current CDMA cellphone with answer machine ?

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blueheeler

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#22952 13-Jun-2008 10:31

Hi team

Wondering if a good brother or sister out there can direct me to a mobile model on Telecom's NZ current CDMA network that has an answer machine built in. And would be particularly interested in any users that are presently using this feature and its merits.
1. Ideally built-in to Hardware
2. if not built into hardware then a software option, although from what I have seen they tend to be buggy.
Thanx in advance

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#137777 13-Jun-2008 10:44

Perhaps get one of the cheapest Windows Mobile devices and install a software answering machines?

Mind you this kind of solution will only record one message at a time, so if a second call comes in it will get a busy response - unlike the hosted voice mail offered by the operator.

mobygeek

307 posts

Ultimate Geek

#138917 18-Jun-2008 10:02

My Sanyo M1, which is temproarily unavailable (if you are out of stock in-store), has voice services in the menu. Then choose screen call. You can have a pre-recorded announcement or make your own. The problem I have is then remembering how to listen to the messages. And a bit complicated...

nzbnw

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#138942 18-Jun-2008 11:41

freitasm: Perhaps get one of the cheapest Windows Mobile devices and install a software answering machines?

Interesting, I have never thought of that. In this case the Okta Agent may be the perfect fit, only $99 ($399 outright less email deal) across most consumer plans (24months Freetime 300/600 Flexi Mytime Flexi Anytime Flexi Business and Anytime GO plans) with one year’s free mobile email to boot.

nzbnw

tonyhughes

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#138961 18-Jun-2008 13:45

Most of the devices with built in answering machines have been Sanyos, and the ring time is limited to about 16 seconds. Typically difficult to navigate, the notifications are poor, and recording time is poor.

Hardware vs. Software is a non-starter - its all written as software running on hardware.

Windows Mobile is your best bet, but sounds like you are bringing a BFG9000 to a cream pie fight if you go down that route.

What are your motives? Saving 20c (x number of voicemails)? Or other.

Let us know the outcome you want, and we will try and reverse engineer the right solution for you.

blueheeler

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#138963 18-Jun-2008 13:55

Thanks for the reply, independent of voicemail x 20c, the main reason I wanted was that I would like
my Voicemail to be current as. In other words instead of "You've reached the cell phone of Mr X", I
would like to change at a minimum twice a day, so that my voicemail would read "Its Wednedsday
afternoon, and you've reached" or "Its Wednesday 18th June, and ......".

Cheers

blueheeler

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#138965 18-Jun-2008 13:57

....should of also added would prefer not to be Windows Mobile, and would prefer a hardware
situation rather than software....but as above comments attest this is the way it works anyway.

tonyhughes

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#138984 18-Jun-2008 16:07

I believe Sanyo M1 might be your only option. Just check with an M1 owner first though - I had one, but I can't remember its exact capabilitys.

On a side note, I can't imagine changing my voicemail twice a day, but of course I know its important to some people! I hate voicemail full stop, it plunders the economy (especially when network based):

You pay to call me, even if it hits my voicemail. You say "It's Fred Simms, please call me on abc1234567"
I return your call, but you are now busy. I leave message saying "Hi Fred, Tony here - playing phone tag, whats up?"
You call back - voicemail again - you already paid for that call to be connected, and say "Just wanted to get some info on xyz"
I call back and get you.

The network(s) recieve revenue for FOUR calls, just to sort one thing out...

Bad voicemail

:-P

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mobygeek

307 posts

Ultimate Geek

#140423 25-Jun-2008 12:24

I've got the M1. The screen call function has an answer time of 1 - 16 seconds. 12 seconds for recording a custom announcement. Would those time limits be suitable...

blueheeler

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#140551 25-Jun-2008 19:03

Are you saying that total time for each message is 16 sec's. Or do you mean just for the
outgoing annoucement msg? 16 sec's would not be enough for any caller to leave enough details.

Or is this reliant on the capacity of some type of add-in memory card, mini-SD for eg?

Cheers

mobygeek

307 posts

Ultimate Geek

#142239 2-Jul-2008 14:56

Sorry about the delay getting back to you, the M1 has an internal memory of 1G, no external memory. I leave a twelve second message, and I set the answer time to between one and sixteen seconds. The pre-recorded (american female) voice says 'please record your message'. So, I just tested it. Got the 'please record your message', then had seventeen seconds according to my own screen. I then said my name, and I heard it vaguely from my phone. I assume I can listen to the message while being recorded and intercept it if I want to. It's too much effort for me, that's for sure. Anyway, the symbol to tell me I have a recorded message looks like a grumpy face!

NonprayingMantis

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#150621 23-Jul-2008 12:57

blueheeler:
Thanks for the reply, independent of voicemail x 20c, the main reason I wanted was that I would like
my Voicemail to be current as. In other words instead of "You've reached the cell phone of Mr X", I
would like to change at a minimum twice a day, so that my voicemail would read "Its Wednedsday
afternoon, and you've reached" or "Its Wednesday 18th June, and ......".

Cheers

If you don’t mind me asking, why do you want that? Are the people you expect to get messages from unaware what day it is?