[quote]Here’s the paradox that Boston-based MobileSphere is exploiting: We all want to own a cell phone. But a lot of the time, we don’t actually want to talk with our friends, family, co-workers, and all of those other people who are just trying to suck the life out of us. So when we absolutely have to reply to a message they’ve left, or tell them we’re too busy to meet them for lunch, or offer some other minimal gesture of recognition, calling them is far too risky: they might actually pick up, forcing us to interact. It would be far better if we could simply leave a voicemail message, without ever causing their phone to ring. That way, there’d be no muss, no fuss; no dealing with an actual human and all their demands and sensitivities.[/quote]

[url]http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2008/07/22/slydial-voicemail-service-offers-the-illusion-of-communication/[/url]

Let's hope telemarketers don't get any ideas.