Bubble Talk is "voice SMS"
By Barb Dybwad 
posted Sep 29th 2005 3:05PM
posted Sep 29th 2005 3:05PM
Another day, another over-hyped "killer app" — Bubble Talk is a messaging service that sits awkwardly between SMS and voicemail; you want to send someone an SMS, but dang you don't have the energy to type all that out — so why not send them "voice SMS"? This basically means you call them up and leave them a voice message, but without their phone ever ringing. Pricing sits just as awkwardly in the middle between texting and using regular phone minutes. Yeah, you know, we've certainly seen crazier things take off in our time, but we're kinda not feelin' it. We don't buy that nothing says I love you like "I don't really want to actually talk to you, plus I'm even too damn lazy to tap out an SMS."
Sometimes, I call people in hopes of just leaving them a message. So it works for me. *shrugs*
Well, one possible advantage over SMS is that it can be replayed, not like a normal call.
the REAL killer app is going to be the one that calls in and downloads your voice messages directly to your phone so you dont waste 90 seconds just getting past the prompts to hear them. should work kind of like IMAP remaining housed on their server until you delete it from any phone
You can kind of already do this with people on the same carrier as you. If you call your voice mail, you will have an option to "send a message" from within the prompts. Just enter the destination phone number and you're all set.
this has been my dream since icq.
this is waaaaaaaaaaaaay better than texting.
you have to TYPE!!! what if i speak cantonese?
and now we can throw those qwerty phones in the trash. except for death people.
also, you can recognize a voice without even reading the name. you get voice inflection, tone, mood, attitude. all of which can be waaay misunderstood in texting.
instant voice is like walkie talkie, without the annoying beep/static.
I'm assuming that "bacon" means Deaf people....
Also don't we already have this - Push to Talk?
Anybody hear of MMS? jeeze
You know, I have an idea for a point-to-point modulated audio frequency over ambient atmospheric carrier messaging protocol....
It's called "talking."
This is much better than Push-to-Talk.
#8 - that is so my quote of the day!
Bubble talk has been around in alot of asian countries for nearly a year already. Its actually meant NOT to replace texting but as a way to leave a short voice message rather then wasting money to call. Here in Malaysia, it cost on average RM0.10 to sms and RM0.60/min to call. If you use bubble talk, it only cost RM0.15 to leave a 30sec voice message which is VERY useful like lets say,your driving and you can't type but you need want to leave a quick message to your boss. Trust me, you can say ALOT in 30secs compared to what you can type in one sms. For more info:
http://www.digi.com.my/promotions/anniversary/bubbletalk.jsp
KeN
Ummm can't you do this already with MMS? I think you can I know you can in fact. And then you can add a picture as well. So is this just a bit nicer skin over that?
Sprint already lets U do this if you're calling another Sprint phone. Simply dial 1-1-XXX-XXX-XXXX and it goes straight to voicemail (X = the persons phone number U're calling obviously). No ringing at all. Only works when calling from a Sprint phone to another Sprint phone though (Not sure if works with Nextel however).
this is a great idea! i mean dont we all love checking voicemail already! we have to stop, call, wait forever to listen to the message, most people sound like total retards on anyway, this is awsome, more of all that?! I can't wait!
Ok, IF this really was a "killer app" than This http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000550034833/
would be a killer app killer
I Think - k e n - has it down.
This is surely handy for people with hands free kits in their car unable to send an SMS and/or MMS as some of you have stated. As well as being able to say more in 30 seconds then you can in 160 characters!
Not that i woudl use it, but it has it's reasons for being useful.
What's new about this? We had this before we had SMS in New Zealand.
its f***d . here in malaysistan, nobody seems to know how to use voice mail. a local mobile phone network (gsm) started bubbleTalk a few months ago. WTF? more useless garbage (think crazy frog) to spend (read: waste) money on these mobile phone garbage. f**** ringtones and java games, f***** bubbleTalk, 3g video, give me wimax!!!!! reliable dsl!!!!! arghghghghhgh
it surely makes more sense than voice mail and recording your message after the beep. sending a voice message rather than text will carry emotion. would love to get such messages from my kids "good night dad" and know that kids would love to send them (they are addicted to Yahoo Audibles)
i can go on and write a thesis on it. but why are you guys against it? just because it got done first in Asia!
Disclosure - one founder of bubbletalk is an ex-thinkaheader.