SBC links e-mail, voice messages, faxes

By Dinesh C. Sharma
Staff Writer, CNET News.com Published: October 4, 2004 9:38 AM PDT

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SBC Communications on Monday announced a new service that integrates voice messages, faxes and e-mails into a single mailbox that can be accessed from anywhere by phone or the Internet.

The service, called Unified Communications, has an e-mail-like interface and uses text-to-speech technology to read e-mails over the phone and voicemails over computers. Fax message headers can be checked over the phone and printed using a PC, SBC said.

Consumers can get alerts via e-mail and cellular or landline phones when new e-mails, voicemails or faxes arrive, the company said. Alerts also can be received on pagers or wireless phones.

Many communications providers are designing new services based on Internet Protocol instead of using their traditional switch-based networks. A growing number of broadband networks are broadening their IP-based services.

Mailbox storage for the SBC service is 50MB for consumers and 100MB for businesses. Additional storage of up to 150MB can be purchased in 50MB increments. Four separate mailboxes can be created under one service, each with a separate security code, the service provider said.

SBC said the service is compatible with Cingular Wireless.

Subscribers of the company's All Distance service can swap their standard voicemail service with the new offering for an additional $3 per month, for a total of $51.95 per month. The service for residential customers when purchased as an 'a la carte' voice-messaging service in California and Nevada is $10.95 per month, and $12.95 per month in other states. It will be cheaper without the wireless integration--ranging from $7.95 to $10.95 per month. For business customers, the service will be bundled with other packages, such as Business Unlimited.