kääneposti

Kõneposti, or voicemail, is a telecommunication service that records voice messages when an incoming call cannot be answered, is busy, or unreachable. In Estonia, as in many countries, the term kõneposti is commonly used to describe the service provided by mobile and fixed-line operators as well as standalone voicemail systems.

Functioning: When a call cannot be answered, the network or the device forwards to the voicemail service, which greets the caller and records a message. The owner can later retrieve messages from their phone, via a keypad sequence, or through an app or web portal offered by the operator. Many services also support visual voicemail, where messages are listed on the device screen with playback controls.

Setup and customization: Users can enable or disable kõneposti in their device settings or through the operator’s customer portal. Setup typically includes recording a personal greeting, choosing whether to require a PIN, and configuring how callers are redirected. Many services allow notifications by SMS or email when a new message arrives and offer retention periods for stored messages.

Access and management: Messages are stored on the operator’s server or the device’s voicemail system until retrieved or deleted. Users can listen, save, forward, or delete messages, and may be able to mark messages as important or search by date or caller. Some devices and services support visual voicemail, which presents messages as a list for easier management.

Variants and providers: Traditional network voicemail uses a dedicated mailbox number, while visual voicemail and cloud-based voicemail are common on smartphones and in operator apps. In Estonia, major mobile operators typically offer kõneposti as part of mobile plans, with specifics such as greeting options, PIN requirements, and retention times varying by provider.