How Can I Text by a Phone Call w/ Speech-Text?

October 10, 2013 9:32 PM

I still miss Jott. It was my most-used web service. Of course as most know, the service was shut down in 2011. The most-used feature of Jott that I used (and I am now actively needing a replacement) was their high-quality speech-text service where you simply make a phone call, speak your message and send as an SMS text! It's much safer while driving, was very easy to text from a 'dumb' phone for an elderly member of my family, etc. (more inside)

I found ONE service: Voice On The Go. I know nothing about them. I would think with all the dangers of driving and texting, this would be a big deal. Of course, there are probably apps for this kind of thing, but I'm looking for a straight phone-SMS service that's handled like Jott was - completely with a cell phone (even a landline), dial your 'special' number, speak your message, tell it where to send the text, done. You get the idea.

Surely there's services that have individual plans like the old Jott?

(And I miss Jott in many other ways. Between their closing and drop.io, my productivity was crushed.)

As always, thanks in advance!

posted by Gerard Sorme to Computers & Internet (6 answers total)

What is your phone platform? Google Now and (I'm told) Siri can do this. For Google Now, it's "Send text to grandma saying hi grandma thank you for the birthday card." I can't imagine Siri's syntax is radically different. Google Now requires a screen-tap to confirm the message, and the first time you do it you may have to pick an app to send the text (if you have multiple sms apps). Google can be launched blindly on your device (press and hold home-key) and you can start commanding it with voice alone (say "Ok Google") and gives audible notification to let you know it's listening or has stopped listening.
posted by Sunburnt at 10:31 PM on October 10, 2013

Siri on iOS7 can definitely do this. I never tried on iOS6.

I just say "message to [contact name] mobile (to identify specifically which phone for the contact)", and you get guided through with the option to change/correct your message before sending. Siri will read it back to you before sending. You can also request "read my messages" and get them spoken out loud in a decent text-to-speech.
posted by alchemist at 12:15 AM on October 11, 2013

Th OP is looking for a service that can be used with a dumb phone. You could probably roll your own with Tropo or Twilio.
posted by reddot at 4:46 AM on October 11, 2013

Making a phone call, pressing buttons on your phone, even talking on the phone hands-free, is not safe while driving, just FYI.
posted by decathecting at 8:09 AM on October 11, 2013

You might be able to do something with IFTTT. They have a phone call channel that *looks* like it might do this, but I can't test it out because I don't have a US number. You can "Leave IFTTT a voicemail", then I would assume set up a trigger to send an SMS to a pre-defined number; they seem to have a voice-to-text option. But I'm not 100% sure because once again us Canadians don't get all the fun toys.
posted by cgg at 8:38 AM on October 11, 2013

Oh, here's an idea, but it's going to require setup on an per-person basis: Set up a Google Voice account for Grandma (etc.). Voice can be easily set to transcribe voice messages and email and/or SMS them. Then, you just call it from any phone and leave a voicemail. Not great for a long list of people, but great for one or two people. SMS transcription seems to cut off after 3 messages in length, so 480 characters minus the preamble which reads "You've got a new voicemail from (###) ###-####. Transcript: " Figure about 430 chars.

Setup will require that Grandma (or you with Grandma's phone) answer the phone and .. I forget exactly, but an access code number has to be transferred through that connection to authorize the Voice account to talk to Grandma's number.
posted by Sunburnt at 12:06 AM on October 12, 2013