Ringless Voicemail

Ever get a voicemail and wonder why your phone didn’t ring? You should know that it is possible to bypass someone’s ringer, and jump straight to the number’s voicemail-box. Ringless voicemail is a service that’s been around for awhile, but most people don’t know about it.

Also known as direct-to-voicemail calls, ringless voicemail has recently gotten some federal attention. Our government is cracking down on mass-produced ringless voicemail, considering such messages to be the same as robocalls. It doesn’t stop companies from sending out ringless voicemail messages, but it does allow for stiff penalties if a business is caught doing so without permission.

And you, as an individual, may also send a ringless voicemail. It’s free and legal, as long as you aren’t using it to commit a crime. Consider SlyDial. This company allows anyone to dial any mobile number (sorry, no landlines!) and jump right into the voicemail to leave a message. Slydial would love to sell you a service plan with fancy options, but they allow anyone to use their basic service for free. Just dial 267-759-3425, listen to an ad, dial the destination number, and leave your message after the beep.

While I must admit that I have tried this service before, I don’t fully endorse its use. There’s a fine line to be walked here, between discreet and “sus” behavior. Please be kind and polite when using this tool. I do think it’s important, though, that more people know that this technology exists.