I have been using  AT&T Unified Messaging for a couple of months now, and it works like a charm!  It is a voice mail system with cell phone texting and email notification built in.   You can set it up so that the system sends you the message via email (you’ll need computer speakers), and text message on your cell phone.   It is near real-time– you get the text message notification usually within 2-3 minutes, and the email notification around the same time (also depends on how often you check you email of course).

In fact, as I typed this I got 2 messages (my cell phone sounds a tone and my Outlook has a subtle popup in the right lower corner of my computer screen when an email comes in).   The cell phone text message only shows the time stamp and phone number of the caller (it doesn’t translate the message into text).  Great for when I’m away from my computer, because I have a speed dial to my work voicemail and can hear the message immediately.

But get this, ATT Unified Messaging converts the message into a .wav file.  So what I do is log into www.um.att.com and click the Play arrow.  The new messages are in bold, the already reviewed messages are de-bolded.  It looks like a typical email inbox, but with links to the messages.   The message plays through my computer’s speakers– cool!   Clicking links is way easier than dialing a phone keypad and pressing the prompts.

So what this has done for me is taken out a lot of the hassle of retrieving messages.  I book appointments while at home, talk to the new patient callers (FLASH:  another message just came in!) to touch base with them (imagine getting and booking an auto Med Pay patient who wants to talk to a doctor asap), and tell my therapist to handle the other calls.  All while I’m working on other, revenue generating tasks at home, in my shorts and t-shirt.

Of course, you also get a phone number to access your voicemail via phone anywhere in the world.

AT&T Unified Messaging– Check it out!