Eternal Voicemail
By M. Kotch
Source: Flickr.com
We’ve all had the urge to call someone just to hear his or her voice, pick up a photograph to examine a smile or watch a video to hear a laugh. That need only grows stronger after losing someone dear and wishing to stay connected. Thankfully, modern technology allows us to keep a part of someone alive in a way that has eluded generations past.
One of the hardest parts of losing someone is realizing that he or she will not pick up the phone when you call. However, many find solace in listening to a loved one’s voice during a message. Many companies now offer memorial-type services including Facebook, which has introduced memorial pages. Another company has introduced a way to store a loved one’s outgoing voice message for safekeeping: Eternal Voicemail.
How it works:
The company transfers a loved one’s voicemail before his or her phone contract is terminated. The message is then saved to the company’s own system, called the EternalVoicemail system.
How to access the voicemail:
By calling the company’s number, then dialing a specific code that has been assigned to your loved one’s voice message.
How interactive is the service?
The Eternal Voicemail service is very interactive. It gives callers a chance to leave messages of their own which the company will then forward to you (the sponsor) and convert into .wav files that you can listen to online (though it is unclear if you will then own the .wav files or only be allowed to access them through Eternal Voicemail’s server).
How much does it cost and what services does it include?
Eternal Voicemail operates on a contract basis. A monthly payment of $9.99 includes 25 calls to listen to your loved one’ voicemail, and 25 messages that can be left on his or her Eternal Voicemail account.
Service Pros:
• Eternal Voicemail will take care of importing and storing your loved one’s voicemail on your behalf
• The company allows friends and family to call and leave messages of their own as a way to connect with a loved one
• The company offers a service that would prove very difficult for those who aren’t technologically savvy
• You can easily sign up online
Service Cons:
• Eternal Voicemail may not be affordable if you want to hold on to a loved one’s voicemail indefinitely
• The only way to contact Eternal Voicemail is through their contact us form. No technical support is available by phone for new users. Calling the automated system listed prompts you to leave a message
• The company does not indicate what would happen to your loved one’s voicemail if they were to go out of business or if you stop making payments
• There are ways of doing this yourself:
o You can always play the voicemail or voice messages on speaker (with the volume turned all the way up) and record them using a physical recorder
o Software such as Skype allows you to download a call recorder, which you can then use to make and record calls with. Click here if you use a PC, and click here if you use a MAC
