As many of you know I have use a service where personalized voicemails are provided. This has caused some confusion with friends and family as they think I’m talking to them when and they proceed to talk to my answering machine… Here’s a cute example in which my niece, Momo, wonders why I won’t talk back. VM From Momo

Here’s a VM that my buddy Chris left me. Friends looking out for me as Ironman events tend to sell out within hours. By the way, I signed up in time… thanks to another friend, Yi, registering me. IM Canada Chris

And this one is another adorable VM where Kai and Jana wish me a good night. Good night from Kai and Jana

I’m not sure if it bothers you but when you leave a message for somebody, you’re always left waiting for that stupid beep before you’re able to talk. David Pogue, NY Times Columnist who focuses on tech, has decided enough is enough and that the extra long message forced upon us by the carriers so that they can make more money has to go. Here’s a quote by him.

“Suppose you call my cell to leave me a message. First you hear my own voice: “Hi, it’s David Pogue. Leave a message, and I’ll get back to you” — and THEN you hear a 15-second canned carrier message. … These messages are outrageous for two reasons. First, they waste your time. Good heavens: it’s 2009. WE KNOW WHAT TO DO AT THE BEEP. … Second, we’re PAYING for these messages. These little 15-second waits add up — bigtime. If Verizon’s 70 million customers leave or check messages twice a weekday, Verizon rakes in about $620 million a year. That’s your money.”

— NYT columnist David Pogue mobilizes a “Take Back the Beep” campaign to press cell-phone carriers to get rid of the superfluous voicemail instructions that play before a caller is allowed to leave a message.