Samsung Launches Direct Voicemail in One UI 8.5 Beta
Samsung has unveiled a fresh feature called Direct Voicemail with its latest One UI 8.5 beta update. This new functionality aims to modernise voicemail handling on Galaxy phones by bypassing traditional carrier voicemail services and running voicemail directly on the device. The concept is reminiscent of Apple’s Live Voicemail introduced in iOS 17 and Google’s Call Assist improvements that rolled out towards the end of 2023. Direct Voicemail integrates with Samsung’s existing Text Call service, offering users a more interactive and AI-driven voicemail experience.
How Direct Voicemail Works and Its Features
Direct Voicemail allows users to receive live transcriptions of voicemail messages as they are being recorded. When an incoming call is not answered, users can send it to Direct Voicemail either manually by tapping the “more options” button during the call or automatically after a preset time delay, which can be customised from default options of 5, 10, or 20 seconds. Once a voicemail is being left, the caller’s message appears as a real-time transcript on the screen, and the recipient can choose to pick up the call at any moment.
After the voicemail is recorded, it is accessible from the recent calls screen, where the call card displays the length of the voicemail along with a snippet of the transcription. Samsung has also included two helpful AI-powered tools for managing voicemails. The first is a summarisation feature that condenses longer messages, making it easier to grasp the key points quickly. The second is Audio Eraser, designed to reduce background noise in recordings, improving clarity and comprehension of the caller’s message.
Comparing Samsung’s Direct Voicemail with Google’s Take a Message
Google introduced a similar voicemail transcription feature called Take a Message on its Pixel phones last year. While Samsung’s Direct Voicemail offers comparable functionality, there are some differences in user experience. For instance, Google’s feature activates automatically when a call is rejected, whereas Samsung requires manual activation or setting a timer to send calls to voicemail. Regarding transcription accuracy, initial impressions suggest that Google’s Pixel may have the edge, especially in challenging audio conditions with mumbling or background noise. Samsung’s Text Call service, which Direct Voicemail builds upon, has historically struggled more with such scenarios, though it remains to be seen if the new One UI 8.5 beta improves this aspect.
Looking Ahead
Direct Voicemail represents a significant step forward in voicemail technology for Samsung users, bringing AI-enhanced features that could change how voicemails are managed. As One UI 8.5 continues to develop, it will be interesting to see how Samsung refines this feature and whether it can match or surpass the transcription quality of competitors like Google. Users eager to try out Direct Voicemail should keep an eye on the beta rollout and consider how this new approach fits into their communication habits.
For more details on this update and to experience Direct Voicemail firsthand, you can check out the original leak and testing insights here.