Do you love or hate voicemail?

JDgreen227 · Dec 29, 2014

Purchased a new Virgin Mobile LG Volt smartphone two months ago when the 2 year contact I had on my Razr Maxx through Verizon expired...never had voicemail on that phone because I am totally deaf but my new device has VISUAL voicemail-to-text....a $2.99 per month option but my 30 day free trial was great...I could have voicemail notices of deliveries, appointment confirmations, etc. transcribed into text for instant viewing and also sent to my email address. The thing is...I had never really thought of the subject of voicemail prior to getting my new phone and once I went online to research the subject, most of the responses I read were so critical of voicemail. I am just wondering what the generalized opinion here may be...do you prefer voicemail, texting, or just plain old email as a method for communication?

Thanks for your input.

jerrybob · Dec 29, 2014

All those methods save people time but....I prefer just plain old talking. I have a very old phone......it doesn't do any of those things......call me if you want to talk to me.......I usually will answer. :thumbsup:

motownbrowne · Dec 29, 2014

I Hate voicemail. If you are over 65 or honestly can't text me, fine, leave a message. I just hate the messages that say, "hey this is John, give me a call back". That's a waste of my time. If it rang when you called me, my phone will show a missed call, and I will call you back. No need to tell me to. If it didn't ring and you can't text at least leave some content in your message so I know what I'm calling in regards to. Honestly, though just send me a text, I'll get back to you much faster.

Maybe that seems rude to the previous generation, but I know that's the way many people my age feel. If you're having trouble getting your kids or grandkids to respond to your voicemails, try texting them. It's pretty darn easy.

k0ua · Dec 29, 2014

I would have to agree that voicemail is for the most part yesterdays method. It can still be useful in some situations and still useful in a business setting sometimes, but it is so easy to ignore. I put in hundreds of voicemail systems over the years in business phone systems, and for sure an awful lot of people ignore their voicemail. I have "stories", lots of them. I resisted texting for several years, but I use it now, and it has its place. For every one much younger than me, it seems to be the preferred method. We still use email a lot, but more for business so a record is kept than any kind of personal communication.

uglyboywith11fingers · Dec 29, 2014

We recently gave up our land line for a second cell phone... cheaper, and now wifey can get a hold of me easier when we're both out.
Of course it will take a voice msge, but now we are rarely away from the phone, so probably don't get one voice mail per month.
Of course the kids & grandkids prefer texting... which is OK too, if you give me time to put my reading glasses on.

Pete

RobertN · Dec 29, 2014

I dislike the part when leaving a voice mail "Hi, this is Joe; leave a message after the beep". Then... "Press 1 to continue message, press 2 to replay, press 3 for current time, press 4 to...". Takes two minutes of various recording before you can leave a message.

HarryN · Dec 29, 2014

Hate voice mail, hate texting. Both never activated. I'm a happy man!!

RedNeckRacin · Dec 29, 2014

Absolutely hate voice mail. Send me a darn text or email.

GPintheMitten · Dec 29, 2014

10 or 20 years ago I really liked voice mail

Now I like texting more than calling to exchange information.

But there is a time when a conversation is the right way to go. Given that everyone I communicate with has a smartphone I don't have much need for voice mail as a caller or receiver.

FTG-05 · Dec 30, 2014

The biggest complaint I have about my Motorola Droid Razr is the fact that there is no Voicemail icon to let me know I have a VM. I have an icon alert for texts, phone calls and e-mails, but none for VM. What's up with that?

Oh and in this day and age, we really need a 45 second dissertation on how to leave a VM????

GPintheMitten · Dec 30, 2014

FTG-05 said:
The biggest complaint I have about my Motorola Droid Razr is the fact that there is no Voicemail icon to let me know I have a VM. I have an icon alert for texts, phone calls and e-mails, but none for VM. What's up with that?

Oh and in this day and age, we really need a 45 second dissertation on how to leave a VM????

Are you sure that's a phone specific problem? I would check because I think it is software controlled not hardware. Look for an option to set up notification.

JDgreen227 · Dec 30, 2014

FTG-05 said:
The biggest complaint I have about my Motorola Droid Razr is the fact that there is no Voicemail icon to let me know I have a VM. I have an icon alert for texts, phone calls and e-mails, but none for VM. What's up with that?

Oh and in this day and age, we really need a 45 second dissertation on how to leave a VM????

I had the exact same phone as you describe but to me VM on that device was worthless because I can't hear. And even though I get VM's transcribed to text on my newer phone, there isn't any practical way I can reply to them UNLESS the person who left me the VM has a smartphone and I can reply via text. Got two VM's-to text today from landline phones which were of some information but I could not reply...guess getting the message was the important thing.

k0ua · Dec 30, 2014

FTG-05 said:
The biggest complaint I have about my Motorola Droid Razr is the fact that there is no Voicemail icon to let me know I have a VM. I have an icon alert for texts, phone calls and e-mails, but none for VM. What's up with that?

Oh and in this day and age, we really need a 45 second dissertation on how to leave a VM????

Well are you running the circle widget? On my droid Razr M, I have the circle widget selected an in the time circle it will show the voicemail symbol and say New voicmail (x) where x =equals the number of new voicemails. and says to dial *86 to retrieve the voicemails. If you press the circle widget area it takes you directly to VM without having to dial *86. Of course in your phone symbol at the bottom you will se that someone called and also in the upper tray area the bounced call symbol.

FTG-05 · Dec 30, 2014

k0ua said:
Well are you running the circle widget? On my droid Razr M, I have the circle widget selected an in the time circle it will show the voicemail symbol and say New voicmail (x) where x =equals the number of new voicemails. and says to dial *86 to retrieve the voicemails. If you press the circle widget area it takes you directly to VM without having to dial *86. Of course in your phone symbol at the bottom you will se that someone called and also in the upper tray area the bounced call symbol.

It appears I need the circle widget. God help me if it looks like a clutch pack, I may have to go back to my flip phone........

k0ua · Dec 30, 2014

FTG-05 said:
It appears I need the circle widget. God help me if it looks like a clutch pack, I may have to go back to my flip phone........

Yes it looks just like a clutch pack. Not like a swash plate. You already have the circle widget. Press the center apps button along the bottom row then at the top select widgets and find the circle widget and select it

Looking4new · Dec 30, 2014

Voice mail? I hate it! People leave a message and then talk so durn fast you have to replay the message many times to get the general gist of the message and phone number to call them back. It is worse if they don't speak clear English.
Leaving VM? NOT me. I have enough conversations with my big truck and Jeep.
Sext messaging. Nope. That is against the law.
E-mail is all I do other than talking on the phone.

FTG-05 · Dec 31, 2014

k0ua said:
Yes it looks just like a clutch pack. Not like a swash plate. You already have the circle widget. Press the center apps button along the bottom row then at the top select widgets and find the circle widget and select it

Well if it looks like a clutch pack, that must be why I can't find it! Went to the "widget" area (never knew that existed BTW, thanks!) and didn't find anything to do with voicemail.

I *assume* we're talking about the red icon with the tape reel-type symbol in the center?

Thanks,

k0ua · Dec 31, 2014

FTG-05 said:
Well if it looks like a clutch pack, that must be why I can't find it! Went to the "widget" area (never knew that existed BTW, thanks!) and didn't find anything to do with voicemail.

I *assume* we're talking about the red icon with the tape reel-type symbol in the center?

Thanks,

The 3 circles is what you are looking for.. When you don't have a voicemail (yes the reel to reel red icon) They will show the time and date in the big one on the left, and the center one will show the temprature of any set of city's you want to program it for and the little one on the right will show the percentage of battery charge. The one with the time and date will show the voicemail when you have one. Also it can show the clock as analog or digital, by "flipping" it with a swipe. As for the center one you "flip" it to change the cities you wish to display the temp and wx condition.

k0ua · Dec 31, 2014

What do you have for a "widget" if any in the upper portion of the main screen now? You will need to "remove" it if you have something there, by pressing and holding for a second then while still pressing drag it to the x at the top which is the remove area. Of course to get the circle widget to the main screen top area, press and hold and drag it to the main screen. Clear as mud?

JDgreen227 · Dec 31, 2014

"Clutch pack" and "Swash plate" and "Circle widget" and "Battery charge" and "Flipping it with a swipe"....:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: for all I can understand you guys are talking about operating a tractor rather than trying to help each other figure out voicemail on a smartphone.....:laughing: :laughing: