kirusa : voice sms

How to Send and Receive Voice SMS

What is Voice SMS?
How do I send a Voice SMS?
Can I register with Kirusa to send a Voice SMS?
Is this a web-based service?
How is this different from Voice Mail?
Does it make sense to use Voice SMS when the person I have called already has a Voice Mailbox?
Which country started offering Voice SMS first?
Why do you offer only 30 seconds for recording a Voice SMS?
Why is sending a Voice SMS more expensive than sending a Text SMS?
How do I teach my parents how to use Voice SMS?
Is this a popular service?
I have heard that some Mobile Carriers offer Background Music and Scheduling of Voice SMS? Why does my Mobile Carrier not offer these?
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?

What is Voice SMS?

Kirusa’s Voice SMS solution 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.

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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 info@kirusa.com or to your carrier to express your interest in Kirusa Voice SMS.

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Can I register with Kirusa to send a Voice SMS?

No, you cannot register directly with Kirusa to send a Voice SMS. This service is available to you only through your mobile carrier.

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Is this a web-based service?

Kirusa Voice SMS is not a web-based service; it is available to you on your mobile phone through your mobile carrier.

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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 out of the box and 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-à-vis Voice SMS which generates revenue for them.

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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 is unreachable. You can, however, send a Voice SMS whenever you wish to. And as far as we know, Voice Mail is pretty complicated and there’s no guarantee that your message will be heard.

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Which country started offering Voice SMS first?

The first country to offer Voice SMS service was Bangladesh through GrameenPhone.

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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 email us at info@kirusa.com and we’ll take it up with your mobile carrier.

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Why is sending a Voice SMS more expensive than sending a Text SMS?

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.

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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://kirusa.com/flash/demo_kvsms1.swf Or, even better, you can simply use your own mobile phone to teach them.

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Is this a popular service?

You bet, it is. Voice SMS is simple and discreet. That’s what makes it popular.

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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 info@kirusa.com and we will take it up with your Mobile Carrier.

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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.

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