hat tip to Doug Karr for the link to TechCrunch
I have read and re-read a post by Michael Arrington or Tech Crunch called Think Before You Voicemail.
The first line of the post states:
Voicemail is dead. Please tell everyone so they’ll stop using it.
Now, I happen to agree with Michael when he comments on voice mail being a little dated in the new world of email, instant messaging, twittering, and SMS texting. I would rather email a person than listen to a voice mail but that is my personal opinion.
The problem I have with Mr. Arrington’s post is the fact that it is all about HIS well being, HIS time, HIS technological prowess. ME. ME. ME. When did the tech world become this self-centered?
I can understand that it takes time to leave a voice mail. It takes time to pick up your phone, hit the little green phone, and listen to 30 SECONDS of a message.
Voicemail should be given up if and only if your peers/clients/partners/whatever have chosen not to use the service. I am not going to sit here and say voicemail is dead when 85% of my clients would rather leave a voicemail than send me an email.
Just because I would rather not leave a voicemail or listen to a voicemail does not mean I should decide to leave an away message saying, “I would prefer it if you didn’t leave a voicemail. I wont check it. I would rather you email me and inconvenience you for a second time. Because you will learn, my young one, that it is my time that is more important…not yours.”
Voicemail is only an inconvenience if you are thinking only about yourself. If my clients, prospective clients, or friends would rather leave a voicemail I am going to listen to it and return it.
In the world of business there is no ME factor. It is all about THEM.
**disclaimer**
Doug, I still love you. 
If the VM belongs to my support phone number, I would tend to agree with you. However, since it doesn’t, I don’t want there to be an expectation that I’ll review and return every voice mail I get. In fact, since it’s such a time-consuming technology, I’d rather turn it off altogether.
If I have 10 clients and I can support all of them through email fine, but only 6 of them via voice mail… isn’t email the right way to go? After all, I want to be able to support all of THEM equally.
Much love!