Just another WordPress weblog

Well, I guess there’s a market for everything. Alltel today announced the introduction of Voicemail MAX. When I see the term “MAX,” especially when in capital letters, I think “maximum.” As in, getting the maximum out of my voicemail in this case. My hopes upon reading the headline was that Alltel would be further expanding its voice-to-text service that it rolled out in December. However, I was very disappointed to find that it’s a service that lets you put “the voices of Hollywood stars, comedians, celebrity impersonators, and top-selling music artists” as your outgoing voicemail message. Pardon me while I let out a very sarcastic “woo hoo.”

“With Voicemail MAX from Alltel Wireless, our customers now have a fun way to personalize their wireless service,” said Kristi Crum, director of multi-media content for Alltel Wireless. “With hundreds of messages to choose from, customers can select voicemail greetings that match their personalities for incoming calls from friends, family and colleagues.”

Okay, so I know some people will dig this, just like they dig ringback tones (another phenomenon I can’t understand). Alltel is selling this as “personalization,” as if choosing some celebrity to announce that you can’t come to the phone is really an expression of yourself. I’m sorry, but speaking your own message seems to me like a more “personalized” way to express yourself.

In any event, it will cost you $2.99 a message, so if that’s what you want to go blow your weekly allowance on, be my guest. I do have to say, though, that I will not leave you a message if you have one of these. And if you have Larry the Cable Guy, well, I just won’t call you anymore.

(I jest…but not really.)

[Businesswire]

Share on Facebook | Add to De.licio.us | Digg This! | Technorati