Comverse, the world's leading supplier of software and systems enabling network-based multimedia enhanced communication and billing services, today announced results of market research documenting strong user interest in new features for visual voicemail and other evolving voicemail-related capabilities and services. The independent research was sponsored by Comverse, the global leader in visual voicemail. Comverse has been selected to enable more deployments around the world than any other solution provider. Comverse Visual Voicemail was also nominated as a finalist for the 2008 GSMA Global Mobile Award for Best Mobile Messaging Service.
Based on comprehensive research conducted in the UK and Germany by leading independent international market research company Synovate, the findings reveal how consumers perceive and feel about a range of new and evolving services such as Visual Voicemail, Converged Mailbox, personal space for storage and management of messaging and content, and enhanced Call Completion. The study’s findings demonstrate the current and ongoing popularity of voicemail service in both countries, with more than 80% of the more than 800 respondents describing voicemail as a useful value-added service.
Findings confirm the strong attractiveness of visual voicemail. 75% of the respondents find visual voicemail somewhat-to-extremely interesting. Visual Voicemail can boost voicemail penetration and usage: one-third stated they would retrieve (listen to) more messages with Visual Voicemail on their mobile phone.
When asked what they like about visual voicemail, top answers were: the ability to view all voicemail messages at a glance (44%) in any order with full details: who left the message, when, and how long it is; and the email-like interface (35%). Other cited benefits include immediate receipt of messages and one-click retrieval with no need to dial in (34%) and the ability to reply, forward, save and delete voicemail messages from the same screen/interface (34%).
Other data reflecting keen user appetite for evolving developments included: around 60% show some level of interest in having a Converged Mailbox — one single mailbox including all of their voicemails (home, mobile, office) with access from any device (mobile, fixed-line, PC), and around 60% show some interest in having easy access to ample personal space for storing, organizing and sharing personal files (pictures, videos), contacts, and messages of all types (voicemail, email, SMS, etc.).
“Consumers and their wireless operators are telling us they want visual voicemail and this research gives quantitative confirmation,” said Comverse Chief Marketing Officer John Bunyan. “Comverse’s industry leadership is reflected not only by our dominant market share in visual voicemail, but also by the way that we lead and shape the evolving market. This is another way we can help carriers build the best available customer experiences.”
About the Comverse Visual Voicemail Suite
Visual Voicemail meets the fast-paced needs of users today with a visual interface that improves and broadens the user experience. Voicemail messages are delivered immediately and can be accessed with a click. An information-rich inbox enables users to see all messages and handle any message in any order. At-a-glance information includes date, time, duration, and caller number and identity, when available. Message management features include one-touch call return, save and delete, and integration with handset- and network- based address books.
Comverse offers the richest portfolio of visual voicemail access solutions, including:
Handset Client Access: Optimally leveraging handset capabilities, the solution brings together the best of all realms: email-like message management capabilities, SMS-like instantaneous access, and the expressiveness of voice.
3G Access: A compelling visual voicemail experience with video messaging and sharing capabilities via a dynamic and innovative Video User Interface (VUI).
MMS Access: MMS Visual Voicemail pushes messages immediately to a user’s MMS-enabled device with immediate click-to-access. Users can personalize the voice messaging experience with multimedia attachments, such as animated GIFs and talking avatars.
Web Access: Comverse Visual Voicemail’s convenient Web-based visual interface is fully synchronized with the user’s voice mailbox.
Email Access: Visual Voicemail sends voicemail messages with a WAV attachment to selected email addresses.
About Comverse
Comverse is the world’s leading provider of software and systems enabling network-based messaging and content value-added services, prepaid, postpaid and converged billing and IP communications. Comverse solutions generate revenues, strengthen customer loyalty and improve operational efficiency for over 500 communication service providers in more than 130 countries. The company's Total CommunicationSM portfolio facilitates personalized lifestyles in an evolving connected world and is based on the InSight™ Open Services Environment. Comverse’s solutions support flexible deployment models, including in-network, hosted and managed services, and can run on circuit-switched, VoIP, IMS and converged network environments. Comverse is a subsidiary of Comverse Technology, Inc. (CMVT.PK).