Your message, another voice

By RICHARD WOOD

Ihug has launched a text-to-voice messaging system allowing any internet user to send a computer-generated voice message to any phone.

The system, launched at www.t2v.co.nz translates text messages into six possible voice sound waves including Susan the "husky female vixen", Frank "the charismatic male" and the anonymous "whisperer".

While the anonymous capability of the message is designed for fun purposes, ihug is ready to act if the system is abused. Ihug spokeswoman Karli Fountain said that in that case a lead-in message would be added to the calls saying they were from ihug's system.

Caller identification systems will show an ihug number and the company is able to trace back who made any particular call if there are any problems. It can also block the caller from using the service.

The cost of the system is 20 cents a message to landlines and 50 cents to mobile phones.