The history of voice mail

Summary

The discussion dives into the history of voicemail, noting its invention by Gordon Matthews in 1979 and the first commercial message left by his wife. The conversation explores voicemail etiquette, offering tips for crafting the perfect message, like keeping it brief and relevant. The hosts also ponder the origins of common voicemail greetings and how practices have evolved with technology, particularly in the era before caller ID.

Takeaways

• 📞 Voicemail has been around for almost forty years.
• 💡 It was invented in 1979 by Gordon Matthews.
• 🏢 The company that first developed the voicemail system was 230.
• 🎙️ The first commercial voicemail message was left by Matthews' wife.
• 💡 Matthews had over 30 US and foreign patents at the time of his death.
• ⏱️ The perfect voicemail should be kept between 20 to 30 seconds long.
• 🗣️ Voicemails should be concise, using sound bites and leading with relevant information.
• 📧 Avoid asking questions that would not be appropriate for an email.
• 🔒 Keep voicemail content safe, avoiding incriminating statements.
• 🤔 The script ponders the origin of the standard voicemail greeting pattern.
• 😄 The conversation humorously suggests changing the voicemail greeting to reflect the reality of not answering calls.

Q & A

Who invented voicemail?

Voicemail was invented by Gordon Matthews.

In what year was voicemail invented?

Voicemail was invented in 1979.

Which company was the first to come up with the voicemail system?

The first company to develop the voicemail system was 230.

Who left the first commercial voicemail message?

The first commercial voicemail message was left by Gordon Matthews' wife.

What was the reason behind the creation of voicemail?

Voicemail was created to allow a personalized message to be left without everyone else hearing it.

How many US and foreign patents did Gordon Matthews have at the time of his death?

Gordon Matthews had about 30 plus US and foreign patents at the time of his death.

What is the recommended length for a voicemail message?

The recommended length for a voicemail message is between 20 and 30 seconds.

Why is it important to lead with pertinent information in a voicemail?

Leading with pertinent information ensures that the recipient knows the purpose of the call quickly, which is important given the short length of most voicemails.

What is a common mistake people make when leaving a voicemail?

A common mistake is leaving a message that is too long or asking questions that could be answered via email.

Why should one be cautious about the content of their voicemails?

One should be cautious about the content of their voicemails to avoid saying anything that could incriminate them or be inappropriate.

What is the typical pattern of a voicemail greeting?

The typical pattern of a voicemail greeting is to state that the person cannot come to the phone right now, ask the caller to leave their name and number, and promise to return the call as soon as possible.

Why do people usually say they can't come to the phone in voicemail greetings?

People say they can't come to the phone in voicemail greetings as a standard practice, even if they are intentionally not answering the call.