Posted at 9:15 a.m., Thursday, February 22, 2007
Hawaiian Telcom unveils 'visual voicemail' service
News Release
Hawaiian Telcom today announced a groundbreaking new "visual voicemail" service that links cell phones with desktop and laptop computers to give customers greater control over their communications. The company is the first service provider in the United States to offer this innovative Call Choice(SM) advanced voice management solution.The company is making the service available to almost all cell phone users in Hawai'i regardless of their wireless provider.
With Call Choice visual voicemail, a voice message left on a cell phone is immediately delivered as an audio file to a subscriber's e-mail. Subscribers then can listen and respond to the message from their computer. The service also allows subscribers to organize, store and even forward the voice message via e-mail. Messages also can still be accessed the traditional way by dialing into the mobile phone's voicemail.
"Hawaiian Telcom is providing richer options for voicemail and call management through our Call Choice family of services," said Jon Gelman, Hawaiian Telcom's Vice President-Wireless Operations & Development. "Through visual voicemail, customers can see, prioritize, and listen to messages and even send a text reply or initiate a call back from their computers. Visual voicemail brings a new level of ease and convenience to managing mobile phone content. We're glad to bring this innovation to Hawai'i because it enables our customers to interact with their calls and calling communities in ways that few have considered before."
The visual voicemail feature is free to all Hawaiian Telcom wireless subscribers. To sign up for Call Choice, customers should visit www.callchoice.com. Subscribers can use their existing mobile number and phone.
GREATER CONTROL AND CONVENIENCE
Similar to the way that Apple iTunes uses the computer for easy iPod music management, the visual voicemail feature of Call Choice uses the desktop to manage calls, messages and calling communities. With just a few clicks of a mouse, users can see and prioritize voice messages, choosing to listen and respond to key voicemails. Users also benefit from the call archive and auto populating PC-based contact list.
Visual voicemail is one of many innovative features made possible through Hawaiian Telcom's Call Choice platform. Among the features are:
Hawaiian Telcom's visual voicemail users can try these features today. The company intends to bring further Call Choice innovations to market in the future.
For more information, please visit www.callchoice.com, call Hawaiian Telcom at 643-3456 (select "Wireless Options") or visit any Hawaiian Telcom retail store statewide. Store locations and hours are available at www.hawaiiantel.com.
SERVICE AVAILABLE TO OTHER WIRELESS CUSTOMERS
Call Choice visual voicemail also can be used by people who are not Hawaiian Telcom wireless customers. The service works with most other wireless carriers in Hawai'i. Users are not required to change their wireless provider, cell number or cell phones.
Now through April 30, 2007, customers of other major wireless providers may sign up for a free trial of Hawaiian Telcom's Call Choice visual voicemail at www.callchoice.com.
Hawaiian Telcom's Call Choice services are based on technology developed by CallWave, a company that develops innovative voice applications and software that links phones and computers to create new, convenient ways to use and manage communications.
