No voicemail notifications since GB OTA update

I've never had any problems with my TB before, but right after receiving the GB OTA update my phone stopped giving voicemail notifications.

I know this is a well known issue, since leaked builds as well as Erisha's (developer) 3rd party patch, etc. However, (no offense to 3rd party developers), I'm only interested in official VZW/HTC support responses to this issue.

I stopped by the VZW store yesterday and with the customer service person tried all the reset procedures (all the way through factory reset). My phone was still not fixed. The CS lady had a TB and I asked her if she had the issue and she said she hadn't had any voicemail since the update, so we tested her phone and hers worked (e.g. voicemail notification showed up). Her solution was to replace my phone!

I'm a bit hesitant to replace the phone because the one I have works well, and I'm a bit paranoid of receiving a lemon replacement.

Please let me know if there is an officially (VZW/HTC) supported fix to this issue other than repalcing my phone.

Accepted answers

RobB772

Already called HTC and emailed HTC and Verizon. I'm tired of the "soon" response. (I'll bet the billing department wouldn't like it if we all started telling them that they'll get our payment "Soon" :smileyvery-happy: )

All comments

budone

I am sure the rep has not updated her phone with GB as of yet.

Replacing the phone MAY correct it as you need to have a device without the GB update for the VM notification to work. But I am not sure I would be willing to accept a refurbed phone on the chance of maybe getting the notification back.

VZW and HTC are working to correct the issue.

DerekC-SST

I too lost my stock VM notifications after the GB update. With all that I read on different forums I was hoping an OTA fix would be quickly delivered, but not the case here.

I called Verizon CS yesterday to discuss my options, and the rep wanted to send me a replacement phone as well. What she told me was that this was a software issue, and only affecting some phones after the GB update. She told me that the refurb. phone she was sending would already have the GB update (I really questioned that), and that after receiving the replacement phone I should test whether the VM notification worked as expected. She said it was probably a 50/50 shot that it would.

If it did not work, I had the option of keeping my original phone and returning the replacement. I asked how this would actually address the problem of no notifications. She seemed stumped on that one. She said we all would have to wait for a fix from 'Google', as they handle all the updates and that Verizon does not have any say in the matter. (well, that was a new one for me). I told her that I thought the updates would be managed by both HTC and Verizon, but she replied that I was mis-informed. LOL.

I will await the replacement device arriving tomorrow and report back. No fingers crossed here.

Wildman

A replacement phone is not a solution to resolve this issue because it is a software issue, Verizon pulled the update to resolve the issue, read http://wirelessandmobilenews.com/2011/09/htc-thunderbolt-android-2.3-update-suspended-update.html

My suggestion is to install a 3rd party app like YouMail or Google Voice until revised update is released or see if they will offer a deal for VVM because they still work... I would not send in a device that isn't damaged for a refurbish device..

FV3riz0n

I, like everyone else who updated their phone to gb, also have the vm problem. Verizon's solution to me was to give me 3 months of visual voicemal for free. The rep said that HTC should have it fixed by then. With visual vm, you get the notifications. At least this is a temporarry fix.

RobB772

Anyone know exactly what the (*) codes for call forwarding definitions are?

I know in order to tansfer you are suppose to use *71, *90 and *92 (each followed by the 10 digit # you wnt VM transfered to) but I'd like to know what they do.

Thanks :smileywink:

Found this site http://www.nanpa.com/number_resource_info/vsc_definitions.html

VZW mods are these valid for the Tbolt?

Customer Programmable Call Forwarding Busy Line (*90 Activation, *91 Deactivation)
Customer Programmable Call Forwarding Don't Answer (*92 Activation, *93 Deactivation)

rcschnoor

I believe that:

*71(+ 10 digit # to forward to) is forwarding if no answer

*72(+ 10 digit # to forward to) is forward all calls

*73 is cancel forwarding

random64

@budone, the vzw cs person definitely had GB. Also, the act of sending me a replacement phone backs up the premise that they think at least newer phone builds are not having the problem.

I am wary of accepting a replacement phone though, and would rather just implement a fix on my orig device.

By the way, yesterday I went ahead and called HTC (866-449-8358) customer support. They confirmed that this is a known issue and that they are working on a solution which they will provide as soon as possible. I asked, "How/when will I know of the solution" and she said the best way to monitor the situation is to follow HTC on Twit or FB, which to me is a total pain.

I would appreciate anyone interested in this to call HTC customer support to put more pressure on them.

RobB772

Wildman

Hope you realize forcing and putting presure on them to have something released before you allow them to test the fix really wont make things any better, you just open chance of something else getting broken during the coding process... Since they offered you a working temporary solution I would allow them the time to get it right... Like you reported VVM was offered to you and it works so its not that you are missing you messages at this time..

RobB772

You would hope they have the impetus to quality check a tad better with all the Problems they've introduced (and been called out on) lately. and the didn't offer VVM to everyone so that isn't really a "fix", temp or not. for everyone affected.

I'd just like VZW to verify the star codes necessary for transferring this service to Google voice.! Do I need to do all *71,*90, *92 or just *71?????

Wildman

RobB772 wrote:
I'd just like VZW to verify the star codes necessary for transferring this service to Google voice.! Do I need to do all *71,*90, *92 or just *71?????

If you are using Google Voice the transfer process is a option through them and usually Verizon wont have anything to do with it unless you ae porting a number, I use Better Voice Mail and all I have to do is go to Settings activate or disable to tranfer to their account and back to stock, I cant believe Google Voice isnt that easy..

rcschnoor

RobB772 wrote:
(I'll bet the billing department wouldn't like it if we all started telling them that they'll get our payment "Soon")

I'm sure they wouldn't care, they would just suspend your service.

RobB772 wrote:
I'd just like VZW to verify the star codes necessary for transferring this service to Google voice.! Do I need to do all *71,*90, *92 or just *71?????

As I have already said:

*71(+ 10 digit # to forward to) is forwarding if no answer

*72(+ 10 digit # to forward to) is forward all calls

*73 is cancel forwarding

so this means that *71 would work like voicemail and is what I do to have my voicemail answered by YouMail.

RobB772

rcschnoor wrote:

so this means that *71 would work like voicemail and is what I do to have my voicemail answered by YouMail.

I'll give that a go Thanks.. Just wonder why Google Voice website help has the *90 and *92.... hmmmmm

DerekC-SST

Follow-up to my original post-

As I suspected, the replacement phone I received did not have the GB update, so I am sending it back. I spoke with another CS agent who was 'painfully' aware of the non-VM notification issue after GB update, and apologized that the previous rep sent me down the wrong path believing that a replacement phone would have the GB update and resolve the issue. She said that this is a big issue for VZW and that an update should/could be released OTA in days or 2 weeks at the latest. Time will tell of course.

DC5_K20Z1

Minus the VM issue...how was the GB update for the Bolt? Overall pretty good? snappier, better battery life? was it 2.3.4 or 2.3.5?

random64

@DC5,

To me, with GB the GUI felt a bit more smooth and responsive, but is functionally the same.

I did notice much improved battery performance.

So, I received my "Certified Like-New" replacement phone today and activated it.

* My voicemail notifications are back.

* Guess why? This phone is Froyo 2.2.1. :^).

DC5_K20Z1

Well..it is nice to hear that the GB update made it a bit smoother and battery life is better, a shame though that a simple basic function of the phone was left broken, the leaked builds had this issue, I wonder who let that slip through? What kind of quality testing was done?? Well...hopefully they get that issue fixed and pushed back out OTA soon for you all to enjoy.

BeeHaven

Get GOOGLE VOICE!!! It is FREE...it includes FREE TEXTING....FREE VOICEMAIL....FREE VISUAL VOICEMAIL....and you don't use your minutes dialing *86....the messages automatically download to your phone! It is far superior to VZW voicemail....oh....and it is FREE!