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Call Someone – Without Having To Talk To Them

Posted by timothy on from the whole-new-way-to-get-ignored dept.

waderoush writes "After a long beta period, Boston-based MobileSphere launched a 'straight-to-voicemail' service yesterday called Slydial. If you call 267-SLY-DIAL and listen to a short ad, you can then be connected to the voicemail inbox of any US mobile phone subscriber, without causing their phone to ring. Sounds kinda useful — but incredibly, MobileSphere is pitching the service as a way to avoid actually communicating with all those difficult, boring people in your life. In reply to suggestions that Slydial erodes and cheapens genuine human interaction, a MobileSphere exec says the company is just combating technology with technology, by helping people take control of whether and when to talk with their friends, family, and coworkers."

3 of 413 comments (clear)

  1. Re:What's the point? by ystar · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Hey boss! Sorry I'm leaving ANOTHER message! Working from home today as usual. Are you out of town? I've called three times today but you must be in an area without coverage. I really need to talk with you about some implementation specifics before I can start coding." (goes back to sleep)

  2. Not exactly correct. by khasim · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Send email to xyz: "Dood, wanna join the party? It's, like, gonna be awesome!!!"

    Yep.

    Send SMS to xyz: "Hey, chk ur email"

    Yep.

    Then send the vmail to xyz: "Have your checked your SMS?"

    Nope. More like:
    "uhh hh hhh uh dood? I uh hh huh h mmmmmmm wanted to callyouabouttheparty and uh uh uh uh the party is ...."

    Repeat for about 10 minutes.

    I HATE voice-mail because almost no one knows how to leave a message CORRECTLY.

    Correct method:
    "Hi! This is *name* at *call back number* and I wanted to talk to you about *subject*. Once again, this is *name* at *call back number* calling about *subject*. Bye!"

    Incorrect method 1:
    "Hi! This is *name*. Call me."
    Unless you are the girlfriend/boyfriend. Then it is allowable.

    Incorrect method 2:
    "Hi! About the thing that blah blah blah blah blah *ten minutes pass* blah blah blah bl" Cut off by message limit timer.

    I prefer email and text because it takes MORE effort to type in excess material than voice-mail does.

  3. meetings? silence your phone by Animaether · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Seriously, if they are in a meeting - or elsewhere where a ringing phone is frowned upon - have them silence the thing.

    But I'm sure the marketing people will love this. Now they can 'call' you while circumventing a ton of provisions, including telling them to stop calling you right in the very phone call. .. not to mention kids and pranksters.

    I'd check my contract on the services rendered by my provider to see if this can be blocked.