The communication capabilities of the human voice appear to have been highly overrated over the centuries. As email, SMS, and online chat systems like ICQ have come into play, I sometimes find myself jabbering to myself as I sit at my desk just to make sure my vocal cords still work. Now, it looks like companies are moving toward turning voice messages into text to be sent across these systems. Yes, I know that these things are primarily meant to save you money (cell phone and land line), but if you'd told me 15 years ago that I'd be sending text-notes by talking into a phone, I probably would have asked the obvious question "Why not just leave a voice message?" Well, maybe you're sending someone directions to the pub and you don't want them scrambling for a pen. The obvious downfall of sending a text message using your cell phone is pecking out that message on the keypad of your tiny phone, and One Voice Technologies thinks it can relieve you of that burden. The company just let us know that it has rolled out a Beta version of its MobileVoice voice-to-text messaging system to several wireless carriers. The carriers will be testing the system and providing feedback on product usability and performance. MobileVoice Messaging lets wireless phone users address, compose, and send free-format text e-mail, SMS (phone to phone) and paging messages using only their voice. One Voice sites statistics that estimate PC-based messaging tops 500 billion e-mails and 275 billion instant messages per year. In addition, the GSM Association estimates that over 200 billion mobile phone based SMS messages will be sent this year. Soon, the only voice you hear could be your own.