HulloMail™ launches Hullo technology for Android phones with its latest release

We are pleased to announce the launch of our version 2.2 Android app. The enhanced app builds on the existing voicemail and features the new Hullo instant voice messaging technology, which has already been a big hit with our iPhone and BlackBerry users. 

‘Hullos’ are short voice messages that enable users to reply to a voicemail or to send new instant voice messages without having to make a phone call.  As a HulloMail subscriber, most Android Smartphone users can now enjoy this powerful two-way digital messaging capability free of charge, both locally and overseas*, when they download the enhanced HulloMail app.  

Andy Munarriz, our founder & CEO, said: “Our goal at HulloMail is focused on building out voicemail into two way voice messaging. We are driven by impulses to speak. All modes of communication have their uses but voice is still up there as one of the clearest, if not the clearest form of communication. Hullos streamline voice messaging for the SmartPhone generation making voice as simple as texting or emailing.” 

In addition to incorporating Hullos, the Android app also offers users the option to display missed calls, the opportunity to copy messages directly to registered email addresses and also the ability to access existing messages whilst offline. The service continues to offer unique message syncing capabilities with email compliant accounts, such as Gmail. 

The HulloMail Android app is currently available to both UK and US users and can be downloaded for free from the HulloMail Web site at www.hullomail.com or from the Android marketplace. 

Awards, Awards, Awards

It's turning into a great month here at HulloMail. We ended April and began May with our BlackBerry App being featured app on BlackBerry App World, which resulted in a surge in registrations especially from our 83xx and 85xx users.

AND...

We're pleased to announce we've been selected as a finalist for the Red Herring 100 Europe Awards, which honours the 100 most innovative and promising technology start-ups from across Europe.

Red Herring analysed hundreds of cutting-edge companies and technologies and selected those who they felt are positioned to grow at an explosive rate. The resulting two hundred finalists have been invited to attend an Awards dinner in Paris, France on 27 May 2010, where the Top 100 winners will be announced.

Andy Munarriz, our founder and CEO: “Since we launched HulloMail to consumers a year ago, we have seen a massive increase in appetite and downloads of our apps for BlackBerry, Android and iPhone. Ultimately, we have created a service that suits the way people want to interact today – quickly, without fuss and, ideally, for free. Therefore, to be recognised by Red Herring as one of the most innovative technology start-ups is amazing and I look forward to hearing the outcome of the Awards on 27 May.”

"This year was especially difficult," said Alex Vieux, publisher and CEO of Red Herring. "Despite the global economic situation, there were many great companies producing really innovative and amazing products that we had a difficult time narrowing the pool and selecting the finalists. HulloMail shows great promise therefore deserves to be among the Finalists. Now we’re faced with the difficult task of selecting the Top 100 winners of Red Herring Europe award. We know that this year’s crop will grow into some amazing companies that are sure to go far."

Wish us luck next week!

The Future of Voicemail - sponsored by HulloMail

As posted by Ewan this morning, the Future of Voicemail Video Series is coming soon to Mobile Industry Review, which HulloMail are happy to sponsor.

Ewan approached us about the series, as he had for a long time been pondering the possibilities of the medium of voicemail, which he felt had been over looked for years.  We all rely on it daily and according to a recent article in The Times, us Brits alone spend more than 25 billion minutes each year leaving or listening to voicemail.  Which begs the question why do so many of us put up with the archaic service we've had for years.

This question and more we will aim to answer through the upcoming Future of Voicemail Video Series.

The format will be this: Ewan will be interviewing five leading minds in the mobile and technology field on camera over the next few weeks. He'll be asking them to comment on the history of the industry, the technology in use today and to speculate on what they see as the next steps for the medium. We're aiming for one video each week, starting in the next few weeks.

If you’ve any questions, drop Ewan a note: ewan@mobileindustryreview.com.

Watch this space for some behind the scenes exclusive insights.

Goldman Sachs chooses voice!

With International bank, Goldman Sachs, being investigated by authorities in the US and UK regarding allegations of fraud (http://bit.ly/9eQplB), I was interested in reading the approach Lloyd Blankfein, CEO, took recently to ‘rally the troops’ in preparation for another week’s trading on the financial markets:

Rather than send an email out to his workforce, a personal voicemail was instead broadcast to his staff. From reading the transcripts, it is clear that the message was sent to reassure, inspire and, in Blankfein’s own words, “to re-affirm everything that defines Goldman Sachs.”

The use of voice over the written form literally speaks volumes. We are still driven by impulses to speak; all modes of communication have their uses yet voice is still one of the clearest, if not the clearest from that we have.  Tenses, tones or meanings cannot be misconstrued when spoken as they can in emails, and the personal approach was clearly the best one to take, particularly in light of the sensitive situation Goldman Sachs is facing.

Voicemail has its many critics, yet the ability to outreach vital messages to staff can only be positive. At HulloMail, we believe that in today’s fast-paced world, the ability to send instant messages to one or multiple recipients suits the way in which we like to communicate: clearly, quickly and without fuss.   And, without the need of having to physically call the person or people.

Voice will continue to be very important and voice messaging will enter the realm of simplicity that text and email has had - e.g the ability to send voice messages, which can be received via mobile handsets, email or the web; this will begin to become a new part of our arsenal of communication.”

Could we claim Enid Blyton as one of our founders?

A strange title for a blog post, I know and of course Enid Blyton was not a founder of HulloMail, although it sometimes feels like the Magic Faraway Tree in the office.

The inspiration for this post comes from a friend's email following HulloMail's inclusion in The Telegraph last week. He said that he was having trouble trying to explain to his five year old daughter why Enid Blyton can't spell 'Hello' and this explanation prompts a thought of HulloMail every time, I'm thinking this explanation may be a daily occurrence!

The reason Ms. Blyton, by today's standards, can't spell 'Hello' is because her books pre date the standised spelling of the word. Hullo is an Old English word equivalent to modern hello.

We get asked, why Hullo? or what does Hullo mean? regularly, well now you know...

Of course during recent months we have expanded the definition of 'Hullo' and it can now also mean a short, voice message that you can send to your friends for free - they don't even need to be HulloMail users as you can send a Hullo to any email address.

Tip: We find it helps with pronunciation if you say 'Hullo' with a Scottish accent but if accents aren't your thing try a couple of whiskeys, and try again!

  

Hullomail and the iPad, a new relationship begins

The Apple iPad was launched in the US earlier this week with Apple reporting sales of  300,000 on the day of launch.
The iPad is not yet available in other countries, but will be on sale in parts of Europe, Canada and Australia by the end of April.  

We at HulloMail obviously know the right people as we have been in touch with iPad users here in the UK to check out their experiences which seem to be all positive so far and more importantly to check out the HulloMail app on the iPad!
Apple have reported that iPad users had downloaded more than one million applications from the app store and more than 250,000 electronic books.  
The great news, thanks to our UK iPad testers, is that HulloMail is compatible with the iPad so you can enjoy the great HulloMail service from your new iPad device from today if you are one of the numerous iPad owners in the US or the unoffical ones in the UK.  If you aren't one of those yet, remember to download HulloMail for iPad once you offically get it later this month.

Check out the video and the screenshots.

HulloMail extends Voice Messaging App to all BlackBerry Curve Smartphones

HulloMail™ (www.hullomail.com), voice communications innovator, has today announced that its popular voice messaging app is now supported on the whole range of BlackBerry® Curve™ smartphones, including:

• BlackBerry® Curve™ 8300 smartphone series
• BlackBerry® Curve™ 8500 smartphone series
• BlackBerry® Curve™ 8900 smartphone

By downloading the app from BlackBerry App World™, BlackBerry® smartphone users can now have voicemails pushed as audio files directly to their handset and send and receive instant ‘Hullo’ voice messages with friends or family, for free, both locally or internationally.

Andy Munarriz, founder and CEO, HulloMail said: “Having listened to consumer feedback, we are pleased to announce expanding our support for all models of the popular BlackBerry Curve series of smartphones. People can access the app for free by visiting BlackBerry App World. Check it out!”

The availability of the HulloMail app coincides with the recent rebrand of the service, which includes an overhaul of the look and feel of HulloMail on BlackBerry smartphones.

Get the HulloMail app now

About HulloMail™

Formed in 2008,HulloMail™, the voice-messaging innovator, offers consumers instant voice messaging and modern voicemail applications.

The HulloMail technology, used daily by over 35 million subscribers worldwide, has been developed with an emphasis on extensive product research and consumer-led innovation. HulloMail's services offer a quick and easy way to manage, send, receive and share voicemails and with the new Hullo feature, provide free, instant voice messaging to mobile and email.

Mobile Operators can accelerate modernisation of voicemail-based services while greatly reducing capital expenditure by utilising the HulloMail Cloud Application Managed Service Suite.

For more information, visit http://www.hullomail.com.

The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited.