Are You a Good Multitasker? ... "It's scary." That's one reader's reaction to the idea of sending voice activated e-mail while driving -- the subject of last week's Dispatch, Extreme Business Planning: The 100-Year Solution (Apr 22). Another reader praised a service that "combines voice, fax and e-mail messages in one in-box and makes them accessible via telephone, wireless device or computer." (See below.) But, multitaskers, pay attention.

In England, it is no longer legal to speak on a cell phone in a car with the engine running -- unless the phone is totally hands free. Even then, you've still got to be careful. According to CBSNEWS.com, "Hands-free mobile phone kits are permitted but Transport Minister David Jamieson warned 'police can use other powers to prosecute a driver if they are distracted by a call on a hands-free phone.'" (Brits Ban Driving While Phoning, Dec 1, 03)

Mark Miller with Hudson Advisors raves about CallXpress, a unified messaging system, from AVST, Inc. "Since we're on the road a lot -- sometimes not near a high-speed Internet connection -- our IT staff sets us up with a dual access system for voicemail, e-mail and faxes. I get all three through my Outlook Inbox, which I can then access by phone remotely. When I'm at my computer, my voicemail is played on Windows Media Player, and, when I'm calling in by phone, my e-mail is recited to me by a female voice that doesn't sound too computer generated. I can speed her up or slow her down, depending on the content of the e-mail.

"It's a headache-reducer because I can print faxes directly from my computer at the hotel without having to call back to the office during office hours and have something re-faxed to the hotel, killing the quality of legal documents. It's also a real time-saver because I can call in and find out if I have any important e-mails while I'm walking through the airport." Sounds like the future ringing.

--Peter Pike