Friday December 3 2004 at 10:40 GMT
OK, so I know this isn't brand new, but everyone I spoke to was strangely impressed. From your mobile (this has just started working on Orange phones, but was likely there on other networks for a while), you can send a text message to a UK (I didn't try anywhere else) landline. Whilst the service is run by BT, it seems to work to landlines from any network.
Following a little trumpet fanfare, the message is read out by a female computer voice. Neato. There doesn't seem to be any way to respond to it, but that would be a pain on a normal phone anyway. As far as I know, the cost is a as for a normal SMS. How many cunning uses of that can YOU think of?
Comments
Nick, I just tried that to a Telewest number here in Edinburgh, and it did work. My understanding is that it's a BT service where all the mobile networks connect directly to BT for mobile->landline SMS, so it *should* work to all flavour of landline(s)...
I tested it from a Telewest line, and can confirm it works. That being said I have a DECT phone in the house which can send/receive SMS anyway, although I have never used this function yet.....
It is *very* amusing to make that ever so polite sounding lady say thinks that are ever so impolite.
Neil -- check out you with your fancy landline phone! Wooooo.
Paul -- apparently there is a way to make the lady laugh out loud. Haven't really played with it that much, but I'd love to know how...
Paul -- apparently there is a way to make the lady laugh out loud. Haven't really played with it that much, but I'd love to know how...
For December you can send a Christmas carol to a fixed line and it will be played to recipient as a voice call. Just insert one of the following commands in the text message:
To play "We wish you a Merry Christmas" insert *merryxmas#
To play "Jingle bells" insert *jinglebells#
To play "Auld lang syne" insert *newyear#
This works on O2, Vodafone, Orange, H3G and SMS enabled fixed lines. Standard text prices apply.
To play "We wish you a Merry Christmas" insert *merryxmas#
To play "Jingle bells" insert *jinglebells#
To play "Auld lang syne" insert *newyear#
This works on O2, Vodafone, Orange, H3G and SMS enabled fixed lines. Standard text prices apply.
Excellent, Andy. Fun with that one coming up!
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If I hear a computerised woman speaking my own words to me down my own phone I'll let you know. Isn't technology wonderful!
Nick