Comverse teams up with Sony Ericsson on visual voicemail

WAKEFIELD, USA: 2009 Comverse announced that it is working with mobile handset manufacturer Sony Ericsson to provide visual voicemail on its handsets for residential and business users.

Visual voicemail’s global popularity is growing because it enhances the traditional voicemail experience. All voicemail messages are displayed in an in-box, whose email-like interface provides such key information as date, time, length of message, caller number and identity, when available. Users can scan the messages, click to hear new and previously heard messages in any order, and then reply, forward, or save messages.

“Because of visual voicemail’s global appeal, it has become a high priority to make the service available on new handsets,” said Chief Marketing Officer John Bunyan at Comverse, the world's leading supplier of software and systems enabling value-added messaging and content services, converged billing and active customer management, and IP communications.

“Our strategic cooperation with handset leaders like Sony Ericsson,” Bunyan said, “helps ensure that new handsets can offer the most attractive and user-friendly visual voicemail experience to the broadest number of people.”

Telecom operators of all sizes have launched visual voicemail to meet the fast-paced needs of their users, and Comverse is working hard with operators, handset vendors and the standards bodies to bring the best visual voicemail to market.

“Visual voicemail’s success comes from providing users a richer array of capabilities and choice,” said Bunyan. “Its value to operators is underscored by solid global take-up figures showing that it can increase voicemail usage and penetration in key segments.”

With more than two thirds of commercial launches worldwide, Comverse is the visual voicemail market leader. Comverse Visual Voicemail is part of the Comverse HUB Value-Added Services, spanning voice, messaging, mobile Internet and mobile advertising. Comverse HUB is a synergistic framework that enables service providers to maximize their business performance and augment their position in the market.