David Pogue launches all-out war on canned voicemail messages
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted July 30th 2009 1:04PM
posted July 30th 2009 1:04PM
At the tone, please record your message. When you have finished recording, you may hang up, or press 1 for more options. To leave a callback number, press 5. (Beep)Not only is Pogue mad-as-hell-and-not-going-to-take-it about the ridiculous idea that we still need to be told how to use voicemail, it turns out those additional messages are actually costing you cold, hard cash. He estimates that Verizon, for instance, is netting around $620 million a year thanks to these little annoyances. So what's to be done? Well Pogue wants the citizens of the internet to take up virtual arms... and complain like nobody's business. He's wrangled together all the best contact points for the four largest carriers in the US (included for your convenience after the break). Let them know you know don't want to pay for voicemail instructions. And hey, while you're at it, tell them the price-gouging on text messages needs to go, too.
Verizon: Post a complaint here.
AT&T: Send e-mail to Mark Siegel, executive director of media relations: MS8460@att.com.
Sprint: Post a complaint here.
T-Mobile: Post a complaint here.
... why not just press 1?
I'm pretty sure you can turn that off on most carriers. At least when I set up my voicemail recently it gave me the option of having that or not.
Just dial "0" when u reached VM. It will kick u into the "beep".
www.youmail.com
Best thing ever.
Pogue is lame. Always bitching about something. While most people are savvy enough to navigate their way around automated attendants, there will always be those late adopters, first-time users, or uninitiated that just need the help. Pogue needs to realize that not everyone is neurotic experienced as he is.
No need to freak, just turn off the message.
To turn this off on Sprint:
To turn off the options that are played after my voicemail greeting is played, perform the following steps:
1. Access your voicemail box.
2. Press 3, for personal options.
3. Press 2, for greetings.
4. Press 1, to change your personal greeting.
5. Press 3, to add or remove the caller instructions.
6. Follow the prompts to turn instructions on or off.
http://support.sprintpcs.com/doc/sp12817.xml?selectedDeviceId=5762&docid=11639&referring%20topicid=&Referring%20TopicID/DocID%20List%20Index=y&navtypeid=2&pagetypeid=36&prevPageIndex=5
And if you have AT&T and an iPhone, also complain about MMS not being available yet. Of the 88 countries with the iPhone only 5 don't support MMS yet. I mean come on, Canada can send MMS, but people in the US can't?
http://crazyburns.wordpress.com/2009/07/28/att/
yea that is just ridiculous, I am not sure how all Iphone users are not up in arms over that. How long does it take to enable mms
on the third gen and still not enabled its a crying shame.
Thank god for android!
you can press * when calling verizon wireless number and it'll go directly to the beep and skip the message.
I AM MAD AS HELL AND NOT GONNA ....
.... errr, what? I have to exert energy writing to a big corporate complaint box in the hope that my cries will even be heard? So this will save me a buck or two, at most, every month and considering I'm already locked into paying a set amount per month...it isn't like I'm even going to be getting any greenbacks back. Oh, well, I'm going to lay back down and watch some more television. Oh, tv and internet, how I love you. I am sure someone will do something to put an end to all this corporate greed for me.
If this "issue" even registers on your radar, you really need to relax. Seriously.
What the hell is everyone talking about? Pressing 1 on Sprint bypasses it. Pressing # on T Mobile bypasses it. Not sure about V or ATT. This seems to be a major nonissue. Oh I'm sorry this article is fore t@rds who can't use their brain to figure things like this out.....carry on. There should be a new tag for Engadget: Braindead_masses.
PS- If you want to launch a campaign against something how about ads that show up while watching TV at the base of the screen. Now only are we browbeaten with 3-4 minute commercials now we get them while watching the show. That is a war worth waging.
And you magically know which carrier everyone is using before you leave them voicemail?
my thoughts exactly
No Shi.t. I'm sick of calling someone and being told for the next 20 seconds how to leave a damn message. I know how. This is the reason I don't leave many voicemails, it's a pain.
And I'm seriously thinking of getting rid of text messaging and having all incoming messages blocked. I got 200 texts for 5 bucks when I first got my iPhone. I had switched to AT&T for the first time. My previous carrier allowed incoming text messages for free. AT&T does not. 200 texts is definitely enough for sending, but not sending and receiving. I can't control what people send me short of having all texts blocked. Now I have to get 1500 texts? That's the next level? That's fuc.king stupid. I hate you AT&T. It's not worth having an iPhone just to deal with you. When my contract is up, the iPhone will be gone and I will no longer be your customer.
I'm in, let's get the bastards!!!
I think Pogue, who is usually right about everything, is aiming at the wrong target. Technologically, it would be very easy to make voicemail less rude, less frustrating, less user hostile. Big corporations don't seem to care, or they are rude on purpose, trying to force you to their internet sites, where you will also find rude, frustrating, user hostile interfaces, which force you back to the telephone and the voice robot that hates you. I suppose eliminating pointless outgoing messages might be one element in a general improvement package.
If text messages were cheaper and reflected their actual cost, I suppose some other cell-phone services would cost more, with no net gain to most users, so I'm agnostic on that one.
Wengla02 here from BuzzAboutWireless.com and now the Sprint Community.
We hear you - and we’ve stood up a brand new forum to talk about this topic:
http://community.sprint.com/baw/community/buzzaboutwireless/general/takebackthebeep
Jack Diemer, our Voicemail guy, has also posted some handy tricks out there to streamline your voicemail experience.
Why do we make the prompts so long? We have to work on the assumption that everyone using voicemail is a beginner - but for customers that have some experience with the system and want to streamline their settings, you can follow these tips at:
http://community.sprint.com/baw/community/sprintblogs/buzz-by-sprint/announcements/blog/2009/07/30/take-back-the-beep
It’s really cool to see this level of interest — thanks for visiting!
Will England
It nice to know how these major carriers try their hardest to suck the blood out of their costumers. There's never enough money for these leaches.
all u have to do is press 1 when that message comes on and it skips it... at least with verizon wireless
Yeah and then it's 3 for t-mobile, and who knows what other number for all other carriers. Am I supposed to keep track of the carriers all the numbers I call use? It's a stupid fuc.king pointless waste of time to have the message, all carriers should drop it.
Hey, folks!
could NOT agree more!
These bastards are really taking us all for a ride.
Remember you can always press 1 right as you are getting the greeting to go straight to the beep to leave your message.
Someone probably already posted this but it doesn't hurt to give a reminder!
I may have missed this somewhere being that there has been great interest in this topic and I almost passed out after reading 2 pages of comments haha.... but I wouldn't be surprised if the cell carriers were forced to pro-rate this some how. If you buy food at the Deli by weight, they have a thing called "tare" (or however its spelled). They have to deduct the weight of the packaging.... maybe the cell carriers will end up making voicemail free? Yeah right!!! haha
It's true that writing a letter means much more than flooding a message board or inbox with complaints. At my company, we would take our time with email complaints, but send us a letter and the manager freaks.
We could also be calling their customer service numbers to express our disatisfactions. VZW 800-922-0204
the point here is moot. I do agree that the instructions on how to use a simple voice mail box is annoying, but I believe the cell industry is going unlimited very soon. I.E. Sprint simply everything, Boost Unlimited, Metro Pcs, and soon all will follow suit or risk losing business.
We will see how long this takes but I dont see it taking much longer.
Just went on AT&T's live chat to ask a representative - it took 15 minutes to finally get a person, then about 3-4 minutes between 2 questions and finally it Timed Out on me - here is my conversation (I added the 'Timed Out' to let you know where we left off).
All representatives are currently assisting other customers. At this time, our average wait is 1 minutes and you are # 1 Thank you for your patience. A representative will be with you shortly.
Welcome to AT&T Technical Support Chat. My name is 'Wanda Reese' and I’ll be happy to assist you today.
Me: Hello - How can I turn OFF the pre-recorded voicemail instructions on our cell phones so I get a beep immediately after my personal recorded message? I understand iPhone users have this with AT&T so I know it is possible.
Wanda Reese: I will be more than happy to assist you, Mr. Me.
Me: thank you
Me: It is a relief that you will assist me to turn this feature OFF
Me: Wanda - it has been a few minutes - are you still there?
Wanda Reese: Mr. Me, please hold with me for 2 to 3 minutes while I check the device tutorial for that information.
Me: ok - thank you
Wanda Reese: Mr. Me,which Razr do you have?
Me: Motorola Razr - we have 2
Wanda Reese: The iPhone has many options that are not available with other phone.
Wanda Reese: Our voice mail platform requires the voice mail prompts be in place for your voice mail.
Me: Well this isn't a phone option - this is a voicemail option which I imagine would be based on your voicemail features NOT the phone itself
Me: Why is that?
Wanda Reese: https://www.wireless.att.com/support/deviceTutoria ...
Wanda Reese: Please open the link from your PC. This is a device guide to show you all options to use with your phone.
Me: What is the reason the instructions are repeated each time someone calls?
Me: Is there a hotkey to skip it?
Wanda Reese: For other options that you may need with the device. Please contact Motorola by calling 866-289-6686. Their hours of operation are Mon - Fri 8 AM - 11PM Sat and Sun 10 AM - PM ET.
Me: This is an AT&T issue - not a Physical Phone issue
Me: Is there a skip feature?
Me: so callers do not need to listen to this same 15 second message every time they leave me a message?
Wanda Reese: We do not have a skip feature for the voice mail prompts. I do apologize, Mr. Me.
Me: Why do iPhone users have it but others do not?
Wanda Reese: Yes, I do understand. Thank you.
Wanda Reese: Mr. Me, have you been able to open the device guide?
Me: Yes - it is NOT a Phone Device issue - it is 100% an AT&T issue -
Me: Just to Clarify - You CANNOT Disable the Voicemail Instructions for my AT&T Cell Phone Family Plan?
Wanda Reese: That is correct. the device guide would allow you to view other phone option. Our systems do not skip the voice mail routing, message.
Me: But the iPhone does
Me: Are you saying that the iPhone has special features in the phone that will allow me to skip these instructions?
Me: Are you still there?
Timed-Out
You'd be surprised how many people need these prompts and they're still almost clueless. More and more senior citizens are getting cell phones for the first time in their lives.
Then turn it off David.... How does this guy keep his job being so so damned clueless? I've long ago given up reading his reviews because it's like he's never actually seen the stuff he talks about. I seriously think he reads the misinformation in blogs and forums and just parrots them.
?
all you have to do is press 1 immediately, skips the whole thing....hellooooooo
Don't be so arrogant if you are ignorant. The bypass is different for every carrier. How are you supposed to know what carrier you are calling?
You could just press 3, if 1 doesn't work, you actually don't have to know the carrier, just the two buttons that bypass ;)
I hate Voicemail... 4K+ strong!
http://www.facebook.com/ihatevm
The revolution has begun!!!
It's amazing how lazy and indifferent we have gotten as a nation. A company posts $620 MILLION in profits by forcing something on it's customers and most of the responses I'm reading are "Meh, who cares. I've got bigger problems". Pathetic. This country used to be built on accountability, and yet we have all forgotten how to use our voices and stand up for our rights, no matter how small or large. I understand that many carriers give you the chance to turn it off, but not all do. I'm a verizon customer and I don't have the option. Call me "clueless" or "anal" if you must. I'm no moron, I know how to function my voicemail.
While we are at it why not tell the banks to stop withholding our money and extorting us with ridiculous fees when we try to use it.
Anyone?
Seriously.
I have to admit, I'm surprised that this hadn't been published earlier. What is the purpose in generating your own Voice mail greeting, if mobile carrier does it for you? I have always had a voice mail greeting, but often made note of the additional information that the carrier includes (in my greeting). Is it a courtesy? Is it a method of control? Will the Carriers tell us why they include this additional message? Are people so naive that they don't know what to do when leaving a Voice Mail message?
I think I just about gave up on caring, but David Pogue has rekindled my spite!
It’s not like the carriers are getting that $620M for the VM, unless every cell user went over in their minutes, which is how these numbers are calculated, for the minute rates of usage. The problem with that is its not that often people go over their plan minutes (which should spark the gripes of the few that have, check your minutes and be responsible), there are no carriers in the US that charge by the minute, they give you a set number of minutes for a set price, you go over you get billed, simple as that.
One more thing, I just can’t seem to find that line in the Bill of Rights about cell usage, oh that’s because you chose to use as a luxury, so quit whining about it because you don't have to use it.
Cheers!! I Totally agree, this was on the 10 o'clock news tonight, yeah this is what they thought we needed to know about... oh wait, it was Fox News