Skydeck is just one company using the in-box metaphor to manage text messages and voicemail.
(Credit: Screenshot by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET)In the tech world, if you can't beat 'em, you can always join 'em, or at least integrate their service into yours. This is the approach that mobile phone manager Skydeck is taking with Google Voice, and it's a good one.
When we demoed Skydeck in April, it struck us as a useful service for managing your contacts, calls, and voicemail online as you would your e-mail. Never mind that its online interface isn't as slick or easy to use as competitors' services (like RocketVox or Dashwire). And like its technological cohort, we figured Skydeck was surely in danger of having its users swallowed up by Google Voice once that behemoth of a calling service opened up to all.
Skydeck's solution, unveiled earlier this week, is to integrate partial support for Google Voice. The gist is that you keep your original cell phone number (which otherwise you would have to change to use Google Voice). Skydeck will forward your missed calls to Google Voice, which can then route them to your other phones (landline, work, etc.) for you to pick up. If someone leaves a message, Skydeck can still log the voicemail with its service. You'll lose Google Voice's call blocking and routing features, but you can retain its voicemail in-box and automated voice-to-text transcriptions. There's a video to explain it more here.
The mashup lets you use Skydeck's core features for free while gaining Google Voice's transcription service. Skydeck is otherwise happy to sell you its own $15 premium voicemail transcription. As that's powered by SpinVox, the cost comes from employing human helpers, versus Google's machine transcription.
Skydeck's offer won't appeal to all. Even in closed beta, Google Voice, which was once the GrandCentral service, already gathers many of Skydeck's features and more, and if your goal is to take advantage of Google Voice's offer to replace three numbers, say, with one new number, then using your old mobile phone number with Skydeck while adding a new Google Voice number isn't going to sound like much of a deal. You'll wind up with one extra number, not one less. Yet if you're not a fan of Google Voice's current setup (reviewed)--which has you sign up for a new number and routes outbound calls through their service--but you still like the idea of free voicemail transcriptions and call-forwarding to multiple phones, then this could be a happy medium.
Skydeck is available for Windows Mobile 6.x, Android, and BlackBerry phones running version 4.2 of the operating system or higher. Skydeck and Google Voice are currently available in the U.S.
The universal mobile communications in-box is emerging as a trend at CTIA 2009 in Las Vegas. Variations on the theme combine visual voicemail, text messages, e-mail, calling, and call forwarding in one online deck that's as easy to manage as your e-mail in-box.
RocketVox is a slick, powerful freemium in-box that's a long shot against Google Voice.
(Credit: RocketVox)Skydeck (Skydeck review) has a traditional e-mail layout that does calls, voicemail, text, visual voicemail, and call control for a fee. RocketVox is a great-looking private beta that manages e-mail from multiple accounts (including Gmail), IM, SMS, voice-to-text, VoIP calling, visual voicemail, faxing, conference calls, calendars, and screen sharing with a vague social networking angle. RocketVox is currently an AIR application that will graduate to a Web service later down the road, and will also take on a freemium model ranging from $10 a month to $25 for professionals.
The much lighter YouMail does a visual voicemail Web service and mobile management app, also with the in-box metaphor, but emphasizes social interaction and customization, like personalized greetings in addition to technical offerings like voice-to-text transcriptions. At CTIA, YouMail announced an upcoming iPhone app that has been submitted to the App Store.
Even Microsoft has been touting its online mobile backup and sync service, MyPhone. MyPhone is in very early beta stages and can't do too much at the moment beyond syncing photos and text messages in a searchable in-box, but it will become more capable as Microsoft nears its Windows Mobile 6.5 release, in which MyPhone will play a larger role. Look for contacts, calendars, tasks, multimedia content, and documents as the service matures.
A glimpse of the Google Voice in-box
(Credit: Google)Despite the diversity, the forthcoming Google Voice--with its universal number, visual voicemail, and advanced calling features--could mow them all under when it enters public beta. Google has been effective at dominating much more established software providers with its technology, its brand clout, and its ability to integrate with other successful Google services.
Since Google Voice will be free, Skydeck, RocketVox, and YouMail are in big trouble on the voice transcription front. YouMail has a niche that Google could well blow open with its own customization features and on-phone management app. RocketVox is the most compelling solution of the bunch at this year's show, but it's going to have to really work some magic to counter Google Voice's advance. Ironically, Microsoft's less feature-rich MyPhone backup and sync service stands the best chance of gaining its own identity, if only because it will come preloaded onto Windows Mobile 6.5 phones and will provide a seamless, out-of-the-box solution for those phone owners. This is definitely a space we'll be keeping a sharp eye on in the coming months.
Skydeck is a useful-looking mobile message management service that creates a comfortable way to read and respond to phones calls, voicemail, and text messages from the Web. It differs from similar offerings by providing a classic in-box interface online, complete with a reading pane, folders, annotation abilities, and tagging. Skydeck also builds in a visual voicemail service operated by SpinVox so you can read your inbound messages in addition to listening to them. A search bar at the top of the page that helps you quickly find phrases and messages--including content from those transcribed voicemails.
Skydeck's in-box metaphor makes it intuitive to use.
(Credit: Skydeck)If you have a headset, you're conveniently able to initiate an outbound call through your computer, though to your contact, it will look like you're calling from your cell phone. Skydeck also includes a bidirectionally-synced address book that organizes contacts by how often you communicate, therefore doubling as a speed dial. Any changes you make online show up on your phone, and vice versa. Lastly, Skydeck's telephonic powers can often find phone numbers for missed or blocked calls, says Skydeck CEO Jason Devitt.
Like fellow voicemail service YouMail, Skydeck's service requires you to forward your cell phone number to Skydeck for the software to work. You'll also need to download a small client to the phone so Skydeck can sync the address book and text messages. Skydeck's voice-to-text transcription service in particular is what makes it a premium service whose pricing ranges from about $10 to $30 a month, and the price plan is what makes business users and prosumers Skydeck's target audience. To its credit, Skydeck offers a free 14-day trial for anyone who wants to test it for themselves.
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