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From our December 9th news release:

Grandma’s stories about growing up in Wisconsin. Grandson Mark’s first sounds. Uncle Fred’s recollections about his life in the circus. Capturing their words for posterity in a digital audio recording? Priceless. Evoca Express provides its easy-to-use Phone-to-Web service to capture, share, and archive family stories, histories, and events as MP3 recordings.

With today’s holiday shopping budgets tighter than ever, Evoca’s consumer service, Evoca Express, makes an affordable $29.95 “virtual stocking stuffer” for relatives and friends of all ages who have a lot to say and simply are not going to write it or type it. Now anyone can give the “gift of voice” by signing up for an Evoca Express member account for a family member or get their own account to capture these special memories. Evoca provides convenient in-bound phone numbers for numerous U.S. and international cities. When the call is made, Evoca automatically recognizes the member and then instantly stores the voice recording as an MP3 file in the member’s online account.

The recordings can be kept private, emailed to specific recipients, downloaded on to CDs, or made public and posted to family and genealogy websites, blogs, and social networking profiles such as Facebook. RSS feeds can alert family members to new recordings that they can upload into their iPods. The EvocaMic, an in-browser Flash recorder, can also be embedded in a website or blog to collect voice recordings using any computer mic. All of these features are available for an annual subscription of $29.95 — less than $2.50 a month or the proverbial “one Starbucks coffee”.

The entire family can share one Evoca Express account using their very own dedicated “family hotline” phone number by adding Evoca’s Virtual Voicemail to record from anywhere, whether they can make it to the family holiday gathering or not. Evoca also makes it possible to make free calls using Skype to record voices of family members living around the world using the Evoca-Skype Call Recorder. This innovative web recording feature, a Skype “Extra”, does not require any software downloads.

About Evoca
Evoca enables organizations and individuals to easily create fresh, engaging audio content using any phone, computer mic, and Skype™ and streams it online to any website, blog, or social media profile. Evoca provides Voice-to-Web digital recording and online distribution through its “software-as-a-service” media platform. Organizations of any size can easily integrate and customize Evoca Media Services features into their web properties, marketing programs, and customer-facing operations using Evoca’s highly scalable enterprise-class API (application programming interface) and telephone services covering over 45 countries.

Here’s the news release! Atlanta, GA – November 23, 2008 – Take Back Georgia, Inc., the first progressive PAC based in Georgia to take on Senator Saxby Chambliss in his re-election effort this past year, has continued to engage the base of voters needed to defeat Sen. Chambliss in the December 2 runoff election.

“As the first group to identify Saxby Chambliss as the Republicans’ key to stopping a Democratic super majority, we have been proud to be on the front lines of this campaign since early summer against Saxby,” said Mike Cantone, president of Take Back Georgia, Inc. “Our online campaign has informed thousands of voters for months about Saxby’s shameless record in the US Senate and reminded them of his actions dating back to the 2002 election. Now, we have unveiled new technology to let every supporter put their voice into this effort – and all toll-free.”

The newest technology is a feature that has been added to www.SaxbyShameless.com, the campaign’s main e-headquarters. The feature is a product of a new partnership with Evoca, which allows for anyone to call in to a toll-free number and express why they are supporting Jim Martin in the runoff, or simply why Saxby is Shameless to them. This Phone-to-Web feature adds a new dimension to the race in the final stretch, and Take Back Georgia hopes it will continue to rally the base and get voters to the polls.

The toll-free number is 1-866-920-9977 and there is staff that will monitor the messages for privacy issues as well as making sure messages are acceptable and decent in nature. All calls are listened to.

“In a runoff, the only persuasion needed is explaining why your base needs to go back out there and vote again. With Saxby’s increased rhetoric of the right’s most radical agenda items and more misleading negative attacks, we believe this feature will help energize our base as voters will hear themselves, their neighbors and supporters they don’t even know sharing a desire to create change in Georgia,” said Cantone. “Our Democratic voters need to be energized as well after this grueling election cycle, and it helps to know you’re not alone, whether you’re the candidate, the campaign volunteers, or the average voter who has the holidays on their mind not the runoff election.”

“Evoca welcomes this opportunity to ‘empower the voices’ of Georgia voters,” offered Murem Sharpe, CEO and founder of Evoca, “It’s good to know that anyone in Georgia with a phone can actively participate in the election simply by calling the campaign’s toll-free number and then listen to other citizens’ opinions and testimonials online any time.”

Evoca (www.evoca.com) enables organizations and individuals to easily create fresh, engaging audio content online using any phone, computer mic, and Skype™, streams it to any website, blog, or social media profile, offers viral media widgets, and generates advertising revenue and donations linked to audio content. Evoca provides its Phone-to-Web services to organizations through Evoca Enterprise, its “software-as-a-service” media platform and through Evoca Express, designed for individuals, professionals, and small business users. Organizations and individuals easily integrate features into their web properties, marketing programs, and customer-facing operations. With offices in New York and Savannah, GA, Evoca is a member company of the prestigious Georgia Tech Advanced Technology Development Center.

Take Back Georgia, Inc is an independent campaign that has aired five radio ads holding Saxby Chambliss accountable for his votes and actions. Our latest radio ad, “Change – Let’s Take Back Georgia” will air up until the runoff election across the state of Georgia. Take Back Georgia, Inc. is not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. There are an estimated 10,000 active supporters of Take Back Georgia.

Difficult times call for smart planning and decisive action. Evoca Express makes it easy to record calls with debt collectors to keep track of what they say and, if necessary, to protect your rights in potential disputes. Debt collectors are supposed to comply with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. This federal law promotes the fair treatment of consumers by prohibiting debt collectors from using unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices. Debt collectors are prohibited from harassing, oppressing, or being abusive in collecting a debt. This includes using threats or obscene language, publicizing the debt, making annoying or anonymous telephone calls, and misrepresenting the identity of the collector, the status of the debt, and the consequences if it is not paid. This act applies to professional debt collectors who collect on loans they did not originate. Though it technically does not apply to banks, department stores, and other lenders who collect their own debts, no reputable lender is permitted to use such practices.

You can use Evoca Express to record any telephone conversation with a debt collector. Hint: If the debt collector calls you, tell him you cannot talk then and get a phone number to call him back. Then here’s how you record the phone call that you initiate. Be sure to practice it first with a friend.

If you originate the call in a state that does not require notifying the debt collector you are recording the call (see “About privacy laws” below):
Step #1: Dial one of the Evoca phone numbers (click on “Call to Record” link to get the numbers)
Step #2: After you hear the Evoca greeting and tone, put the call on hold and dial the debt collector’s phone number
Step #3: When you hear the number ringing, join the two calls together (method will depend on your phone set-up)
Step #4: Start talking. Be sure to mention your full name in the conversation and get the debt collector’s name and confirmation of the phone number you used to reach him.
Step #5: Simply hang up when the call is over. The recording is saved instantly.
Step #6: Go to your Evoca account. You will find the recording right there! It is tagged with the date and length of the call. Be sure to type an appropriate title for the recording and a description.

If you originate the call in a state that does require notifying the debt collector you are recording the call (see “About privacy laws” below):
Step #1: Dial the debt collector’s phone number
Step #2: Tell the debt collector that you are going to record the call and that you will put the call on hold while you bring in the recording service
Step #3: Put the call on hold and dial one of the Evoca phone numbers (click on “Call to Record” link to get the numbers)
Step #4: After you hear the Evoca greeting and tone, join the two calls together (method will depend on your phone set-up)
Step #5: Start talking and ask the debt collector to state that he consents to being recorded. Be sure to mention your full name in the conversation and get the debt collector’s name and confirmation of the phone number you used to reach him.
Step #6: Simply hang up when the call is over. The recording is saved instantly.
Step #7: Go to your Evoca account. You will find the recording right there! It is tagged with the date and length of the call. Be sure to type an appropriate title for the recording and a description.

You can also order a transcription right online; it will be delivered as a Word document to the email you registered in your Evoca account.

If you need your attorney or other authorized person to listen to the recording, you can email the link to your private recording. Your email allows your attorney to download the recording to keep on file.

About privacy laws: “Federal law allows recording of phone calls and other electronic communications with the consent of at least one party to the call. A majority of the states and territories have adopted wiretapping statutes based on the federal law, although most also have extended the law to cover in-person conversations. Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia permit individuals to record conversations to which they are a party without informing the other parties that they are doing so. These laws are referred to as ‘one-party consent’ statutes, and as long as you are a party to the conversation, it is legal for you to record it. (Nevada also has a one-party consent statute, but the state Supreme Court has interpreted it as an all-party rule.)

Twelve states require, under most circumstances, the consent of all parties to a conversation. Those jurisdictions are California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Washington. Be aware that you will sometimes hear these referred to inaccurately as ‘two-party consent’ laws. If there are more than two people involved in the conversation, all must consent to the taping.” (This is an excerpt from The Reporters’ Committee for Freedom of the Press website. Evoca is not providing legal advice. Confer with your attorney as needed.)

To start recording calls today — whether’s it’s a phone conversation with a debt collector or for other business or personal purposes, an Evoca Express member account gives you a lot of value. You can sign up for a 30-day FREE trial account today and upgrade to a PRO account any time.

While Wall Street experiences its financial twister, the Storm Chasers fan site features viewers’ audio recordings about real tornadoes that changed their lives. Kirk Denkler, Discovery Channel producer of the highly popular Storm Chasers series says, “If you’ve had a tornado encounter of any kind — or have heard tales you want to pass along — please call us toll-free at 1-866-656-7157 and share your story. Whether you’ve been directly affected by a tornado, love to chase them across the countryside, or anything in between, here is the place to let others hear your messages.” Using Evoca’s digital media services to attract compelling user-generated content through its “Share Your Twister Stories” feature, the new season of Storm Chasers premiers Sunday, October 19 at 10 Eastern/Pacific on the Discovery Channel.

Every year it seems like more tornadoes are touching down and 2008 may turn out to be a record-breaker in the United States. Already thousands of tornadoes have been reported. Many of them cause massive property damage and tragic loss of life. Listen to a moving first-person account by Alex, one of the Boy Scouts who survived the deadly June 11th tornado in southern Iowa, as he praises the “Storm Chasers” for bravely studying how these storms behave to prepare and protect people from their wrath. Hear everyone’s stories at the Storm Chasers fan site and add your own voice to “Your Tornado Stories” simply by calling 1-866-656-7157.

We welcomed the opportunity to provide our Voice-to-Web services to the courageous Storm Chasers teams and their vigilant fans during production in the spring and summer and now for its on-air season. We’re pleased to continue to deliver Evoca Media Services for Discovery Communications’ interactive campaigns, engaging thousands of fans with its outstanding non-fiction television series such as Animal Planet’s Animal Cops, Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch, and TLC’s Singing Office.

If you’d like to hear more about how Evoca can increase the ROI of your own interactive programs (or your clients’ campaigns), tell us at 1-866-940-9988 or use our online inquiry form. You can start with a 30-day free trial of the Evoca Media Services developer version.

Introducing … Evoca Express for Educators! We’ve welcomed the extensive use of Evoca Express by educators around the world, from elementary and high school teachers and students to college and university faculty, students, and researchers for a wide range of uses including language learning, audio assignments, citizen journalism, oral histories, field research, student and parent communications, and more.

To make it easy and affordable for educators and students in non-profit institutions to continue to use Evoca Express for their courses and students, we are offering three programs to “empower the voices” of educational communities. These programs are available for non-profit educational institutions and their faculty.

Program #1: One Evoca Express PRO member account used by both the teacher and students

Program #2: One Evoca Express PRO member account used by both the teacher and students with a dedicated Virtual Voicemail™ phone number

Program #3: One Evoca Express PRO member account used by the teacher and each student has an Evoca Express PRO member account

We invite you to learn more at Evoca Express for Educators!

From our joint news release:

Colorado Capitol Watch, devoted to keeping Colorado voters up to date about its state legislature, expanded its services to enable anyone engaged with the Democratic National Convention in Denver to put their voices online using Evoca’s innovative Phone-to-Web digital audio service.

Voices ranging from Ashley Judd, the actress to Steny Hoyer, House Majority Leader to Jeff Greenfield, Senior Political Correspondent for CBS News are going online thanks to the initiative by the Colorado Capitol Watch team to make sure that messages about political experiences and opinions can be heard around the world. Anyone can call the CCW hotline at 303-481-6000 to get heard instantly simply by using their mobile phones. Digital audio recordings are streamlined online.

“An informed electorate is essential for small ‘d’ democracy to continue to thrive in the United States and enabling first-person accounts from the Democratic National Convention is our contribution to this important process,” remarked Paula Noonan, CEO and Founder of Colorado Capitol Watch and Colorado delegate to the DNC.

“We applaud the innovative use of Evoca’s Phone-to-Web services by the Colorado Capitol Watch and look forward to supporting their on-going non partisan initiatives during the upcoming election season and legislative sessions in the State of Colorado”, added Murem Sharpe, CEO and President of Evoca.

Colorado Capitol Watch endeavors to bring truth through facts to the voters of Colorado based on the bills and voting records of their legislators. Its goal is to ensure that Colorado voters have all the necessary information to assess their legislators based on their actual voting record. The website serves as a “truth check” for any allegations or assertions made by anyone, including candidates, legislators, and 527s, on the public record of legislators. CCW is a non partisan enterprise dedicated to open, transparent government. All collected data comes directly from the public voting record of Colorado legislators and uses the Colorado General Assembly website and the Secretary of State’s website to gather information. CCW also records Committee and General Assembly sessions via the web audio streaming provided by the State.