Verizon now offering visual voice mail, for real

The LG Voyager gets visual voice mail.

(Credit: Verizon Wireless)

Even though we reported Verizon would bring visual voice mail to the LG Voyager a couple of weeks ago, apparently we jumped the gun because the application went missing from Verizon's Web site shortly after we posted about it. Well today, Verizon has finally made it official that it will indeed be implementing visual voice mail for the LG Voyager, but it won't be for free. It is available for $2.99 a month per line. This is disappointing, to say the least, since the visual voice mail option for the Samsung Instinct and the Apple iPhone do not appear to have a monthly charge associated with it.

The visual voice mail system implemented by Verizon is the same as the others; it has a simple interface that lets you pick and choose which voice mail message to listen to, plus you can delete, reply to, and forward each message. You can even reply with a voice message of your own if the other person is also a Verizon Wireless customer. You can view certain information like date and time of receipt, message duration, and more, in order to prioritize your response. Verizon lets you store up to 40 messages for 40 days. Alcatel-Lucent is helping to enable this service.

Currently available only on the LG Voyager, Verizon says that customers can find the application under the Messaging menu under option 6. Or customers can take the Voyager to any Verizon Wireless store to receive a free software update. Verizon expects to offer visual voice mail on more devices, but they haven't said which ones.

[CHADSWORLD]

Nothing is ever free with Verizon. terrific network but the penny pinching and charging for every little thing adds up to a major bill each month.

[fcg1502]

Someone mentioned on another blog that yes, it is dissapointing that you have to pay for it, but on other phones like the iPhone, data plans are mandatory and I'm sure that the visual voicemail is included in the cost. I haven't compared prices of similar data plans between AT&T and VZ, but at least the option is there, and at least you have the option to choose it or not. Me, I will be choosing it as soon as it is offered on the Dare!

[bmgoodman]

$2.99/mo, eh? Well, you know it can't be cheap to have all those Verizon employees following you around (as shown in their commercials). ;)

Seriously, if the "visual" part is just where it shows the name and number of the person who called you, the amount of "data" required for that is minuscule. This service should just be included as part of voice mail. Of course, Verizon *loves* to tack on fees for EVERYTHING.

[donjb]

Yep, I had my phone's software upgraded yesterday and after some difficulty yesterday was finally able to activate the service this morning. Works great and as advertised. Interesting though, when you go to the verizonwireless downlaods/aps section you will find it under browse tools if you search on the keyword "visual". Here you will find that there is no charge t subscribe to this service. When you use you phone to login or the first time there are some accpet options the first of which talks about $2.99 however I think with some pans it is incldued like Navigation, etc. I have Nationawide plan and pay nothing. BTW: The upgrade at the store was suppose to take 15 minutes but I had version 04 which came with the phone just 9 months ago. The dowoad took more than 90 minutes. So plan to drop off the phone and go eat or something. The verizon peeps could not have been easier to work with. BTW: you will love the new menu adn menu options when you get the upgared software (ver 09). Much like the Dare and cutomizable menus now! Wow! Get the updagrade even if you don't want visual voicemail.

[kbox01]

I had a very similar experience to donjb. It took the Verizon store over 2 hours to update the phone's software due to the backlog they had to deal with. It must be said that although it seemed Verizon was a little late in letting the employees know what was going on as many employees handn't a clue as to what Visual Voicemal was they were certainly very nice about everything. Once the software update was complete it took another 30 minutes on the phone with tech support to get the application running (hint... turn the phone off and remove the battery for 10 seconds before turning the phone back on). From my experience, the application is free for those on the Nationwide pricing plan. Even with the challenges to install and use the app it is more than worth it. It works as advertised and, in my opinion, adds much value to the Voyager.

[skyfreedom]

I have switched from Verizon to get my iPhone, Verizons network is far superior to others but thats all the credit I will give them. Their prices suck, their services suck (vcast) and now they think they are pioneering the visual voicemail and that a charge should be applied.
Well Verizon wake up and smell the coffee and no i wont "Dare" to get rid of my iPhone LOL

[nissankid]

Like someone already stated. Yes you have to pay for Visual Voicemail with Verizon but for iPhone users i'm pretty sure somewhere they are paying for it at well with that pricey data plan they have to get. And who knows, maybe Verizon will make it free down the road. I currently have the Voyager and one thing I can say is that Verizon could've done a better job with letting there sales reps now about it cuz man everone was extremely clueless as to what Visual Voicemail was when I asked about it. And man it took 3 and a half hours to upgrade my phone! With that said, it was worth it cuz I am very happy with the visual voicemail and the new menu layout for the Voyager.

[askermana271275]

I to had amazing problems with this. First during the firmware update they screwed up my phone losing everything but my pictures. They then had to give me a new phone and update its firmware. After about 3 hours I know had a new phone with the new firmware and all my contacts ring tones and music gone. Latter when I get home I try activating visual voice mail. I get an error that the process couldn't be completed. After about 1 hour on the phone with customer support im told that the code required to activate the service was not on there servers and that they would call me back in 2 days with information about thus. All in all its been my worst experience with Verizon and I plan to switch to AT&T as soon as my contract ends. On a good note the new design looks cool and I love the new icons.

[hotchkikr]

it sucks and I can't cancel it.