[duckman]

So I've been happily using Youmail (youmail.com) as my voicemail service. I really liked that they transcribe the voicemail and send you a SMS or email of it. Next week they're going out of beta and they'll start charging for this service. Fair enough, they've got to make a living. But $17.99/month for the full service?!?! That's almost as much as I pay for my DSL connection.
They're keeping a cut down free version, but it only sends the first 10-15 secs of the voicemail as a text message and I don't get free text messages. Personally, I'd've had a free version that had some ads for revenue and retained more features.

Does anyone know of another voicemail service with transcription that is either free or cheaper?

Thanks,

[koleary19067]

phonetag

[zerog46]

NowMessage » NowMessage.com for Smart Phones Now Available

[MajSingh]

Originally Posted by zerog46

NowMessage » NowMessage.com for Smart Phones Now Available

Thats looks good. I might be jumping over there when youmail starts charging. I understand they need to make $ but thats a steep bill in my opinion

[akosnitzky]

Wirelessly posted (Verizon 8830)

Thank you
I agree with the OP.
I will check out the competition. I like You Mail but NOT at the price.

[CureMS]

The fee services on YouMail are specifically for their "premium" transcription services. I don't generally use the transcriptions but my account page shows that I have the "Voicemail to Text - YouMail Loyalty Gift Pack." So, I assume I will continue to receive the lower level (less accurate) transcriptions.

Unlimited phonetag is $29.95 per month and NowMessage is audio only.

I'm quite happy with the voicemail service I have with YouMail but if you need the best transcription, I would expect it won't be free.

[Lord Palmerston]

This article goes over four visual voicemail/transcription services:

Ranking the visual voicemail services | BB Geeks

Plus, of course, NowMessage, though they don't do transcription right now.

[sflorack]

For those who need clarification, they will continue offering todays services FREE.

They will start charging for an enhanced (optional) transcriber service, which is reported to have 95% accuracy. Monthly pricing is $3.99/50 text messages, $6.99/50 emails, $9.99/unlimited text messages, and $17.99/unlimited email.

Really can't understand why email is more expensive than text messages... but still glad they're offering as-it-is-now services for nothing. (Even if the free transcriber is pretty bad!)

[zerog46]

There is Spinvox which works very well, not sure about the price, I signed up when it first started so it was free.

SpinVox – SpinVox for You

[duckman]

Originally Posted by sflorack

For those who need clarification, they will continue offering todays services FREE.

That's not what I understood from their email to me. I quote:
"Beginning November 16th, your beta transcription service will be replaced by a new offering that provides very accurate transcriptions, and lets you select from several monthly plans, including a free option."

The free option only transcribes the first 10-15 secs of a message, send it by text message, and only from one particular caller (or a limited number per month).

That's quite reduced from what the beta service was.

Like CureMS, I also appear to have a loyalty gift pack, but that is set to expire in December. So I will need a longer term solution. I'll check out the other suggestions, thanks!

[CureMS]

Originally Posted by sflorack

Really can't understand why email is more expensive than text messages... but still glad they're offering as-it-is-now services for nothing. (Even if the free transcriber is pretty bad!)

The difference is that text messages are only the first 10-15 seconds while email messages are the first 45 seconds.

[duckman]

Originally Posted by CureMS

The difference is that text messages are only the first 10-15 seconds while email messages are the first 45 seconds.

I'm guessing they're aiming the cheaper options at users without email on their phone, so text is the only option. The 10-15 seconds is a hard limit on the length a text message can be. In terms of their operational costs, I doubt there is much difference in their packages. The pricing scheme is mostly artificial.

[sflorack]

Originally Posted by duckman

That's not what I understood from their email to me. I quote:
"Beginning November 16th, your beta transcription service will be replaced by a new offering that provides very accurate transcriptions, and lets you select from several monthly plans, including a free option."

The email I received was completely different.

Originally Posted by duckman

The free option only transcribes the first 10-15 secs of a message, send it by text message, and only from one particular caller (or a limited number per month).

In the beta service, I was only getting 10-15 seconds of message transcribing via SMS anyways, which is probably more a restriction of the 120 character max than of Youmail. The one contact restriction would be a bummer, however..

Regardless, even if we "have" to upgrade to the paid service, Youmail offers 50 transcribes at $4/mo. Phonetag and Spinvox charge $10/mo for 40 transcribes.

[akg]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry 9000)

I was disappointed they are changing this also, but I really like YouMail and guess I will be going for the 6.99/mo package

[John Clark]

It was fun while it lasted...

[rachamphetamine]

Dang, I can't believe it's no longer free. I knew it would be coming, though.

[Helmdawg]

aside from the transcription service, isn't it still free? I am still receiving email alerts with wav files...

[TroyDBrown]

Originally Posted by Helmdawg

aside from the transcription service, isn't it still free? I am still receiving email alerts with wav files...

Only transcription is a charge.

[Helmdawg]

Originally Posted by TroyDBrown

Only transcription is a charge.

Thanks Troy.. Thats fine for me then. I really didn't rely on the transcription anyways.

[akosnitzky]

I signed up for the $6.99 You Mail Service just now. It is a service I find necessary even if I have to pay. Especially helpful to delete a voice message via e-mail as opposed to calling the number each time.