So... if you have a Bold with the visual voicemail icon on it, simply call up AT&T and ask a rep to activate the feature. Voila.

This completely free trick has been confirmed by the folks over at BGR, so have at it, or wait until the new OS arrives Tuesday. [BGR]

Apparently, a new data plan from T-Mobile that includes visual voicemail also includes an updated "My Account" with new features and the ability to connect your G1 or MyTouch to T-Mobile hotspots. [AppPack /Thanks Matt!]

At this point, the problem is more than just a few scattered instances. Literally every single person I know that has an iPhone has complained about this problem. They'll just be sitting there and suddenly four voicemails will appear on their phone, some from as long as two weeks ago. It works for some people (commenters, some of us at Giz), but it's basically hosed for many others.

This has been happening for weeks now, yet AT&T has yet to acknowledge the problem. How is this happening? How can a major advertised feature of a carrier's flagship phone be completely broken and nothing be being done about it?

For many AT&T customers, this has got them at the end of their ropes. We've put up with terrible coverage, spotty 3G speeds and delayed rollout of super-basic features like MMS and tethering, but when we're missing potentially important messages, it begins getting downright unacceptable. We rely on voicemail to let us know when a family member or coworker or friend has left us a message, and whoever has left that message assumes we got it. Having it flat-out not work puts relationships and reputations on the line.

Apple has created a product that is, by most standards, amazing. Yet having it trapped on AT&T is ruining the experience for millions of people. Either AT&T needs to get its shit together, and fast, or Apple needs to get this phone on a more reliable carrier. Otherwise, people are going to start switching phones. Because no matter how awesome the iPhone is, it's just not worth it when it's not working.

The roadmap also lists the release dates of various phones, including the Sony Ericsson CS8 and CS5, Samsung t469 and t549, Rhodium, and Dash 3G.

Again, keep in mind that this is all tentative, and there is no information about what phones will be able to take advantage of visual voicemail and how much it will cost. Still, if you were interested in anything on this list, it's worth keeping these dates in mind. [TmoNews]

Features:

"Quickly and easily scroll through incoming voicemail messages to see relevant caller information including caller name, time of call, and length of message
"Play voicemails by simply clicking on them
"Easily share and forward voicemails as an email or post to a blog or social networking sites using a simple cut and paste feature
"Delete, archive or save voicemails, forever

Customers subscribing to YouMail's free transcription services can even opt to read their voicemail when necessary. Who knows, with all of these features you may like it better than a official version. The app is now available for anyone running BlackBerry O/S version 4.3 or later on T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, and AT&T Wireless phones. [YouMail]

YouMail Announces Free Visual Voicemail BlackBerry Application

Visual Voicemail Plus Offers Advanced Features for Faster and Easier Voicemail Management

IRVINE, CALIF. – February 4, 2008 – YouMail, Inc. (www.youmail.com), the mobile industry’s premier consumer voicemail service, today announced the availability of Visual Voicemail Plus, its free, visual voicemail application for BlackBerry phones including the Pearl, Curve, Bold and Storm. This application provides BlackBerry users with access to un-matched visual voicemail that works in conjunction with YouMail’s desktop visual voicemail service on their mobile phone or online.

“Visual voicemail is only a small portion of what voicemail needs to and can do,” said Alex Quilici, CEO of YouMail. “YouMail’s Visual Voicemail Plus allows BlackBerry users to enjoy the speed and convenience of visual voicemail, for free, in addition to having access to all of the other voicemail enhancements in YouMail’s award winning voicemail service.”

YouMail’s time-saving Visual Voicemail Plus, gives BlackBerry clients access to a voicemail inbox right on their mobile phone. Useful features include the ability for consumers to do the following:

Quickly and easily scroll through incoming voicemail messages to see relevant caller information including caller name, time of call, and length of message
Play voicemails by simply clicking on them
Easily share and forward voicemails as an email or post to a blog or social networking sites using a simple cut and paste feature
Delete, archive or save voicemails, forever

In addition, customers that currently use YouMail’s free and premium transcription services will also be able to read their voicemails directly from the new application, saving even more time. This feature lets users, have anytime access to voicemail, even in situations where playing or listening to a voicemail is not an option, such as when in a meeting. Further, BlackBerry customers also have access to additional YouMail features, including access to their voicemail online when they’re near a desktop computer, personalized greetings for every caller, the YouMail greetings community, and community-based or personalized voicemail filtering.

“We’re extremely pleased about where we’ve come in terms of pushing the limits of what users can get out of visual voicemail and are happy to offer an unparalleled visual voicemail experience to customers at no cost,” said Quilici. “This application streamlines the visual voicemail experience for all BlackBerry phone users, and it a valuable tool for anyone who wants to get through their voicemails more quickly and efficiently.”

YouMail’s Visual Voicemail Plus application for BlackBerry phones will initially be available to customers running BlackBerry O/S version 4.3 or later on T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, and AT&T Wireless phones. To access YouMail’s free, downloadable, native application, users can go to http://m.youmail.com on a BlackBerry device or visit http://www.youmail.com/mobile online. BlackBerry users who are not existing YouMail customers can then sign up using their BlackBerry device and activate YouMail directly from the visual voicemail application.

YouMail’s BlackBerry application was built entirely on top of its open API. The API allows developers to write their own applications that extend YouMail’s offerings to handset applications, browser plug ins, widgets, and more. Further, the API provides revenue opportunities for developers through YouMail’s affiliate program. This API is a first among existing voicemail applications and takes YouMail from a stand-alone service to a mobile platform. The open API is now in limited beta and to participate in the limited beta program, developers can contact YouMail with suggested application project details at api@youmail.com.

About YouMail
YouMail provides a free, completely customizable cell phone voicemail service that makes its users communications easier and more productive. YouMail users can choose whether to retrieve their voicemail online, in e-mail, via visual voicemail or transcription on their mobile phone, or by calling in; whether to listen to or read their messages; how they are notified about new voicemail; which callers get which greetings and when; and even which callers can leave voicemail. YouMail provides an ad-supported free service, as well as premium services, including voice to text transcription.

As mentioned in the previous article, this update is featured in the AT&T 4.6.0.219 OS install, but an official roll out date has not been determined. However, BGR is hearing that it might come sooner than we might think...for some customers at least. Hit the link for more images. [BGR]

The tipster claims that the module was available on the 4.6.0.219 OS install, but without the Application Center service books, it isn't going to work. Obviously that isn't much to go on, so we have to ask: has anyone else experienced this? [BGR]

Pretty well. Setup is fairly simple—just sign up for an account with your email address and mobile number on Fusion's site to get an activation PIN code (all free) which then pairs your G1's app with your account. After that, you have to manually change your call forwarding settings to forward to Fusion's VM server number. After that, your messages will start coming in to the app's decent but not beautiful UI like you would expect.

The drawbacks? First, you can't record a custom greeting, as far as I can see (Update: You may be able to change it by dialing the number you forward calls too then entering in your PIN, but my PIN hasn't been accepted yet). A generic "the number you have reached is not available" message is the norm. It's fine, but for people who actually want their voice on the voicemail inbox, it doesn't look like that's possible with Fusion yet. And second, the notifications of new messages are inconsistent. On my phone, each voicemail is accompanied by an SMS that's full of nasty numbers (see below). Fusion has its own notifications in Android's pull-down drawer as well, but these don't pop up with every message (only one out of three test messages I left carried a notification from the actual app). That's a shame because the notification tie-in is essential for making sure you get your messages without thinking you're being spam-texted.

Aside from those two negatives, though, the service works well for free visual voicemail on Android. [Fusion Voicemail]

VISUAL VOICE MAIL FROM VERIZON WIRELESS GIVES CUSTOMERS A NEW WAY TO MANAGE THEIR MESSAGES

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – The company with the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network today introduced Visual Voice Mail, a new application that lets customers manage their voice mail on their phones. Available today on the Voyager™ by LG, Visual Voice Mail provides an easy-to-use display screen with one-touch access to listen to voice mail messages. Customers can also delete, reply and forward their voice mail messages without having to listen to prior messages or voice instructions, making Visual Voice Mail ideal for busy professionals who want a more effective way to manage and respond to messages.

Visual Voice Mail allows customers to see a list of all of their voice mail messages with important information, such as date and time of receipt, as well as message duration, in order to prioritize and efficiently manage their voice mail messages directly from their phones. When a caller leaves a new voice mail message, the Visual Voice Mail application pops up, alerting the customer that a new voice mail message has been received. From the phone display, customers can select from a number of options, including call back, reply, forward, add to contacts, and archive message (to internal or external memory).

Customers can store up to 40 messages for 40 days – double the storage capacity and nearly double the retention time of Basic Voice Mail. In addition, customers can create up to 10 greetings, as well as up to 20 distribution lists and 50 distribution members to receive messages.

"Verizon Wireless recognizes that voice mail plays a large role in how customers conduct business and manage the balance between their personal and professional lives," said Mike Willsey, executive director for marketing, Verizon Wireless. "With Visual Voice Mail, we're able to offer customers more options to help them better prioritize voice mail messages from family, friends, colleagues, and business partners in a more timely and effective manner."

Technology Providers

Verizon Wireless' Visual Voice Mail service is powered by Alcatel-Lucent and Comverse. Alcatel-Lucent, a leading provider of messaging solutions worldwide, is deploying the Alcatel-Lucent 5150 Messaging Applications Broker (MAB) which provides enhanced notification and content delivery services for voice, text and video messages through an intuitive visual interface. Visual Voice Mail eliminates the need to dial-in and listen to messages in sequential order, making it easier for customers to manage messages. Alcatel-Lucent is also providing network integration services for Visual Voice Mail.

Comverse is a pioneer and market leader in Visual Voice Mail services, which are deployed over its InSight Next-Generation Voicemail Platform. Visual Voice Mail improves the customer experience with solutions for today's diverse lifestyles and different technologies. New messages are delivered to the handset for one-click access, and message details are displayed at a glance.

Availability and Pricing

Verizon Wireless customers can find the Visual Voice Mail application on the Messaging menu under option 6 on their Voyager by LG phones. Visual Voice Mail is available for $2.99 monthly access, per line, plus airtime or megabyte charges and messaging fees, depending on a customer's plan. Customers should take their Voyager by LG phones to any Verizon Wireless Communications Store to receive the free software update. Verizon Wireless expects to offer Visual Voice Mail on additional devices in the coming months.

For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 68.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 70,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, go to: www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

But what makes this more legit than the average infringement suitand scary for the big A'sis that they've successfully sued both AOL and Vonage into submission over the same patents. Better still, Apple actually licensed one of Klausner's older patents for an electronic pocket dictionary for the Newton. Takeaway: Klausner has a pretty good shot at digging some coin out of AT&T and Apple's back pockets. Any bets on how long it'll be before they settle? [Apple Insider]

Our first test call was from a landscaping service that we used here at the Midwest Test Facility three years ago. See if you can decipher the meaning of this message:

"Good Afternoon this is linda for me well branded sign I'm i'm getting a hold of Truly whites residents or Company Evil goes out your neighborhood and he said that one you're properties looks like it could Use some pruning it's been three years now since we were out there And well wondering if you'd wanna a proposal from us Please give me a call At two six two two four four Nine four zero zero And let us know if that Is something you would like for us to do Thanks I'll wait for your call back up right of"

Then a second message came in, and this one fared a little better:

"Hey, it's Kim. I'm calling about lunch today. I was just calling to see if it was alright if we met at 12:30 instead of 12, 'cause I (??) have to work till 12 and I'm (??) but I can be there by 12:30, no problem. If that gonna be a problem for you, can you please give me a call back. Otherwise, I will see you at the (??)'s place at 12:30. I look forward to seeing you. I hope that's gonna be okay. Talk to you soon. Bye-bye."

We wish the implementation was a little closer to perfect for these transcriptions, but the idea of having your voicemails delivered to you in text form is highly appealing. Imagine in a meeting, you could a quickly glance at the text of all your voicemails and immediately catch up with what's going on.

However, that $.25 price for each transcription is just not cost-effective enough. If you get a dozen voicemails a day, your monthly tab would hover around $90 for this convenience. We're thinking more along the lines of 5 cents apiece would make it more practical. We're canceling the service right away.

Back when Apple and AT&T announced iPhone plans, they said, "In addition, iPhone customers can choose from any of AT&T's standard service plans." Could the secret rate simply be a standard service plan? If you try this, though, take heed: You will probably see added costs for text messaging, and you may really miss that Visual Voicemail. [Electronista]

All three plans include unlimited data for email and Web browsing, Visual Voicemail, mobile-to-mobile, and a paltry 200 SMS text messages. The cheapest of the bunch offers 5,000 weekend and night minutes, while the top two plans are unlimited. So let's crunch the numbers! Just how cheap does your cult membership cost over two years?

If you buy the 4GB model iPhone at $499 and go with AT&T's sparest plan$59.99 for 450 minutes a monthyou'll be looking at a ballpark figure of around $1974.76. Whoa, that's steep? Maybe I suck at math, you should check me on this one. That figure includes the mandatory two-year contract through AT&T and the $36 activation plan. With only 450 minutes and 200 text messages, you're bound to attract some overcharges, as well. Who wants to use their shiny new iPhone for only 450 minutes a month?

Well, might as well break the bank. Let's step up to the beefiest plan AT&T is offering right now: 1,350 minutes for $99.99, though still with the same amount of texts. Also, let's toss in that 8GB iPhone for $599. With your two years of AT&T and activation fee you're at $3034.76. Holy shit! Mind you, the bulk of these costs will show up over the course of two years, but that's still quite a bit!

UPDATE: The "beefiest" plan just got beefier! For $219.99 a month you'll get 6000 minutes, 200 texts (all of the plans have an option for more texts), and pretty much unlimited everything else. Couple that with the 8GB iPhone for $599 and the $36 activation and you're looking at just shy of $6000 dollars over two years.

Along with that, Callwave also sends you a text message and an email telling you you've missed a call. Not quite the Visual Voicemail of the iPhone, but cool for its desktop integration. When we tried it, the audio quality was decent enough to use as a full-time voicemail solution.  Jason Chen

Product Page [Callwave via Mobile Mag via Lifehacker]