by itself. That said, I get very few voice messages.
beckie66

As a parent, I disagree. Doctor, dentist, school, etc…all important calls that I am not always available to take. Not everyone uses email or texting to communicate.