The face of Helen of Troy may have launched a thousand ships, but the voice of Elwood Edwards, 49, has sparked more friendships than can be counted.

His cheery voice greets 15 million America Online (AOL) users with the phrase "You've Got Mail" each time they log on and have new e-mail. Edwards's famous snippet, spoken in such an upbeat manner that most swear it's computer-generated, is repeated an estimated 27 million times per day. His recorded voice also renders "welcome," "goodbye," and "file's done."

The connection began for Edwards in early 1987 in a Christian chat room on Q-Link, an AOL precursor. "I happened to be looking around online and found a Christian chat room and began spending a lot of time there," he said.

He met a woman named Karen, and they began to converse electronically about the Lord and what he was doing in their lives. Karen was working in Vienna, Virginia, as a customer service representative for Quantum Computer Services, which would soon become AOL. Edwards was living in nearby Gaithersburg, Maryland. They talked via computer and phone for several months. Then in July 1987 they decided to meet face-to-face, and in December of that year they were married.

In 1989, Karen overheard AOL President Steve Case and some programmers talking about adding a voice to their software. She boldly suggested her husband could supply that voice. With 20 years of announcing experience, working in production and management for television stations, Edwards had the credentials. They agreed to give him first crack at the job.

After the phrases to be used were determined, Edwards recorded them at home on a portable cassette deck. He then gave the tape to one of AOL's programmers.

Everyone agreed his voice was perfect; there was no need to re-record anything. The company has considered other voices, but they've stuck with Edwards's baritone. Though neither AOL nor Edwards will reveal his compensation, Edwards happily says their relationship is "satisfactory."

Online romance is a hot topic these days, explored cinematically in the 1998 movie "You've Got Mail," starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Edwards's signature phrase comes up each time the stars exchange admiring e-mails. Karen and Elwood, old hands at online relationships, were flown to the premiere where they saw the stars and renewed their friendship with Steve Case.

Karen and Elwood think the way they met was "fabulous," but they urge caution to others venturing into electronic liaisons. "I don't think there's such a thing as love online," said Karen, who left AOL in 1992. "You have to see the person face-to-face."

They emphasize that people can become close friends via computer, but a godly romantic relationship requires both parties to see each other and determine their compatibility. If online friends want to meet in person, Karen advises proceeding with caution: the first meeting should definitely be in a public place.

The Edwardses recently moved from Houston to Orrville, Ohio, where Elwood now operates his own home-based voice-over studio.