Voicemail is dead. This provocative pronouncement was posted at TechCrunch. I don’t know if it’s an occupational hazard of working remotely online all the time, but I have always preferred email over the phone. It’s non-disruptive to workflow and way more time-efficient. Apparently, TechCrunch agrees:
Typical voicemail messages today include things like “Please don’t leave me a voicemail, I rarely listen to them. Please just email me at xxxx@xxxx.com” Many people don’t bother setting up their voicemail accounts at all. Then there’s my favorite method, the one I use personally – let the message box get full and then don’t empty it. Caller ID still tells me who called, and I can simply call them back.
How many times have you called someone back and said “I saw that you called but didn’t listen to the voicemail yet, Is it anything urgent?”
Frustration mounts when a simple request or bit of information turns into a three-day phone tag fest – when a simple email would do just fine.
So how to make the best of voice mail? TechCrunch suggests using a message transcription service- Vonage offers this option for 25 cents per message – and it’s WORTH IT. Check out TechCrunch’s post.. what do you think?
Think Before You Voicemail (TechCrunch)
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi TechSavvy – thanks for the comment! I agree the “dead” term is a bit premature. It all boils down to what works best for the people involved… and their typing speed.
I don’t get the need to pronounce voicemail dead.
Shouldn’t it be about choice and personal preference and style.
While it may be quicker to read an email than listen to a voicemail, isn’t it quicker to leave a voicemail than type an email?
Use what works for you and accept what works for your colleague.
People just need to use what is available to them in a productive manner. I see pros and cons to both voice and text methods. Personally I prefer text methods but it would be naive to say that voicemail is dead.
I have never done this. I don’t act like a tech snob and exclude people who choose to communicate with me via voicemail just because it doesn’t meet my standards. I’m all about using tools though to make better use of voicemail.
Besides, I sometimes would like to hear a voicemail from a loved one rather than getting an impersonal e-mail or text message.