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Xithras

(16,191 posts)

45. The use of voicemail is declining sharply.

Wed Aug 20, 2014, 01:14 PM

Aug 2014

In the age of texting and instant communication, fewer people are willing to leave a voicemail and wait around for someone to get back to them. Gizmodo did a survey a number of years ago and found that only about 20% of people leave messages for people they don't know, and half of people won't leave them even for family (aka, they never leave voicemail messages at all for anyone). Roughly 25% of people said they don't even check their voicemail when other people leave one for them.

And those numbers are a half decade out of date. Voicemail usage has declined so significantly that companies dedicated to voicemail technologies are actually going out of business. Vonage reported last year that it had seen voicemail usage drop 8% in a single quarter in 2012. That's huge.

In other words, "leaving them a message" is no longer a sure bet.

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Tell me why I need a smart phone [View all] hedgehog Aug 2014 OP

Not me. My phone is a complete idiot :) arcane1 Aug 2014 #1

You don't. The Velveteen Ocelot Aug 2014 #2

Just depends upon what you want. Atman Aug 2014 #3

Very few of us "NEED" a smart phone. dr.strangelove Aug 2014 #4

I've had a smartphone for 2 years now, LWolf Aug 2014 #61

In my line of work I get documents sent to me via iphone lunatica Aug 2014 #68

After one month of succumbing, I still don't have an answer to your question UTUSN Aug 2014 #5

I'm just like you Populist_Prole Aug 2014 #6

"It's for my convenience, not someone else's" cyberswede Aug 2014 #11

"Perfect." pablo_marmol Aug 2014 #28

No problem Populist_Prole Aug 2014 #34

The use of voicemail is declining sharply. Xithras Aug 2014 #45

The hell with them then Populist_Prole Aug 2014 #48

It probably depends on the audience tabbycat31 Aug 2014 #73

me too but Nevada Blue Aug 2014 #18

That's what I have always used. tazkcmo Aug 2014 #71

OMG - you know how to do voicemail? csziggy Aug 2014 #25

It has totally replaced my camera (which was always running low on batteries anyway), and Lydia Leftcoast Aug 2014 #7

I'm also self employed (with horses) and I use my smartphone for work every single day riderinthestorm Aug 2014 #39

I don't even have a cell phone. geardaddy Aug 2014 #8

You probably don't. elleng Aug 2014 #9

jitterbug hedgehog Aug 2014 #10

That is the exact Jitterbug phone that I have. RebelOne Aug 2014 #36

It seems to me that if you don't already know you need one, then you don't. cyberswede Aug 2014 #12

Eh. You really don't need one. Tommy_Carcetti Aug 2014 #13

to be honest it sounds like you don't need one tabbycat31 Aug 2014 #14

You do not. ohnoyoudidnt Aug 2014 #15

Because you're too stupid to use a regular phone? A HERETIC I AM Aug 2014 #16

I broke down and got a smartphone this year after my old phone got fried by the rain derby378 Aug 2014 #17

OK I will! Kali Aug 2014 #19

This message was self-deleted by its author R B Garr Aug 2014 #24

If I need to, I can print 'My List' from my account on the in-store computer at Vons pinboy3niner Aug 2014 #27

If you use it for couponing noamnety Aug 2014 #41

You don't really "need" a smartphone to be honest Liberal_from_va34 Aug 2014 #20

You probably don't. I don't either, but they are fun. n/t Tobin S. Aug 2014 #21

If you're actively employed or you travel, you need one. mainer Aug 2014 #22

I am employed and I travel and I don't need one Skittles Aug 2014 #53

I travel overseas, and texts are cheaper than phone calls mainer Aug 2014 #55

This message was self-deleted by its author Skittles Aug 2014 #56

This message was self-deleted by its author R B Garr Aug 2014 #23

so essentially Skittles Aug 2014 #52

This message was self-deleted by its author R B Garr Aug 2014 #59

This message was self-deleted by its author Skittles Aug 2014 #60

DU...on your phone...at work KeepItReal Aug 2014 #26

You can use it for directions with voice even BainsBane Aug 2014 #29

I hear it also makes a good door stop pinboy3niner Aug 2014 #30

What did I tell you BainsBane Aug 2014 #31

So... pinboy3niner Aug 2014 #32

I use email, facebook, maps - TBF Aug 2014 #33

I will not tell you that, hedgehog... MrMickeysMom Aug 2014 #35

I pay $33 per month for a regular flip phone Kingofalldems Aug 2014 #37

Music, movies, flashlight, alarm clock, camera, internet, calendar... DamnYankeeInHouston Aug 2014 #38

This message was self-deleted by its author Raffi Ella Aug 2014 #40

So you can play the Mellotron Tom Ripley Aug 2014 #42

I just recently replaced my dying flip phone Trailrider1951 Aug 2014 #43

Thank you all for the comments and advice - hedgehog Aug 2014 #44

If your kids would like you to have a smartphone, Jenoch Aug 2014 #62

They'd be happy if I just left it on from time to time! hedgehog Aug 2014 #66

I still use a flip phone too. Jenoch Aug 2014 #67

So you can leave your house AgingAmerican Aug 2014 #46

It is a pocket computer AgingAmerican Aug 2014 #47

My husband bought one a few weeks ago LibertyLover Aug 2014 #49

Same boat Jimbo S Aug 2014 #50

Because... pokerfan Aug 2014 #51

I have relatives PasadenaTrudy Aug 2014 #54

My phone cost $14.99 at Best Buy IDemo Aug 2014 #57

keep same phone number? Skittles Aug 2014 #79

I've only ever had Tracphone as a cell carrier IDemo Aug 2014 #80

So you can argue on DU at any time in any place. Why else? kwassa Aug 2014 #58

i resisted getting one for a long time because i really didn't need it fizzgig Aug 2014 #63

You only need one Aerows Aug 2014 #64

Spotify and the Stephanie Miller podcast shenmue Aug 2014 #65

It puts all of the knowledge of the universe at the end of your arm! PassingFair Aug 2014 #69

It allows me to keep in close contact with my daughter on another continent. vanlassie Aug 2014 #70

If you had a smart phone it could tell you why you need one. Gidney N Cloyd Aug 2014 #72

Ha! I don't even have THAT much, as I installed On-Star in my car! WinkyDink Aug 2014 #74

My phone is basically a replacement for my computer when I'm out. alarimer Aug 2014 #75

To begin at the beginning intaglio Aug 2014 #76

Well.... where do I start? Turbineguy Aug 2014 #77

Depends on what you like JonLP24 Aug 2014 #78