PhoneTag

I just set up a new account with PhoneTag this morning. Those who know me have probably realized I hate voicemails - both leaving them and receiving them in an era where everyone either has SMS or email on their mobile phone. For $0.35 a message, or about $10 a month up to 40 voicemails, PhoneTag converts your incoming voicemails into emails or SMS and sends them to your phone. If you choose to receive emails, there's also an attachment with the recorded voice message attached.

This is absolutely fantastic (if it proves out as working properly) for a number of reasons:

• You can read the emails and handle them far faster than the linear, awkward interface of standard voicemail (and even the better system on the iPhone.)
• You can file messages right along with your email records in a single system for later review - and the text is searchable right along with your emails
• You can forward any voicemail to anyone else with email, without transcribing it

I think the real question here is why this isn't just a default option when you get a cell phone.