Google Voice is an exceptional tool, but the problem is that it just isn’t available worldwide. If, like some of the iDB team, you happen to have the audacity to live outside the United States, then you are completely out of luck.
While Google promises that Google Voice is indeed on its way beyond American borders, there are alternatives out there that do the same thing, and if you’re an iPhone owner, one of those alternatives is Libon Voicefeed from developer Orange Vallee.
A free download from the App Store and compatible with a wide range of mobile phone carriers across the world, Libon Voicefeed plugs the hole left by Google’s reluctance, or inability, to bring Voice to the world. And it does a very good job of it, too…
Once set up, Libon Voicefeed takes control of your voicemails at the carrier level and completely replaces your usual visual voicemail service. With some carriers not even offering visual voicemail at all, this is an interesting alternative to the old-fashioned voicemail we all know and hate!
Users can put their contacts into groups, and then give each group a personalized message that they will hear when they ring up. This message can either be recorded by you, or typed and read back by a computerized voice. There are a selection of these included for free, and others can be purchased for an additional fee using the in-app purchase system. Think sat nav quality and you’re not far off.
[tube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDcAQIhUfEQ[/tube]
Those typed messages don’t have to be generic, though. Libon Voicefeed can be told to use the caller’s name in its message, adding that personal touch. All very cool indeed.
A blacklisting function also allows all calls that are from unknown callers to be sent to voicemail automatically, or those that have been preselected can also receive the same treatment.
The free version of Libon Voicefeed gives users one generic greeting as well as three personalized ones, and a month worth of messages will be stored on the Voicefeed servers. Simple emails are also sent when a message is received, too.
Paying the yearly subscription of $9.99 removes those limits and adds emails with voicemails attached, too. A message transcription service is also in beta form, apparently, so it may not be 100% ready for prime time. That said, Google’s offering isn’t perfect, either.
For many people, Libon Voicefeed’s free version (with ads) will suffice, but for the full experience, the premium option is the way to go. We do wish that the app’s ads were removed once the premium account is purchased, though.
Give Libon Voicefeed a whirl and let us know what you think!