International telco Etisalat together with voice messaging and social media app provider Kirusa announced the launch of the InstaVoice service for Etisalat customers in Nigeria.

InstaVoice voice messaging is compatible with both smartphones and feature phones according to the announcement, which adds that Etisalat customers can now engage the app to send and receive voice messages locally and internationally.

Etisalat users looking to send an InstaVoice message to a friend will need to dial *(star) followed by the recipient's number to record and send a message. Users can also record a message if a call goes unanswered or cannot be completed for any reason, as well as use the InstaVoice app on Smartphones to send messages by pressing and holding the record button in the app to record and send a message.

Messages will go through regardless of whether the recipient has the app or not.

In the event of a missed call, voice, or text message is delivered over the data channel to Smartphone users with the InstaVoice app, so they can view the messages as part of the chat history with their friends. Recipients, who do not have the app, get the InstaVoice message as an SMS with an embedded number. Recipients can then dial the number inside InstaVoice to listen to the message and reply.

InstaVoice messages will be delivered using the Kirusa cloud.

InstaVoice is the only smartphone app that consolidates missed calls, voicemail and chatting together in a single chat screen according to Kirusa and Etisalat. The partners also claim it is the only app that supports sending voice messages to any user, even to those who do not have the app.

Etisalat Nigeria's head of digital media Adia Sowho spoke glowingly about the service during the announcement. "InstaVoice is one generation ahead of all the missed call and voice messaging apps we've been using till date. We are ecstatic to partner with Kirusa and offer such an incredible service to our subscribers." she said.

Smartphone users can download InstaVoice app at no cost from Google's Play Store or Apple App Store.

"If you want to engage in the world's best Voice messaging and Missed Call experience, then InstaVoice is the app for you. It has been seamlessly designed keeping in mind the needs of people in emerging markets. We are delighted to partner with Etisalat Nigeria and bring the joy of seamless communication to their subscribers," said Kirusa's Taranjit Singh Batra.