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Voicemail to text - for Skype users on mobiles

An excited blogger writes: "As of 10am today (UK time) Skype users ALL OVER THE WORLD can have their voicemails converted into text via the magical wonder of SpinVox!"

Sadly, this enthusiasm is entirely biased! - the blogger is no independent observer, but James Whatley, a Spinvox blogger, with head up his A G.

"Skype users can now benefit from instant ‘visible voicemail’, and never miss those important calls from friends or colleagues when they are away from Skype. Recipients of converted voicemail messages can listen to the full voice message by either signing into Skype or by calling their Skype To Go number . As well as being able to receive voicemail as text via SpinVox, Skype users may choose instead to receive voicemail notification via SMS or for free by email,"

he writes. And your response is: "Spinvox does Skype voicemail? I thought Skype did voicemail for five Euros a month?" - and indeed, it does. But if you go to Spinvox and click on the voicemail link, it will take you to Skype who will indeed charge you.

So this offer is for Skype users who have paid their voicemail fees. Peter Parkes at Skype also remarks on Whatley's excitement:

"The SpinVox gnomes currently understand voicemail messages left in English, French, German and Spanish, and, believe me, they’re pretty good."

Well, I don't have a Skype voicemail account.

And I stopped giving money to Skype when they informed me that the money I had given them against future SkypeOut calls had "expired" - because I hadn't spent it. So I can't tell you how good "pretty good" is, sadly.

Is there a catch? Well, yes; when they say "to text" they mean "to txt" and that does rather restrict how long the voicemail can be. A txt is 160 characters:

Each message converted to text with SpinVox will cost 2.1¢, plus a maximum of 3 SMSs sent at standard rates (depending upon the length of the voicemail message). If the message cannot be converted (for instance, if there is a lot of background noise when the message is spoken) you’ll receive an alert (charged at Skype’s standard SMS rate) plus the 2.1¢ charge as mentioned above. All payments will be made through Skype Credit.

And then the bit that dissipated the enthusiasm: 

If you receive a very long voicemail message we’ll convert as much text as can be contained in three text messages. If you receive a long voicemail you’ll see ‘...’ at the end of the last text message to tell you there’s more content. Simply, sign into Skype to hear the full voicemail message.

Well, if you like giving money to Skype, and like SMS voicemail texts, go for it! But to beware: if someone sends you voicemail, and you don't notice right away, it will get converted to TXT after just ten minutes.  And the 2.1 cents will be deducted. Whether you wanted it or not. It pretty much has to work like that, but you do want to be sure you respond to Skype calls promptly!

The Official Line has the full company blurb...