Basic Visual Voicemail App for Unlocked (Non-Verizon Branded) Android Phone?

[oldphonenewphone]

I purchased a new, unlocked (unbranded) LG G5 from Amazon. It is activated and working normally on my Verizon account except that it does not have the Verizon Visual Voicemail app. The "My Verizon" app in the Play Store does not include it and there is no download for a Verizon Basic Visual Voicemail app in the Google Play store.

Can anybody offer any help on how I could get the Basic Visual Voicemail app installed and working? I had the basic visual voicemail app working fine on my previous LG G4, but that was a Verizon branded phone. Currently I have to call my number or *86, but I really would like that visual listing of voicemails that was in the Visual Voicemail app.

I've done some searching, but most of the discussions are years old. Those seemed to say that if a phone isn't Verizon branded, with the Basic Visual Voicemail app pre-installed, then there wasn't a way to get it. However that seems pretty silly to me -- is that still the case? I checked in my Verizon account and it does say my line is compatible with the Premium Visual Voicemail $2.99/mo upgrade. Hypothetically, even if I were to pay for that (the basic version was fine for me), how would I get the app?

Thanks for any help!

[Ann154]

The answer is still the same as the old threads you found. There is no visual voicemail for unbranded phones. You could look into using Google Voice or Youmail for your visual voicemail needs.

[boringusername]

No visual voicemail and no wi-fi calling either. If people are going to be on Verizon they rally need a Verizon branded phone.

[Ann154]

boringusername wrote:

No visual voicemail and no wi-fi calling either. If people are going to be on Verizon they rally need a Verizon branded phone.

Or the MANUFACTURERS need to include the functionality in the base OS like Google did with their Pixel phones.

[vzw_customer_support]

Oldphonenewphone, we realize how important having the correct type of voicemail for your needs is.  Unfortunately as a few community members have stated the follow features are not supported with non-Verizon Unlocked phones: Visual Voicemail of any kind, LTE Video Calling, Enhanced Address Book, WiFi calling, Family Base, Family Locator, VZW Cloud. 

SeanC_VZW

Follow us on TWITTER @VZWSupport

If my response answered your question please click the _Correct Answer_ button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

[TedGarrison]

Is this new? My Nexus 5x that I bought direct from Google worked just fine, and my new Motorola x4 that I bought new on Amazon had been working until about a week ago... But now doesn't support basic visual voicemail?

If this is Verizon's new policy, guess I'll have to change providers.. even TracFone supports it.

[vzw_customer_support]

TedGarrison, I'd be saddened to see you leave us. As Ann154 shared when a device is purchased outside VZW, it is not supported with VZ basic visual voicemail. SeanC_VZW shared the list of services that won't function with an unlocked device. The reason the phone wouldn't have access to those features, is the unlocked or 'carrierless' phone wasn't made for use with any specific carrier; so it wouldn't be able to tie into all the features offered by that carrier.

John_VZW
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If my response answered your question please click the _Correct Answer_ button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

[penguin5555]

You should make a wifi calling app and release on the play store.  You should not burden users with your technical debt.  No reason that it can't login to Verizon like online banking apps do to their respective creators.

Same with VVM.  It should connect over wifi too.

[bnewall1]

I noticed the same problem (no Visual Voicemail) when we switched from T-Mobile to Verizon last week.  My mother-in-law has an unlocked LG Stylo 4 that I bought her from Amazon last year.  It did not support T-Mobile's Wi-Fi Calling feature, either, although we never needed that.  We were able to download the T-Mobile Visual Voicemail app from the Play Store, and it worked perfectly.  However, after the switch to Verizon, I was also disappointed to find that the Verizon voicemail app was not available from the Play Store.  I showed her how to dial in to Voicemail, and she can do that... she doesn't get very much voicemail anyway.  Not worth the cost (currently) of upgrading to a VZW-branded phone.  I'll wait until her Stylo 4 dies.

[vzw_customer_support]

TedGarrison, this is not a new policy and it's not our intention to limit anyone's ability to use our services and features. Considering there are updates to the software and Verizon apps to help improve compatibility with our services, we are not able to update or control the software on your device. How exactly have you been accessing Visual Voicemail on your Moto X4? Do you get any type of error message when attempting to load up your voicemail?

I wouldn't want to lose your business, but we cannot fully guarantee our services and features on a device that isn't Verizon branded. I hope this information helps clear up the details. 

AlanS_VZW
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If my response answered your question please click the _Correct Answer_ button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

[GoodMogo]

"we are not able to update or control the software on your device"

Having just switched to Verizon with a Motorola Mote X Pure Edition purchased directly from Motorola, it never even occurred to me that visual voicemail would not be available and I am dismayed by the info in this thread.

Given that the apps and systems they connect to are pretty universal and standardized, the inevitable conclusions are that Verizon is  either (A) using this as a tactic to drive up sales of their branded devices or (B) does not have the competency to develop such a system.

I think I found an alternative, but definitely an underhanded tactic by Verizon and any recommendation I make on my switch will come with this highlighted. I'm on a simple prepaid plan - god only knows what other "traps" are hidden elsewhere.

[chaviland]

​Hi Alan, you had asked another user "How exactly have you been accessing Visual Voicemail on your Moto X4?" but didn't get a response. I'm having a similar experience, and can answer that for you. The stock dialer app in Android (version 9) has four navigation buttons pinned to the bottom of the app, the last of which is "Voicemail". Prior to January 9 2019 (roughly), the Voicemail section of the dialer app would display a list of messages, ordered chronologically with recent messages at the top, including the caller's name (or number if the caller is not a contact), the date and time of the call, and the duration of the message. Tapping the item would play the recorded message, and let you decide what to do with it. Sometime on or around January 9, a message appeared at the top of the voicemail list titled "Visual voicemail is disabled", saying "Please contact Customer Service at (800) 922-0204 to activate visual voicemail." I can also confirm that calling that number and having the agent activate basic visual voicemail does not restore the prior behavior or clear the message.

People are asking if this is a new policy and are skeptical of claims that unlocked phones are unable to tie into the feature. This is a result of the fact that it used to work wonderfully and now it doesn't. Dialing *86, entering a pin, and navigating through a slow and tedious voice menu is a substandard experience compared to the pre-Jan 9 behavior.

Content modified as required by Verizon Wireless Terms of Service​

[Txjetmech]

It's always the same ole story with Verizon. They limit their features to try to get you to fall victim to there high prices. I feel in this day and age with the amount of carriers and the number of different services that Verizon has become easy to replace. The Voice mail service was subpar at best and there are a lot of different services that don't try to sell you the stars. Google voice is much higher rated app and it work super. Dump Verizon and get yourself into a pay as you go phone service. Heck Verizon makes you pay to store your photos. That is what SD cards are for. Hey Verizon Can you Hear Us Now?

[boringusername]

Txjetmech wrote:

It's always the same ole story with Verizon. They limit their features to try to get you to fall victim to there high prices. I feel in this day and age with the amount of carriers and the number of different services that Verizon has become easy to replace. The Voice mail service was subpar at best and there are a lot of different services that don't try to sell you the stars. Google voice is much higher rated app and it work super. Dump Verizon and get yourself into a pay as you go phone service. Heck Verizon makes you pay to store your photos. That is what SD cards are for. Hey Verizon Can you Hear Us Now?

Well switch carriers then. What's the issue?

[smh73]

I never even thought about this being an issue until today!  I just bought an LG G8 and even now in 2019, Verizon has thus far refused to offer their Visual Voicemail app on the Android Play Store.  There's absolutely ZERO reason why they couldn't offer it either.  As a matter of fact, I saw other carriers' visual voicemail apps sitting right there in the Play Store available for download.

This limitation can only be explained as a shady practice to force people to buy phones directly from Verizon.  There is no other legitimate excuse or reason that Verizon could possibly come up with for not offering their Visual Voicemail app on the Android Play Store.  I guarantee you that iPhone users aren't having this issue because Apple won't stand for it. 

So, Verizon has won... I am returning the unlocked LG G8 that I bought specifically to avoid the "bloat-ware" Verizon insists on installing and buying their version of the exact same phone just so I can get Visual Voicemail. 

Someone should sue Verizon for these anti-competitive practices.  I am not that person though.