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View Full Version : Visual Voicemail Interface: iPhone Envy No More!

Chuong Nguyen
11-13-2007, 03:38 AM
Visual voicemail and the iPhone's ability to have a separate folder that organizes voicemail files have made Apple the envy of many. However, I've been using MotionApps' (http://www.motionapps.com/index.jsp) software called mVisualVoiceMail (http://www.motionapps.com/mvisualvoicemail/_otherppc.jsp), which works on Pocket PCs and Smartphones, including Pocket PCs with a square screen.

The interface is awesome. I can now say that I no longer have iPhone envy. By using some of the services that Brandon recently reviewed (http://pocketnow.com/index.php?a=portal_detail&t=news&id=4420) and adding this software onto my AT&T Tilt, I can now have my voicemail files emailed to me and sorted into a separate folder for me to review. The voicemail service, which is separate, emails me the voicemail file in either .wav or .mp3 format, and mVisualVoiceMail scans my inbox for those attachments, pulls them into their interface where I can play and browse voicemail. There's even a Today screen plugin.

The service only works with voicemail audio files contained as an email attachment. It will not pull speech-to-text transcribed voicemails through services like SimulScribe (http://www.simulscribe.com/), which is fine for most people because those will probably be read like a regular email anyways.

MotionApps provided a great product for Windows Mobile. They saw a void in this market and fulfilled it. The only thing missing from this application is the ability to flag, tag, or mark specific voicemails for later review. As is, the software is easy to use and works well. I've appreciated Windows Mobile for its robust applications, hard keyboard on my Tilt, and 3G capabilities on many newer phones, but there used to be a part of me that envied iPhone users for the voicemail feature. Now, thanks to MotionApps, I no longer have iPhone envy.

For detailed reviews of the voicemail services, you can read Brandon's reviews here:
Part 1 (http://pocketnow.com/index.php?a=portal_detail&t=news&id=4391)
Part 2 (http://pocketnow.com/index.php?a=portal_detail&t=news&id=4397)
Part 3 (http://pocketnow.com/index.php?a=portal_detail&t=news&id=4399)
Part 4 (http://pocketnow.com/index.php?a=portal_detail&t=news&id=4410)
Conclusion (http://pocketnow.com/index.php?a=portal_detail&t=news&id=4420)
JKingGrim
11-16-2007, 12:25 PM
So the SimulScribe service works with your carrier to pull voicemails an store it on your device? And its free (unless you have sprint?)? Will it always be free or is that just for the beta? If you do have to pay in the future, will it be monthly?
Brandon Miniman
11-17-2007, 01:23 PM
I did a bunch of coverage on SimulSays and SimulScribe - you can read it here (http://pocketnow.com/index.php?a=portal_detail&t=news&id=4391). Overall, I found the application to be a bright idea - but in need of work (though it was in beta at the time). The accuracy rates were so-so (not as good as SpinVox).
mario23
11-25-2007, 08:34 PM
Ok so to clarify, in order to use this, I need to have a service that converts voicemails and sends them to me email...

Is this alone something the AT&T can do or is there a particular company out there for that? I looked at Spinvox and the others listed here but they appear to for converting voice to test...
Thanks
Brandon Miniman
11-25-2007, 09:00 PM
So do you want actual iPhone-like visual voicemail, or do you want the voice to text conversion? If the former, then download SimulSays or mVisualVoicemail as mentioned above. If the latter, SpinVox works great.
mario23
11-25-2007, 09:40 PM
I kind of figured it out...sorry.
I have mvisual and signed up with simulsays but not thrilled with it.
No caller ID with the messages and volume seemed real low.

I'll try Spinvox.
Thanks again...
playdeep
11-25-2007, 11:36 PM
do we know when simulsays will work for ppc and wm6? I want visual voicemail but I want transcription far more. so until simulsays improves on text conversion and works on ppc I will have to wait. where do I get spinvox? how much main memory does it require? I am on verizon. does spinvox at least tell u the number who left the message if not names from contact messager? thanks brandon.
mario23
11-26-2007, 12:17 AM
do we know when simulsays will work for ppc and wm6? I want visual voicemail but I want transcription far more. so until simulsays improves on text conversion and works on ppc I will have to wait. where do I get spinvox? how much main memory does it require? I am on verizon. does spinvox at least tell u the number who left the message if not names from contact messager? thanks brandon.

It works right now. The only problem I really have with it is that its not showing me the caller ID info in the messages, but that may be because of visual voice.

spinvox didn't work for me because it only offers transcriptions and I want the audio file sent as well.

I also found another one called Callwave that I will probably try if my caller ID issue can't be resolved...
playdeep
11-26-2007, 01:28 AM
I want caller id and the audio file would be a plus but clean accurate transcriptions are most important since I tend to stay on my voicemails pretty well. does spinvox does not do number or caller id at all? did u notcie a better accuracy with spinvox like brandon did? thanks.
mario23
12-03-2007, 11:14 AM
Both worked well in that regard. When you check the email itself, you find the caller ID number and the transcription. Its when Visual Voice extracts the info to its own program that I lose the caller ID. The transcription itself in the email was accurate for both programs.
playdeep
12-03-2007, 11:43 AM
is there not a wm5/6 verson of this software yet? looks like they don't have it for free anymore...only as a 7 day trial.
Brandon Miniman
12-03-2007, 11:50 AM
is there not a wm5/6 verson of this software yet? looks like they don't have it for free anymore...only as a 7 day trial.

SimulSays works with 5/6.
mario23
12-03-2007, 01:47 PM
UPDATE

I got rid of the motionapps progam and am now using the Simulsays Beta.
Good news is the program works nicely. I now get all my caller ID info, transcription and audio file integrated into the program. The only thing I would like to see added now is a Today Screen plugin.
playdeep
12-03-2007, 01:49 PM
if it was in beta i wouldnt think they would be charging for it. is it still only available for seven day trial mario?
mario23
12-03-2007, 03:22 PM
The Simulsays Beta does not appear to have any expiration on it and is free.
The Simulscribe transription service is available in either unlimited for $30 a month, 40 messages@ $10 a month, or per message (I think .35 per).
All come with the first 7 days free for trial.
playdeep
12-03-2007, 03:53 PM
are you not using the speech to text service on it? that is the most important feature for me. from what you say that does cost per message (which for me could get very expensive...I get 30 vm's a day) but that it is still free to get the voicemessage stuff in mp3s? that is cool but not the first feature I need compared to voicemails as texts. thanks.
mario23
12-03-2007, 07:28 PM
The Simulscribe account is voice to text AND audio files together.
They along with the caller ID info are sent to your email. You can also choose the format you want such as WAV or MP3 ect...
If you get that many voice mails, you would have to use the unlimited plan which about $30.00 a month.

The Simulsays software beta that runs on the PPC is a free beta. You don't need it but its a nice feature since it catalogs the voice mails for you instead of looking for them in you email inbox.
playdeep
12-03-2007, 08:09 PM
hmmmm I am confused. this really is not complex to understand from what I can tell. is the the free beta not do text ? or is that only the emails which I have to pay for each one.? looks like simulsays has the voicemail which will work until they are done testing it for free. It sounds like scribe is only free for a week trial. has it worked any longer than a week for anyone without requiring you to pay?