Stop Listening to Voicemail...READ IT Instead

How many people out there are like me when it comes to checking voicemail? I cannot stand it! In today’s world, where we are used to instant communication, it just seems archaic to have to dial into your voicemail and listen to your messages. Don’t forget to have a pen and pad nearby just in case you have to write something down, which is kind of hard to do while driving!

Well, if you are like me, there is now a solution from Simulscribe. They’ve created a cool new service that actually takes your voicemail messages, transcribes them into text and sends it to you via email or text message. I’ve been using the service for the past month and I love it! I have not dialed into voicemail since setting it up.

It’s easy to sign up for, just visit here. Simulscribe will set aside a new voicemail box number for you. You must contact your carrier to forward all calls that you don’t answer to this new number. You then elect to receive your transcribed messages via text or email or you can do like I do, and elect to receive both. If you just like to hear someone’s voice every now and then, the service is still for you. When you elect to receive an email message, the message will come with the transcribed message along with a .wav file of the actual message.

This is a great convenience tool. You no longer have to waste time dialing into and listening to voicemail. You also don’t have to worry about writing down information like a person’s name, callback number, or directions. You’ll get it all in the transcribed message. Another feature is you have a paper trail just in case you get into one of those “Well, you said” matches.

Simulscribe is available from most carriers. SimulScribe’s basic service is $9.95 per month for 40 transcribed voicemail messages and $.25 per message thereafter. SimulScribe also offers a monthly $29.95 unlimited plan (for a limited time only).

It’s easy to sign up. Just go here. If you sign up through this site, you will receive a free 30 day trial.

Stop listening to voicemail; READ IT! Free Trial at www.SimulScribe.com

Did You Know:

Women are more inclined to click on text-based mobile ads while men are more likely to be lured by video marketing messages, according to a study of U.K. users from Tickbox, a London-based market research firm.

The survey, which was commissioned by mobile media publisher MoMac, found that text ads are the most effective mobile advertising format, favored by 56% of wireless users. Sixty percent of women preferred text ads, according to the study, while only 47% of men opted for the links.

Picture or banner ads were the second-most popular format, favored by 29% of all users, while nearly one-quarter of males cited video advertising as the favorite method. Only 12% of females preferred video ads. Unsurprisingly, 16- to 24-year-olds preferred video by a nearly two-to-one ration over users older than 55.

Younger users also preferred to view ads in exchange for content, while more than half of users 45 and older opting to buy content a la carte. And 54% of females preferred the pay-per-download mode compared to 41% of men, who were more accepting of mobile ads.
Source: www.rcrnews.com

Verizon Introduces Plans Including Mobile Email

Verizon just introduced several new plans that include data applications in addition to just voice minutes. The plans include unlimited messaging, the VCAST VPak, VZ Navigator, and Mobile E-mail. Unlimited messaging allows users to send text, picture, video, and IM messages to any domestic network. VZ Navigator is a location based service using GPS to give turn by turn directions as well as locate points of interest. Mobile E-mail provides access to up to 10 email accounts from services such as Yahoo, AOL, and Hotmail. VCAST VPak gives users access to entertainment options such as video clips, news, sports, games, and unlimited web access.

The new plans start at $79.99 for 450 minutes and go up to $239.99 for 6000 minutes. A compatible phone is necessary to take advantage of all the features offered.

Did You Know: Young Adults Text While Driving

A large percentage of young drivers in the United States say they both talk and send text messages on their cell phone while driving. A Zogby International poll found two-thirds of drivers between the ages of 18 and 24 send text messages while driving and almost all said they talk on their phone while driving. Of the overall population, only 16% of cellphone users said they send text messages while driving and 77% said they talk while driving.

A New Way to Text Message

Wouldn't it be great if text messaging worked just like email, where you have the option to reply to all recipients in a group text message? Well, 3jam.com has created a great Reply-All Text Messaging tool for this. With 3jam.com you can send a message to multiple people and they will all have the option to reply to all. This works great for making plans and keeping everyone in the loop. 3jam.com offers the option to send a group message from their website, directly from the phone, or from a Reply-All Text Messaging application you can download directly to your phone. Both the website and the application allow you to set up friend groups, such as "baseball team" so you don't have to search for every team member. The best thing about it is if you send a group text message to 10 recipients from your phone, you get charged for 10 text messages; but sending the same message using 3jam, you get charged for only 1 text message, since 3jam is doing the message replicating.

3jam.com even offers a widget you can place on a webpage or myspace allowing readers to send a text to you directly from your page. For example, send me a text.