voice mail

[′vȯis ‚māl]

(communications)

A method of storing voice-recorded messages and delivering them electronically to an intended receiver.

voice mail

(messaging, business)

Any system for sending, storing and retrieving audio messages, like a telephone answering machine.

A voice mailbox is typically associated with a telephone number or extension. When the number is called and the line is busy or not answered, the caller hears a message left by the owner and is given instructions for leaving a message or other available options, such as paging the individual or being transferred to an operator. The owner of a mailbox can change the outgoing message or listen to incoming messages after entering a PIN. Members of a voice mail system can generally forward or broadcast messages to other members' boxes.

The experience of two people trying to reach other by telephone but always reaching each other's voice mail is referred to as "(tele)phone tag".

This article is provided by FOLDOC - Free Online Dictionary of Computing (foldoc.org)

voicemail

A computerized telephone answering system that digitizes incoming voice messages and stores them on disk or flash memory. Voicemail often provides auto attendant capability, which uses prerecorded messages to route the caller to the appropriate person, department or mailbox. Voicemail systems may also offer directory lookup by name.

The term is so ubiquitous that it may also refer to older answering machines that are analog tape recorders with answering features. See virtual voicemail and visual voicemail.

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References in periodicals archive

Consider now the situation where the telecommunications company provides voice mail services to both individuals free of charge.

Optimal pricing for voice mail services: a comment

Now the system allows for people to pick up the phone if necessary or to let it go to voice mail. This way we have voice mail for detailed messages, but you can get a person to answer when someone is available.

Should incoming calls be answered in person or is a voice mail routing system a more efficient option?

For $39.95 per month, Angel.com supplies Krazy Kickz with a toll-free vanity number (866-2LACEUP), a voice-activated voice mail and call transfer system, and the convenience of being able to manage the service from their PCs.

Build a better business: new developments in technology--and better use of the tried and true--will help you take your business to the next level

Mid-Atlantic: Verizon Wireless ranks highest, outperforming its competitors in initial connections and timely voice mail notification.

Time to change wireless carriers?

After Voice Mail's triumph, Balding snr said: "For the first time in a couple of years I went to have my eyes tested and, when they asked me for a tip, I told them to have an each-way double on Fleeting Moon and Albinus, so it will be with some embarrassment that I go back there having failed to give them our winner!

Bath: Voice Mail times it right to give Balding deserved win

I'd rather talk face-to-face and live with anybody, any day, than leave voice mails and correspond by e-mail.

What I have learned ..

Bailey adds, "I have found that e-mail has replaced a lot of my voice mail. Although e-mails can also be overwhelming, efficiencies to be gained are that messages do not have to be transcribed and can be reviewed when it suits you, and replying is easy.

Addressing management issues: effective use of voice mail and a supervisor's wife giving orders to other lab techs. (Management Q&A)

In a voice mail to all of Goldman's 20,000 employees, he acknowledged that his remarks were insensitive" and "glib." In other words, he apologized.

It's (not that) hard to say you're sorry. (Thought Leader)

Terri Kouba, project lead for the Unified Communications Project at the University of California at Berkeley, describes it this way: "Up until now, when you sent me a message, I had to receive it in the format you chose: e-mail, voice mail, or fax.

Converge is the word: new and existing communications technologies are converging. Are you getting the message. (Technology)