Coca-Cola disconnects voice mail at headquarters

[KamaAina]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/coca-cola-disconnects-voice-mail-100000466.html

Forget about leaving a voice mail at Coca-Cola Co.'s (KO) Atlanta headquarters. Send a text instead.

Office voice mail at the world's largest soft-drink maker was shut down "to simplify the way we work and increase productivity," according to an internal memo from Chief Information Officer Ed Steinike. The change went into effect this month, and a standard outgoing message now throws up an electronic stiff arm, telling callers to try later or use "an alternative method" to contact the person.

Coca-Cola is one of the biggest companies yet to ditch its old-style voice mail, which requires users to push buttons to scroll through messages and listen to them one at a time. Landline voice mail is increasingly redundant now that smartphones are ubiquitous and texting is as routine as talking.

"Most people have it, but they don't end up using it," said Vishy Gopalakrishnan, who manages AT&T Inc. (T)'s unified communications unit. "There are ways to get around it."

[tabbycat31]

1. I'm not objecting

I HATE voicemail. I feel awkward leaving one (especially when calling a cell and they can see they have a missed call from me) and I hate when people leave me one.

AT one point my cell greeting said to send a text instead. I probably couldn't get away with it now (I use my phone for work). I just have the generic greeting now (that Sprint recorded, not me). I wish I could get away with shutting it down completely.

[enlightenment]

2. What a sad presumption.

There are a lot of people who still prefer to use their voices and not rely on a gadget to send a message. I'm glad I don't have to do business with Coca Cola, because I would be incensed at such a callous, lazy, and unprofessional attitude toward others. The message they are sending is "don't waste our time - we'll get to you when we damn well feel like it."

[Sherman A1]

3. Whatever

I have no use for Coke and have stopped buying their product.

[Jesus Malverde]

4. Voicemails can't really be retained for a long time they would take up too much space.

This way when someone gets laid off, the replacement in india or on the H1-B visa can go through the emails and text messages to catch up.