Telephone companies hope 'voice mail' will make answering machines obsolete

Article Abstract:

Bell regional telephone companies foresee a time when answering machines will be replaced by 'voice mail' services. Residential voice mail, which was introduced two years ago, already is used by a million customers. U S West currently leads in the market, with 250,000 customers. Joel Gross, an analyst with Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, believes that even though voice-mail services are not yet everywhere available, in ten years answering machines will be things of the past. A voice-mail service is more technically sophisticated than an answering machine: voice mail directs incoming messages to electronic 'mail boxes.' This arrangement is better for the telephone companies because more calls are completed. Voice-mail revenues increased 28 percent in 1990, to $810 million, according to Probe Research Inc, Cedar Knolls, NJ. Answering-machine sales dropped 19 percent, to $671 million.

Usage, Economic aspects, Telephone companies, Regional Bell Operating Companies, Voice mail, Telephone answering and recording equipment, Answering machines, Trends, Industry Analysis, Outlook, Telephone Company, Telephone Answering Devices, Bell Regional Holding Companies

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Cruising Web's fast lane via cable

Article Abstract:

US West Inc's MediaOne subsidiary is one of only a few companies that are already, in Feb 1998, offering cable-modem access to the Internet. The service is fast, and access is immediate, with no dialing up or waiting, but there are some drawbacks. For example, the service does not provide remote access, which means customers cannot use it to access e-mail from their offices or on the road. Moreover, MediaOne's technical support could be improved. Even so, and in spite of the fact that the service is relatively expensive, users generally seem to agree it is worth it. MediaOne charges its cable-television subscribers $39.95 a month for unlimited Internet access, and the fee includes rental of the cable modem. Noncable subscribers pay an additional $10.

Telephone and telegraph apparatus, Videotex & Teletext, Modems, 301-1200 bps, Printed Circuit Assembly (Electronic Assembly) Manufacturing, Internet service providers, Cable modems, Column, Broadband modems, Internet service provider, U S WEST Inc., USW, MediaOne, Company services, Internet access, Cable Modem

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Looks like 1999 again as Web portal spends lavishly to make a splash

Article Abstract:

Vodafone Group's and Vivendi Universal's joint venture, Vizzavi Europe Ltd., is still spending in order to rival other Web portals, like Yahoo, plus provide access to cellphones and PDAs. But so far the service has experienced lots of bugs; and there are other customer complaints, such as too many outages.

United Kingdom, Videotex & Teletext Svcs NEC, Planning, Online services, Online information services, Vodafone Group PLC, Company Profile, Web portal, Web portals, Vivendi S.A., Vizzavi Europe Ltd.

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