REVIEW: Slydial lets you get to the point, for a fee

Editor’s Note: Welcome to our weekly feature, Yay or Nay. Every week we’ll review a new wireless application or service from the user’s point of view, with the goal of highlighting what works and what doesn’t. If you wish to submit your application or service for review, please contact us at rcrwebhelp@crain.com.
Application: Slydial
Running on: Standard office phone and a BlackBerry Pearl on T-Mobile USA Inc.’s network.
Yay: Slydial is a service allowing callers to skip the rings on the other end of the line and go directly to voicemail, allowing callers to skip that whole conversation part of a phone call.
Nay: Like anything else in this world, it isn’t free. Customers will pay by either listening to an advertisement each time they dial in or by literally paying 15 cents per call, which normally wouldn’t be a huge expense, but the same service is offered for free and sans-commercials through most carriers.
We say: Slydial is a great idea and works exactly as it’s supposed to; however, listening to advertisements is no fun if you don’t have to do it and it’s already out there, for free.
Review:Slydial is a great concept when it comes down to wanting to leave a quick message. Let’s face it – we all have those contacts, friends or even acquaintances who can spend forever gabbing away, even when called for a quick yes or no answer. Slydial may help avoid those tedious and lengthy conversations.
The application process is quite simple. Dial the Slydial number (267-SLYDIAL), wait for a voice prompt, and then enter the desired number for where you would like to leave a message. We tested Slydial on a wireless and a wireline phone; it works on both.
However, the point of leaving a voicemail is to get information across and most times, a call back is in order. So eventually some voice-to-voice speaking will take place, so one might as well just get it over with. There are certain situations though, when you only have a second to let someone know something, and this is the perfect solution.
But paying 15 cents for it or listening to an ad to get to the service seems silly when it can be done for free and quickly, without being bothered by ads. Most carriers offer a “backdoor” number that takes you directly to someone’s voicemail. Also, most voicemail recordings offer a “send a message” option with the same Slydial process. Listen to the prompt, enter the desired recipient’s number and leave a message.