Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!mailrus!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request
From: tel@cdsdb1.att.com (Tom Lowe)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: AT&T VoiceMark(sm) Messaging Service
Message-ID: <4779@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 5 Mar 90 16:46:51 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 146, Message 1 of 9


Me again!

I have received several messages and I saw a couple in the Digest
regarding VoiceMark(sm).  I thought I would reply to these...

1.  RAO Cards.  Seems information we were given by a couple sources
regarding RAO Cards and the first 3 digits may be partially incorrect.
We were told to accept RAO Cards where the first 3 digits corresponded
to an Area Code in Bell South territory because they were Bell South
RAO's.  That is apparently wrong.  My thanks to those people who
pointed that out.  By the way, You won't be getting a free ride if you
use a 601 RAO Card, we will bill eventually.

2.  Someone asked about sending a message to multiple locations.  We
have that feature.  After you have finished recording your first
message and entered the options, you are given the opportunity to
record another message.  If you select to do so, You will be prompted
for another set of options, the same as for the first message.  When
you come to the Message Record portion, enter a "*T" (Star T for
Transfer) to copy your first message.  I'm not sure why they selected
T for transfer, but that's what they did.  I personally would have
selected *C for copy, but that's life.  You can now finish the rest of
your options.  You can do this for up to 10 messages in a single phone
call.

3.  Someone else also suggested using the service as a greeting card:
"While the ads I've seen suggest using voice-mark in special
situations such as alerting (sleeping) family of your travel plan
changes, etc., it may also be marketed as a voice-greeting-card-type
service.  The service is price competitive with a card and stamp and
suited for it.  With point-to-multipoint features (suggested in one of
the netnews replies), the service also competes with seasonal greeting
cards and is much more attractive from the point of view of amount of
user effort." AJE

4.  There was some question about access from Canada.  Canada is
considered International and as such, can't be accessed through the
800-562-MARK number.  This is not because of 800 routing restrictions,
but because of billing for VoiceMark.  International access costs more
than domestic access and as such will probably cost more to record a
message from Canada for delivery in the United States.  I'm looking
into more details regarding Canadian access and will post more info
when available.  By the way, if you send a message to Canada, you will
be paying an international rate.

Thanks for the replies and suggestions.  Keep 'em coming.  It's input
like this that makes a difference!


Tom Lowe
AT&T
tel@cdsdb1.ATT.COM
201-949-0428
VoiceMark(sm) Service:  1-800-562-MARK


P.S.   What would YOU like to see in a Voice Mail System?
for example:
       features,
       access methods (900 number, 800 number, 700 number, local number, etc)
       reasons for use,
       preferred pricing (flat rate, usage sensitive, etc),
       etc.  Anything that's on your mind.
       
       We are trying to come up with some requirements for a Voice Mail system
       and I figured what better place to get opinions that from all of you!
       
       Post or email...makes no difference to me.  I'll post summaries. 

Thanks!