Ringless voicemail
Ringless voicemail, also called direct-to-voicemail or a voicemail drop, is a method of delivering a prerecorded voice message to a recipient's voicemail inbox without the recipient's telephone ringing. Depending on the implementation, the recipient may still receive a voicemail notification or message-waiting indicator after the message is deposited.[1]
The practice has been described using several terms in regulatory and media sources. In Canadian records, it was discussed in connection with a service described as "voicecasting," while U.S. reporting has used terms such as "direct-to-voicemail" and "voicemail drop."[2][3]
History
Canada
A service described as depositing prerecorded messages directly into voicemail inboxes without ringing was discussed in Canadian proceedings under the term "voicecasting." Infolink Communications Ltd. reported providing such a service as early as 1997.[2]
United States
In the United States, direct-to-voicemail services were reported in the late 2000s, including consumer-facing services such as Slydial.[3]
In 2022, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a declaratory ruling that ringless voicemail messages to wireless phones require consumer consent because they constitute a “call” made using an artificial or prerecorded voice for purposes of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).[1]
Regulation and legal status
United States
Under the TCPA and FCC rules, calls to wireless numbers that use an artificial or prerecorded voice generally require prior express consent. In a 2022 declaratory ruling, the FCC concluded that ringless voicemail to wireless phones falls within the TCPA’s coverage because it is a "call" using an artificial or prerecorded voice, and the FCC rejected arguments that depositing a voicemail without ringing should be treated differently.[1][4]
Canada
In Canada, telemarketing and related unsolicited communications are governed through the CRTC’s Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules and related decisions and notices.[5] In a 2006 public notice reviewing telemarketing rules, the CRTC stated that voicecasting was not subject to rules pursuant to Telecom Decision 2004-65.[6]
Technology
Ringless voicemail is implemented by routing a prerecorded message into a voicemail system without completing a conventional ringing call to the recipient’s handset. Descriptions of implementations refer to interaction with carrier voicemail platforms or voicemail infrastructure to deposit the message directly, sometimes resulting in a message-waiting indicator or notification even though the phone did not ring.[1]
One patented approach (associated with Mobilesphere Ltd. through its Slydial and Slybroadcast apps) describes initiating signaling intended to route a subsequent connection to a carrier-provided voicemail facility without alerting the recipient as a normal incoming call.[7]
References
- ^ a b c d "Declaratory Ruling and Order, FCC 22-85 (CG Docket No. 02-278)" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. November 21, 2022. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
- ^ a b "Transcript – Infolink Communications vs Bell Canada regarding Infolink's Voicecasting service (24 September 2004)". Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. September 24, 2004. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
- ^ a b Richtel, Matt (August 2, 2008). "Don't Want to Talk About It? Order a Missed Call". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2025-04-26. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
- ^ "Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991; Petition for Declaratory Ruling of All About the Message, LLC". Federal Register. December 14, 2022. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
- ^ "Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules (CRTC)". Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. April 20, 2009. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
- ^ "Telecom Public Notice CRTC 2006-4 (Archived)". Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. February 20, 2006. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
- ^ "Method and apparatus for forcing a call to a carrier provided voice mail facility (US8605869B1)". Google Patents. 2008. Retrieved 2026-03-02.