Find HS Code and trade information for message machine

Message Machine

A message machine, broadly defined, is a device designed for recording and delivering audio messages. While the term historically referred to answering machines and voicemail systems, it now encompasses a wider range of devices and technologies serving similar purposes.

Material:

• Early Models (Answering Machines): Primarily constructed using electromechanical components – motors, tape drives (magnetic tape), recording heads, and plastic housings.
• Digital Models (Voicemail Systems, Digital Recorders): Utilize electronic components – microchips, solid-state memory (flash memory), speakers, microphones, and plastic or metal enclosures. Modern devices often incorporate LCD screens and digital interfaces.
• Software-Based (Voicemail Apps): Rely on server infrastructure, data storage, and software applications running on computers, smartphones, or cloud platforms.

Purpose:

The core purpose of a message machine is to capture audio communications when the intended recipient is unavailable. This ensures that important information isn't missed and allows for asynchronous communication.

Function:

• Recording: Captures audio signals from incoming calls or direct voice input.
• Storage: Stores recorded messages digitally or on physical media.
• Playback: Allows the recipient to listen to recorded messages.
• Message Management: Features often include options to delete, save, forward, or prioritize messages.
• Notification: Alerts the recipient to new messages through visual or auditory signals.
• Transcription (Modern): Some systems automatically convert audio messages into text.

Usage Scenarios:

• Home Use: Answering machines traditionally served as a means to take messages when a homeowner was away or unable to answer the phone.
• Business Use: Voicemail systems are integral to business communication, enabling clients and colleagues to leave messages for employees.
• Personal Recording: Digital recorders are used for note-taking, interviews, lectures, and other audio capture purposes.
• Emergency Communication: Some message machines are designed for broadcasting important announcements or delivering critical information during emergencies.
• Accessibility: Voice messaging features within smartphones and apps offer alternative communication methods for individuals with disabilities.

Common Types:

• Answering Machines (Tape-Based): Older technology using magnetic tape to store messages. Largely obsolete.
• Digital Answering Machines: Use flash memory for storage, offering higher capacity and more features than tape-based models.
• Voicemail Systems (Traditional): Integrated with telephone systems, providing automated message recording and retrieval.
• Unified Messaging Systems: Combine voicemail, email, and fax into a single platform.
• Digital Voice Recorders: Portable devices for recording audio, often used for interviews, lectures, and note-taking.
• Smartphone Voicemail Apps: Built-in or third-party apps that provide voicemail functionality on smartphones.
• Cloud-Based Voicemail: Voicemail services hosted on cloud servers, accessible through web browsers or mobile apps.
• Voice Assistants (e.g., Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant): Can record voice memos and deliver voice messages.

Based on the provided information, “message machine” can be interpreted as apparatus for the transmission or reception of voice, images or other data. Here are the relevant HS codes:

• 8517.69.00.00: Telephone sets, including smartphones and other telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks; other apparatus for the transmission or reception of voice, images or other data, including apparatus for communication in a wired or wireless network (such as a local or wide area network), other than transmission or reception apparatus of heading 8443, 8525, 8527 or 8528; parts thereof: Other apparatus for transmission or reception of voice, images or other data, including apparatus for communication in a wired or wireless network (such as a local or wide area network): Other.

  • 85: Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recording or reproducing apparatus, television-image transmission or reproduction apparatus, and apparatus for transmitting or receiving voice, images or other data.
  • 17: Telephone sets, other apparatus for the transmission or reception of voice, images or other data.
  • 69: Other apparatus for transmission or reception of voice, images or other data, including apparatus for communication in a wired or wireless network (such as a local or wide area network).

• 8470.10.00.40: Calculating machines and pocket-size data recording, reproducing and displaying machines with calculating functions; accounting machines, postage-franking machines, ticket-issuing machines and similar machines, incorporating a calculating device; cash registers: Electronic calculators capable of operation without an external source of electric power and pocket-size data recording, reproducing and displaying machines with calculating functions Display only.

  • 84: Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof.
  • 70: Calculating machines and pocket-size data recording, reproducing and displaying machines; accounting machines, postage-franking machines, cash registers and similar devices.
  • 10: Calculating machines and pocket-size data recording, reproducing and displaying machines with calculating functions; accounting machines, postage-franking machines, ticket-issuing machines and similar machines, incorporating a calculating device; cash registers.
  • 00: Electronic calculators capable of operation without an external source of electric power and pocket-size data recording, reproducing and displaying machines with calculating functions Display only.

• 8470.10.00.60: Calculating machines and pocket-size data recording, reproducing and displaying machines with calculating functions; accounting machines, postage-franking machines, ticket-issuing machines and similar machines, incorporating a calculating device; cash registers: Electronic calculators capable of operation without an external source of electric power and pocket-size data recording, reproducing and displaying machines with calculating functions Other.

  • 84: Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof.
  • 70: Calculating machines and pocket-size data recording, reproducing and displaying machines; accounting machines, postage-franking machines, cash registers and similar devices.
  • 10: Calculating machines and pocket-size data recording, reproducing and displaying machines with calculating functions; accounting machines, postage-franking machines, ticket-issuing machines and similar machines, incorporating a calculating device; cash registers.
  • 00: Electronic calculators capable of operation without an external source of electric power and pocket-size data recording, reproducing and displaying machines with calculating functions Other.

Regarding HS codes 8470.10.00.40 and 8470.10.00.60, the total tax rate is 55.0%, comprising a 0.0% basic tariff and a 25.0% additional tariff, increasing to 30.0% after April 2, 2025.