Comments on: HOW TO: receive MessageBank messages as text messages

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 04:18:27 +0000

You can, you just need an app that can answer the call automatically and record a message for you as there are no phones that I know of with this feature built in.

This would be impossible on the iPhone and Windows phone operating system though as they do not support multitasking which means that the app could not run in the background to answer the phone for you.

Such a feature would not work when your phone is out of coverage or when you are on a call as your phone would not be able to answer the call to take the message.

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 23:52:42 +0000

Why can’t we have the message recorded on the mobile phone handset itself? Like what you used to have in your homes?
This would also avoid paying to Telstra for the message bank or text messages so I would assume they would hate this.

By: Gigi [Telstra Staff]

Gigi [Telstra Staff] — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:35:36 +0000

I’m hearing you! Try being called Gigi… Last week I received a message “Hi Gaza”. It has provided many laughs at the messages though
Having said that, I find it pretty handy in trying to get the gist at what the missed call was about.

By: edrick

edrick — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 09:01:33 +0000

this is an absolutely useless application, the messaging cannot cope my new zealand accent and the garbled unintelligable messages that I leave on phones or attempt cant even be understood by aussies.

By: apandy

apandy — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 05:28:02 +0000

I am mortified to see my 101 costs every month . they are regularly $50 so $2.00 a pop just to retrieve a message. I tried the service and it got the name I used wrong and could not get “thanks ” correct so I dont hold much hope??????
$5 sounds better the test failed if I cant get the person who called names right.

By: Brendan - [Your Community Manager]

Brendan - [Your Community Manager] — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 04:52:08 +0000

Hello Robin. Have you already contacted Telstra T-Box support on 1300 136 841? They should be able to give you a fix over the phone or get you a replacement if need be. Brendan.

By: Robin Mountain

Robin Mountain — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 10:07:11 +0000

Great idea but first get the existing technology working. My T -Box spat the dummy after 1 week and it is now 2 months ago and no working T-Box

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 06:53:27 +0000

Here is a link for those interested http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/apps-services/?red=/mobile/services/call_notific.html#message2txt

By: Nick

Nick — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 01:07:37 +0000

Google voice has nothing to do with Telstra, no special deal with Telstra would be needed.
Google voice is simply a VoIP provider so they wouldn’t need to do anything different to VoIP providers currently operating in Australia.

If you want services similar to google voice then sign up with one of the VoIP companies currently in Australia.

By: Nick

Nick — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 01:03:45 +0000

It isnt really a new technology. Telstra have been offering it for as long as I can remember.
But as it is not a free service and I have never heard a telstra salesperson mention it in a store i do not think many people know about it.

>In addition to free voicemail, Google voice also offers very low cost local and long distance phone calls through the same service, which Telstra blocks on the phone network.

Well google voice is not a mobile phone provider, they are a VoIP provider.

Google voice is offering a VoIP service, it is nothing special and there are MANY companies offering the same thing right here in Australia. Engin, MyNetfone, Pennytel to name a few.

>I suggest it is about time that Telstra stopped pretending it was any good at engineering technologies and started leveraging agreements with third parties such as Skype, Google, Apple and other hardware, software and VOIP providers

Telstra IS good at engineering products, for example when they launched NextG in 2006 it was the fastest mobile network in the world.

Telstra paying money to Skype or Google to provide people with voice calls would be stupid.
Telstra owns the network they use so if Telstra paid money to Skype to provide voice services then Telstra would be paying skype money to use the network which Telstra owns.

Skype does not own any telecommunication infrastructure, if you make a call on skype to an Australian phone then all skype does is pass it along to the Telstra copper network. So why would telstra want to pay Skype money to act as a middle man when skype does not offer anything new?

The fact that Telstra owns the network allows them to provide a much better service than if they decided to resell a Skype or Google product as Telstra is in full control of the entire network and all infrastructure. This also allows them to provide a cheaper service as there is not an extra company in the middle making a profit.

Apple products are very expensive so I don’t see how you can suggest partnering with apple to provide a cheaper service. (Not that Apple can offer Telstra anything to make the Telstra network better as Apple is solely focused on the consumer market.)