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Voice SMS FAQ’s
- What is Voice SMS?
Voice SMS service allows phone subscribers to send SMS messages by speaking. A caller dials * followed by the number, and speaks a message in any language. The recipient gets an SMS notification from the caller and can dial a number in the notification to directly access the spoken message.
- How do I send a Voice SMS?
The process for sending a Voice SMS varies, depending on which mobile carrier you use. To see the information for your carrier, please register for an account on the Kirusa Consumer Corner and return to this FAQ page. If you are still seeing this message after you have registered, specified your mobile carrier, and logged in, then this probably means your mobile carrier does not support Kirusa Voice SMS. In this case, we encourage you to provide feedback to us at voicesms@kirusa.com or to your carrier to express your interest in the Voice SMS service. - Can I register with Kirusa to send a Voice SMS?
The Voice SMS service is available to you only through your mobile carrier. However, if you live in the USA you will soon be able to register with Kirusa to send a Voice SMS using Kirusa's hosted service. We expect to have this service launched within the near future. - Is this a web-based service?
Voice SMS is not a web-based service; it is available to you on your mobile phone through your mobile carrier.
- How is this different from Voice Mail?
You can send Voice SMS without any prior setup or activation. If your mobile carrier provides the Voice SMS service, it is available to you at any time. Just pick-up your phone and send a Voice SMS. Voice Mail, however, is a receiver-based service that requires prior setup and activation. You can leave a Voice Mail only if the person you’re trying to reach has the Voice Mail service enabled and is unreachable.
A Voice Mail is always sequential and it is generally not possible to directly access a message whereas Kirusa Voice SMS provides a DirectListen facility to listen to any message directly.
You must pay standard call charges even for first retrieval of messages if you are a Voice Mail subscriber, whereas first time message retrieval is generally free when you listen to a Voice SMS.
Moreover, you will not be able to reply to a Voice Mail but you can easily reply to a Voice SMS by text or by voice.
For a carrier, Voice Mail generates cost (Capex / Opex) vis-Ă -vis Voice SMS which generates revenue for them. - Does it make sense to use Voice SMS when the person I have called already has a Voice Mailbox?
Yes. Because, you can leave a Voice Mail only if the person you’re trying to call does not pick up the phone. You can, however, send a Voice SMS whenever you wish to. There is no risk that the person will pick up the phone. If you have limited time, and want to convey a quick message, send a Voice SMS. Typically, it also costs less to send a Voice SMS, compared to sending a Voicemail. Sending voicemail is charged at per minute calling rates- Voice SMS is typically charged as a per message fee, much less than the per minute cost of a call.
And as far as we know, Voice Mail is pretty complicated and there's no guarantee that your message will be heard. - Which country started offering Voice SMS first?
The first country to offer Voice SMS service was Bangladesh through GrameenPhone. - Why do you offer only 30 seconds for recording a Voice SMS?
Our studies have shown that most effective Voice SMS conversations happen inside of 30 seconds. If you’d like to share your thoughts on this topic, please provide your feedback on the comments section of this blog post. - Why is sending a Voice SMS more expensive than sending a Text SMS?
Depending on your carrier, your plan, and whom you are sending a Voice SMS to, the price of sending a Voice SMS may be the same as, less than, or more than the cost of sending an SMS. For example, if you are a Vodafone India customer, a Voice SMS costs INR 0.75 regardless of whom you are sending the Voice SMS to within India, and regardless of your plan. An SMS may cost you more or less depending on whether it is sent within the same circle , or long distance.
Voice SMS provides the ability to send your message in your own voice. The person you’re sending the Voice SMS to, can listen to your voice and also feel your emotions. This is something which a plain Text SMS just can't do. - How do I teach my parents how to use Voice SMS?
Simple. Just show your parents a demo that is available at Kirusa’s website. The link for the demo is
http://www.kirusa.com/flash/demo_kvsms1.swf
Or, even better, you can simply use your own mobile phone to teach them. - Is this a popular service?
You bet, it is. Voice SMS is simple and discreet. That’s what makes it popular. - I have heard that some Mobile Carriers offer Background Music and Scheduling of Voice SMS? Why does my Mobile Carrier not offer these?
If certain features are not yet available in your region, drop us a note at voicesms@kirusa.com and we will take it up with your Mobile Carrier. - Why do I need to dial a number to retrieve my Voice SMS? Can’t it be delivered to me without me having to dial any number?
One of the strengths of Voice SMS is that it’s a discreet communication medium. Voice SMS allows you to reach someone without ringing their phone. The person you reached can retrieve your Voice SMS whenever convenient (one or more times). To facilitate this, dialing a number is required.
It is also possible to directly deliver a Voice SMS. Here the Voice SMS is delivered as a call to your mobile phone instead of being delivered as a text SMS. Many carriers across the globe have opted for this alternative in their Voice SMS delivery method.
Please check with your mobile carrier if direct delivery is available in your region.
- What is Voice SMS?
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