Say it with a text

It is the text message that literally does the talking for you.

A new messaging service translates mobile phone texts into an electronic voice which can then be received by fixed-line telephone numbers.

The growing language of abbreviations and text symbols can also be converted into a spoken message.

Typing in the smiley face icon, for instance, will send the voice message: 'Smile.'

But the system, which has been introduced by BT, is not without its glitches, with some words being lost in translation.

Unusual names such as the Irish spelling of Shelagh come out garbled, as do tongue twisters and some long words.

BT admitted there were a number of words that would need fine tuning, but it said the system would prove invaluable to some people.

Bruce Stanford, director of products at BT Wholesale, added: 'For phone owners, we see massive advantages. This will be an extra way to leave a message with someone who has no mobile or where a mobile is switched off or out of range.'

The service costs no more than normal texts and is available to customers of Vodafone, T-Mobile, BT Mobile and 3.

The service will become available to O2 users in the next few weeks.

The texts can be received by landlines that use BT's network, as well as lines operated by Kingston Communications and Telewest.