Laptops and Swing Sets

Nervous about Confrontation? Sly Dial

Posted by Heather Liban on Sept. 20, 2008

fun, links, rambling, Sly Dial

At work, I spend most of my time at my desk.  With the exception of occasional trips to a vending machine, cafeteria, or bathroom, I pretty much sit at my desk, stare at a computer, chat with coworkers close by, and then leave at the end of the day.

So it baffles me to look at my phone and suddenly see my voice mail indicator light up - when clearly my phone does not ring.  Confused, I realize that - instead of talking to me - the caller has selected the option to go straight to my voice mail.

Why?  Should I take it personally?  Don't they like my voice?  Or are they just too busy to talk to a real person?  Why someone would call and choose to go straight to my voice mail baffles me and honestly I'm not sure if I want to know the reason.

Well, I just learned about a free phone service that makes me think of this feature of my work voice mail - Sly Dial.  This is a free service where you can call and leave a message to any mobile phone voice mail without causing the mobile phone to ring.

You simply dial 267-SLYDIAL (267-759-3425) from your cell phone or landline. You then need to listen to an ad (how they make their money, I presume), enter the mobile phone number you want, and Sly Dial immediately directs you to the recipients voice mail. The recipients phone does not ring.

So, if you're nervous about confrontation, if you want to leave a voice mail without disturbing someone, or if you simply don't want to get sucked into a long conversation with Aunt Bertha, then this service could be useful.  It's still sneaky, I think - hence the name, Sly Dial.  I tried Sly Dial on with my husband's cell phone and it worked well - not only did I succeed in leaving him a voice mail without causing his phone to ring, but of course, I confused him. 

Well - maybe I could have fun with this service.