Sounds Good: India sends world's first 'vMail'

HYDERABAD: Amazing are the ways of innovations. Equally amazing is the way it serves mankind.

Hyderabad-based NowPos (short for Now Possible) Online Services Pvt Ltd. today launched the world's first voice mail service. And the best part - you don't have to pay for utilizing the technology created by Ayappa Nagubandi, leader (equivalent to CEO) of the voice technology company.

The technology enables users to record and send voice messages as mails (not attachments). The receiver can listen to the voice message even if he/she does not own a nowpos.com mail account.

“A major part in the world doesn't use English as their medium for conversation. This will be useful for those who want to send message in their own language,'' said Nagubandi.

NowPos uses a customized application for recording voices. The NowPos inbox will have a 1.6 GB storage facility. A 10-second advertisement will be played before the receiver listens to the voice message. However, one can opt for an ad-free account by paying an amount of Rs 500.

“The unique paradigm of voice mailing is the primary product (vMail), which translates into a next-generation means of communications for the end-users (primary stakeholder) and into a pioneering mode of online branding and marketing for advertisers (principal stakeholder),” the company's website said.

Frost & Sullivan have already named NowPos among the top 20 broadband innovations in Asia Pacific.

“The interface for NowPos voice mail is as convenient as text email interface. This service has some of the potential to challenge text format e-mails, at least in the personal e-mail space,” says a Frost & Sullivan report.

TR Madan Mohan, director (Consulting, Information Communication and Technology Practice), Frost & Sullivan, commended: “We are glad to find a company that fully utilizes intellectual capital.”

NowPos is also considering applying its technology in banking, financial, government and education services besides targeting the BPO and KPO sector.

Andhra Pradesh chief minister Dr YS Rajasekhar Reddy is slated to formally launch the service later in the evening.