INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vontoo (http://www.vontoo.com), the first permission-based, on-demand voice messaging provider, announced its 2007 forecast for automated voice messaging, predicting tighter regulation of calls and growing acceptance of the medium by both marketers and consumers.

"Permission-based voice messaging is an important marketing tool for companies to communicate quickly and inexpensively with their current customers. In 2007, smart marketers who comply with regulations will create deeper, more lasting customer relationships by adding the emotion and excitement of voice to their marketing efforts," said John Wechsler, president and chief operating officer of Vontoo, Inc.

The top trends for voice messaging for 2007 include:

1.    Acceptance of voice messaging as "marketing multiplier." With marketers constantly on the prowl for methods to effectively and efficiently reach their audience, permission-based voice messaging will become a complementary tool to traditional media.

  
2.    Passion will be rewarded. Consumers reward the brands about which they can become passionate; and, nothing conveys passion like the human voice. Consumers will respond positively when voice messaging is added to the marketing mix.

  
3.    Youth marketers will pioneer acceptance of voice messaging. Young consumers are more engaged by audio and visual communication than they are by traditional advertising or long text-based communications, such as direct mail. Marketers will reach this young, mobile target market with timely, tailored sound bites sent to cell phones.

  
4.    "Blast" voice calling is dead. Permission voice messaging technology today allows dynamic messages to be tailored to individuals making the content more relevant. One-message-to-many is no longer effective; one-to-one voice messaging is the future.

  
5.    Regulations will expand. Today, there are hundreds of federal and state laws and regulations governing the use of telephones to reach consumers. As consumers become increasingly concerned about privacy and interruptions, the number of industry regulations will increase in an effort to better protect consumers.

  
6.    Strict enforcement will compel compliance. As regulations expand, enforcement will increase with substantial penalties for non-compliance. Some states have penalties as high as $25,000 per violation of Do Not Call legislation.

  
7.    Permission standards will be high. Regulations will increase the standards for defining "permission." Meeting permission standards will require additional effort on the part of marketers, but it will pay off with closer customer relationships

  
8.    Opt-ins will be receptive. Consumers who opt-in will be increasingly receptive, enthusiastic and appreciative of true permission-based voice messages. They will reward marketers with increased business and loyalty.


About Vontoo

Vontoo brings the emotion, enthusiasm and energy of the human voice to one-to-one communication. The world's first permission-based, on-demand voice messaging system, Vontoo enables organizations to create, send and track voice messages specifically tailored to the recipient's interests. Vontoo is accessible over an Internet web browser, anytime or anywhere, and can send from one to millions of audio messages to any type of phone. The solution is perfect for customers in the entertainment, business, not-for-profit and political industries and for OEM applications. Vontoo is privately owned and headquartered in Indianapolis. To learn more, go to http://www.vontoo.com.