Voicemail drops are used primarily in outbound marketing and sales contexts, allowing businesses to deliver messages to large lists of contacts without requiring a live call.
How Voicemail Drop Works
Instead of initiating a traditional call connection, voicemail drop services use carrier-level access to deposit audio directly into a recipient's voicemail box. The recipient sees a missed voicemail notification on their phone without the phone having rung.
Compliance Considerations
In the United States, the regulatory status of voicemail drops is unsettled. The FCC has indicated that ringless voicemail delivered to mobile phones may be subject to TCPA requirements, including the need for prior express written consent for marketing purposes. Businesses using voicemail drops for marketing should consult a telecommunications attorney before deployment.
In Canada, unsolicited commercial messages (including voicemails) are subject to CASL (Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation). Commercial voicemail drops to recipients without an existing business relationship or express consent may violate CASL.
Voicemail Drop vs Voicemail Replacement
Voicemail drop (outbound marketing) is distinct from voicemail replacement for inbound calls. AI answering services replace traditional voicemail for inbound calls: instead of callers leaving a voicemail when you do not answer, the AI handles the call, collects information, and sends you a structured summary. This is not a voicemail drop.