Can't play WAV files from office voice mail systems

My office phone system will send me copies of voice mails as a WAV file attachment to an e-mail. Unfortunately, the built-in music player is registered for WAV but can't open them. It just says "sorry, the player does not support this type of file".

I've been looking for another app that might help but a couple problems with it is the built-in music player still always defaults as the WAV player (and no way to change that??), and most of the apps I've downloaded don't have settings to attempt and make them the default player, and most don't have the equivalent of a "file/open" option - they all assume the WAV files will be in the SD card's music folder, I guess.

My former employer is interested in Android devices but being able to open WAV files is important to them too, and I can't open one of their phone system WAV files either.

If anyone has found a solution, let me know. I'll post again if I find one.

Accepted answers

unknown

I can certainly try to assist. Normally voicemail systems will use an older type of .wav format that Androids don't recognize. Try to see if you can play a different type of .wav file if you have one on your computer, or try downloading one. If a different .wav file plays, I would suggest looking for an application in the Market to play .wav files. There are several applications, and while we can't always recommend 3rd party apps, one I have seen some other customers have success with is Remote Wave. There is currently a free version in the Market so you can always try it to see if it works for you.

All comments

AlarmDoctor

Ok, I too have been dealing with this crap about Wav Files. I was tossed back in forth from Verizon to Motorola. What a group of Morons. I hope they get this fixed soon. Any way here is the work aroung. Have the emails containing the attached wav files sent to your gmail account. For what ever reason the way that the gmail account sends over the attachment you can view it and preview, play, or save the file. It is a pain but since gmail is already set up on the droid it is a pretty simple work around.

bjblackmamba

I tried forwarding to gmail account and have the 'Preview' button, but it says file type not supported or something similar.

AlarmDoctor

I would try to add an aditional wav player then. - this worked for me. Hope you can figure it out.

Jim_OBrien

I have been struggling with this as well. My home phone voice mails are forwarded to my gmail account. Both my land line and wireless company's are blaming each other. HTC is of no help either. They keep tell me that they should play. go figure.

emoore

Just found this on the site, as I was experiencing similar problems--one day MP3's worked, the next they wouldn't:

"Media won’t play – includes “sorry the player does not support this type of audio file," custom ringtone stop working, video won’t play, etc. A reboot will restore full media function, but not permanently. We believe we have identified the cause of these errors. A fix has been developed for this and should eliminate the problem. It will be distributed in a future software release."

In the meantime, a full power off and on (not just turning the screen off) gets it working again for me.

Diane253

I am still waiting or a fix. The reboot does not work either. Nor does a factory reset as recommended by Verizon wireless.

Jim_OBrien

Stil;l waiting for a fix.

Tried all of te above with no help

Ann154

Have you tried clearing the defaults in the music app that keeps failing to play the file.

Go to settings > applications > manage applications > all tab > scroll to the music app that is currently the default. Select it and press the "clear defaults" button. Go back to your homescreen and then next time you play the voicemails you should be asked which app you want to use.

This only works if you have two or more audio playing applications.

Jim_OBrien

I am at a loss. How do I determine my default music app?

I do not use my inc to play nusic.

Ann154

Which application tries to open the wav file?

bearone21

"I am at a loss. How do I determine my default music app?
I do not use my inc to play music."

if you haven't added a music player you shouldn't need to select a default.

Jim_OBrien

I have the HTC incredible. I get my voicemail delivered to my gmail. when I click on preview it comes back with error saying its unable to play this file type. Running android ver 2.2

unknown

Mike20878

I used to be able to play my work voicemail wav files but now they are not supported. I have WinAmp installed and it won't play them either. I don't remember when this stopped working.

Jim_OBrien

I can play music wav files. Just not voice mail files. I downloaded remote wav as suggested however I cannot find the icon to start it. I went into manage applications and it is shown as installed, however it is not showing up on my list of apps

gerio

You know, I think I remember sending some wav ringtone files to my first X when I bought it. They would not play and when I investigated the issue, the ringtones has somehow become OGG files. Well, I whipped out Audacity and fixed that right away.

Could some kind of file conversion be taking place with those voicemail files?

Wav files, being uncompressed, are fairly large, and not having experience with those office voicemail systems, I'm kinda surprised that they would email wav files instead of mp3 files (I have only wav files on my iPods which is why I have to have 3 160gig iPods while my friends can hardly fill up one.

Just some random thoughts...

Geri O

Jim_OBrien

Found the problem. I was trying to open the app. I opened the email and it then asked which app to use to play the file.

Remote Wave showed up ad I used it and problem is now solved.

Thanks to all for you help.

gerio

Excellent!

Be sure to mark this post as the solution to the problem outlined in the original post. That way, this solution will be listed in the knowledge base of this forum. Someone is bound to run into this again...

Geri O

gerio

Crap, never mind.

The OP has to list this thread as "solved".

Geri O

B33

:smileysurprised: What ? Geri i'm not trying to be dumb but what are those. Wav files.i thougt i new every thing on these phones.Hell ! No i just learning :smileywink:

gerio

A wav file is just another type of digital audio file. Without delving too much into the tech stuff and history (of which I'd have to go back and review a lot of it), wav files are uncompressed, so they are pretty large in size. I use wav files on my ipods because on arena-sized sound systems, you can hear the difference between wav files and mp3 files.

Over the last several years, between high bitrate mp3s (320 or better), AAC files, and OGG files (and perhaps my 53-year-old ears) I really can't any difference to speak of in the actual quality of the files. I just keep using wav files for my work because it's what I'm used to. But I still believe that for measurement work, wav files are still preferred because of the uncompressed nature of the files.

Well, I tried to keep it short... :smileyhappy:

)

Geri O

bornstein

I had the same issue. Here's the only solution I found that actually works. Download REMOTE WAVE. The free version will crash, where the paid version WORKS!

When you open the attachment, it will ask you which player. Go ahead and choose Remote Wave as the default and you all set. It's been working for me for the last 8 months.

NOTE: my VM (Avaya) are stored in my corporate Exchange in a sinlge inbox. If you have 2 separate inboxes in Exchange, using IMAP integration, I don't know the results.