Free voicemail (1571 type) service with personalised pre-recorded greeting message ?

FF99

I have a BT line and (currently) no carrier pre-select service, as I use the 1899 prefix for all my calls

Until recently I have used the Onetel voicemail service (available without having to sign up to Onetel carrier pre-select or any other Onetel service) which is free and allows a pre-recorded personalised greeting, for which BT charges £1.50 per month on the deluxe 1571 service.

However, the Onetel voicemail has become increasingly flaky, with lost messages etc. so I have cancelled it.

Is there anyone else who offers a similar service: i.e. feee vociemail but with the ability to pre-record a personalised greeting ? I don't mind signing up for a CPS service to get the free voicemail (if I have to), providing that I can still use the 1899 prefix for all my calls.

Hope that is clear.

Heinz

On behalf of all money-savers, may I urge you not to use a 1571 service of any sort but to buy an old-fashioned answering machine instead. Set to answer after, say, 9 rings, they're far more "friends and family friendly" because they allow callers to hang up - and not incur call costs - after, say, 5 or 6 rings and don't cost them money when your line is already busy when they call.

FF99

Heinz wrote: »

On behalf of all money-savers, may I urge you not to use a 1571 service of any sort but to buy an old-fashioned answering machine instead. Set to answer after, say, 9 rings, they're far more "friends and family friendly" because they allow callers to hang up - and not incur call costs - after, say, 5 or 6 rings and don't cost them money when your line is already busy when they call.

The BT 1571 deluxe service used to have a function enabling one to set the answer to instant, short, medium or long ringing. I don't know whether that is still a feature, but it would get round this issue. What an old fashioned machine does not permit is messages left whilst the number is busy (I regrd that as a plus feature although I can see that others might not).

gt94sss2

FF99 wrote: »

Is there anyone else who offers a similar service: i.e. feee vociemail but with the ability to pre-record a personalised greeting ?

No.

While the 1571 market was 'liberalised' a few years ago, only Onetel seem to have decided to offer a product to compete with BT.

As such, you can either choose the free BT 1571 service or the pay for one (BT Minder) or stick with Onetel's own flaky implementation.

BT's pay for one does still have the instant, short, medium or long ringing options.

Regards
Sunil

FF99

gt94sss2 wrote: »

No.

While the 1571 market was 'liberalised' a few years ago, only Onetel seem to have decided to offer a product to compete with BT.

As such, you can either choose the free BT 1571 service or the pay for one (BT Minder) or stick with Onetel's own flaky implementation.

BT's pay for one does still have the instant, short, medium or long ringing options.

Regards
Sunil

Am I correct in thinking the Onetel service is flaky or have I just been unlucky ?

gt94sss2

FF99 wrote: »

Am I correct in thinking the Onetel service is flaky or have I just been unlucky ?

Personally, I've never used it but you certainly wouldn't be the first person I have come across to be dissatisfied with it.

I don't actually come across that many people on it any more.. not that it was ever very popular

Regards
Sunil

Hazzanet

FF99 wrote: »

What an old fashioned machine does not permit is messages left whilst the number is busy

Yeah, I think the general MS population think it's a minus - it answers immediately and you get charged for the call, whereas the engaged tone comes free. What I fail to understand is why MS'ers don't leave a message at the beep and get the other party to call you back.

Oh well.