Voicemail access

[TechniKal]

I just signed up, so this may already be a feature that's just not documented in the faq - but I'd like to be able to access voicemail remotely by dialing my number and pressing '*' or whatevever when the message starts. I know there's an 800 number for access, but I have more than enough numbers to remember already, so being able to access it by just dialing my home number would be great.

[KLH]

I do not think this is possible yet.

[VTAllan]

That's an interesting idea. The one problem I could see with that though is abuse for others to be able to access your voicemail by knowing how to do that. Plus if you called your number remotely, you'd have to be redirected to the voicemail location somehow...might create problems if someone accidentally hit the * key when calling you too because they'd be redirected to voicemail automatically.

Security of that would be compromised a little if someone ever tried to "hack" or guess your number in your voicemail multiple times too, because of the redirection it might cause problems trying to trace wrongdoers as it'd be seen as your number connecting maybe to the voicemail location.

Just some thoughts.

What I do with numbers now is write them all down on a little piece of paper and keep it in my wallet under a credit card, just so I don't need to remember every contact number.

[KLH]

Well, I think you would obiviously have to enter in your password, and not just press the * key. Or you can do like what Verizon Wireless does, and to check your voicemail, you just call your number, and wait for voicemail to pickup, once it does, you hit the # key then enter your password to gain access.

[TechniKal]

Most other VM's I've used seem to do this. Call in - press '*' or some other key and it asks you to enter your passcode. Enter that, and you're in.

I don't see it being any less secure than the tollfree number - someone that knew your phonenumber and guessed your passcode could gain access to your VM through the tollfree number as well.

It's not a big deal, but I'd like it :).

One other question about VM - when calling it and leaving a message, the lady prompts you to hang up or press '#'. When I press '#', nothing happens - it just beeps and leaves that on the voice message. Is the '#' supposed to do something?

[tsedlmeyer]

Every voicemail system I have used has this ability. I have had this with all my work voicemail systems and before switching to Viatalk my Verizon voicemail service had this feature.

Not having this is a real issue in the spouse acceptance area. My wife (and I suspect most wives) doesn't want to learn an additional number or carry a piece of paper with it written down everywhere she goes. This is becoming a real sticking point and continued lack of this feature may eventually cause me to abandon Viatalk.

[mogulman]

Yeah.. I noticed that this is an option that is kind of lacking with Viatalk. People don't want to have to remember a special voicemail access number.

Cell phone providers, Vonage, PSTN voicemail, all let you dial your regular phone number, then press some button during or after the greeting (*), then press your pin, and get logged into voicemail to listen to messages.

[gfwalker]

I agree that this is a HIGHLY desirable feature. The absence of this feature makes ViaTalk less competitive. BUT, I DON'T understand all the talk about "writing the number down on a piece of paper". I store the 800 number into my cellphone just like any other number. I dial it by selecting it from the Contact list, then enter my phone number and PIN in response to the prompts. Who doesn't have a cellphone these days??

BTW, I find the 800 number to be rather unfriendly. You have to enter your phone number exactly right or it hangs up on you (instead of giving an error message and letting you re-enter it). Sometimes it gets into an endless loop where it keeps asking for the number and PIN over and over (even though I'm entering it correctly); the only way out is to hang up and call the 800 number again. Sometimes the first prompt is cut off a little at the beginning, so it sounds a little strange. And finally, it takes the 800 number a long time to get to the first prompt. Overall it's a low-quality experience.

[spamoni]

I have been a viatalk customer for sometime now. I have the ability to dial my home number and press the * key. Once this is done, you are prompted with to enter your password (do not end it with a #, as this is not needed)

[Brian188]

I'm with spamoni on this one. I've always been able to call my number and press "*" and then prompted for a password.

[bloemker]

We can also get to voicemail by pressing * during the message, then entering our password at the "password" voice prompt.

[vtjosh]

This feature was actually added sometime after the OP. Officially, you can dial your VT number from another network, press *, then enter your password at the prompt.