Unclutterer

1. Posted by Damian - 06/12/2008

   I’ve been using YouMail for a few weeks now, and really like it. Just a word of warning for Sprint customers – Sprint charges 0.20/min. for call forwarding, including having unanswered calls forwarded to YouMail. If you are on Sprint and get a high volume of voicemail, that may be something to consider before you sign up here.

2. Posted by Aaron Dalton - 06/12/2008

   Here’s another tip for simplifying your life – ditch your cell phone altogether or switch to a pay-per-minute plan like the one offered by T-Mobile.

   You’ll save massive amounts of money and reduce the overall ambient noise levels caused by incessant sidewalk yakking.

   Because you know all those strangers who annoy you when they yell into their phones? You’re having the same effect on everyone nearby when you yell into yours…

   Then you can take your whole monthly cell bill and donate it to a worthwhile charity like Nothing But Nets.

   Oh and another bonus is you might be less likely to get brain cancer – http://www.newsoxy.com/brain_c.....e10653.htm

   - Aaron Dalton, 1GreenProduct.com

3. Posted by Erin Doland - 06/12/2008

   @Aaron — I actually believe that a cell phone can be a way to unclutter your life. In cases of emergency, they are the best way to get help. Additionally, they are an easy way to keep contact information on you without also having to lug around an address book that isn’t synced to anything. Add to that GPS, to-do lists, and a hundred other features, and a cell phone can go a long way to reducing pocket/purse clutter. Yes, there are idiots out there who talk on their phones while they drive and scream on it in public … but those same people would be doing something else idiotic if the phones weren’t there. And, as far as brain cancer is concerned, use text messaging on your phone if you’re really worried about it.

4. Posted by G-Man - 06/12/2008

   Hey Aaron;

   That’s a lot of self-serving bile that you’re serving up there. Now I actually use a pre-paid wireless plan, but I can understand the need to work otherwise.

   A couple of changes to my job description and I could be toting a smart phone with me to conferences and sales meetings. I could be e-mailing or posting to this blog on the bus ride home. Harbouring anger towards cell phones, because of cell phone users is petty and misguided.

5. Posted by ClickerTrainer - 06/12/2008

   I just delete messages once I have read them. Anyway, one more service = more life clutter, right?

6. Posted by Aaron Dalton - 06/13/2008

   I agree with ClickerTrainer that one more service frequently = more life clutter.

   G-Man — it’s “self-serving” to suggest spending less on cell phone bills and more on charity? (I don’t work for Nothing But Nets.) It’s self-serving to warn people that cell phone use might cause brain cancer?

   Erin – I agree that cell phones can be a good way to get help. But I also think it’s kind of hilarious that some people treat them like a safety blanket. People who somehow survived for decades without them now won’t leave the house without one ‘just in case’. And yes, people would probably be idiotic without cell phones too, but hopefully they would be more *quietly* idiotic!

   I just think it’s criminal that some people upgrade their phones or iPhones every year to get a few more bells and whistles or to have the coolest phone on the block when there are such massive unmet social and environmental needs. By all means get a cell phone. You can get one for about $40 that does the basic call-in-an-emergency thing. It’ll probably last for years.

   Hope this all doesn’t sound too bilious or self-serving!

   Aaron Dalton, 1GreenProduct.com

7. Posted by Tim - 06/13/2008

   @Aaron – I think the problem is that you’re posting with an agenda beyond just uncluttering. The crowd here prefers to look at the benefits of simple living based upon the benefits conferred upon the one doing the living, not the social/environmental “justice” that may additionally benefit. Guess what, some of us don’t like the social justice agenda because it invariably leads to statements like yours that essentially say “you shouldn’t be allowed to spend your money on what you want, because I know a better way to spend it.” Back off Commie

   I’m all for “peace, justice, and the American way” but because I like that last part, I prefer that people help others through chosen charities, not forced. All you do when you redistribute wealth is increase class division. We have the right to be selfish, and sometimes…selfishness can still drive good things (without those things being the primary goal).

   And the self-serving comment was probably directed at the holier than thou attitude that, while maybe not intended, is what came across to those you are trying to reach. You basically called those of us who have cell phones, loud mouthed jerks. When you’re preaching about social justice/etc, make sure you do it in a way that doesn’t insult the rest of us.

8. Posted by Tim - 06/13/2008

   Additionally, I plan on giving this service a try. Being able to see my voicemails instead of having to dial in seems like a good thing. One thing I miss from my last job where we had CISCO VOIP phones that emailed you your VM.

9. Posted by Aaron Dalton - 06/13/2008

   Hi Tim,

   You’re right. I do have an agenda beyond uncluttering my life.

   Fact is, I think most people are multifaceted and want plenty of things from life, not just simplicity. (Though simplicity and lack of clutter are laudable goals.)

   I was posting originally with the goal not of offending people, but of jolting people out of a certain mindset that suggests you can unclutter your life by adding one more thing to it. (i.e. The obvious solution to a cluttered life would be to get rid of things, not to add another service as ClickerTrainer pointed out.)

   I suppose we’ll have to agree to disagree about whether selfishness has an overall beneficial or harmful effect on ourselves and the world at large.

   I guess I just continue to hope that people will act selflessly at some portion of the time. I’m clearly proven wrong by the world every day, but hope springs eternal!

10. Posted by Jim Littlefield - 06/14/2008

    YouMail sounds like a good solution but sounds like it’s only about voice messaging. If you’re looking for something more, definitely checkout Google’s GrandCentral. Beside offering visual voice mail, it also sends an email notification and allows you to return the calls (for free) from any phone you have associated with the service. I’ve been very happy with it and highly recommend it.

    Jim

11. Posted by marck - 06/16/2008

    Hi guys,
    Thanks for the mention! It’s good to see YouMail featured here.
    YouMail is always striving to provide a way for our users to be as informed as possible and allow them the power to control their voicemail in the way they want.
    I wanted to add that the visual voicemail feature is one of many others that is included as part of our free service:
    -You can check your voicemails from your phone but also from your PC.
    -Get notified of voicemails via email with the voicemail attached as an mp3 file
    -We offer free voice-to-text transcription
    -You can also reply to voicemails via text (for free) or email
    -Create personal greetings for specific callers
    -Ditch known and blocked/unknown callers
    -See who called you and what city/state they are calling from.
    …and much more!
    You can check us out at http://www.youmail.com

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