Change/ Forward voicemail number?

[bogus83]

Hi all,

I've recently been lucky enough to get an invite to Google Voice, and as such, I'd like to use it as my primary voicemail. I know how to change the Speed Dial setting so I can dial 1 and get to my GV messages, but I'd like to set up call forwarding or something similar so that anyone who calls my 'old' (original) phone number is sent to the GV number when I don't answer.

Please see this article to see what I'm talking about:
http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2009/06/29/hack-use-google-voice-to-add-visual-voicemail-to-your-g1-dream/

I know that WM6 doesn't have an app for GV just yet, and I'm content to receive text messages for now. Is it possible to modify my voicemail functionality in this way? For reference, I'm using Sprint on a Vogue (with VetVito's ROM, but that shouldn't matter here).

Thanks!

[bogus83]

Nevermind... on Sprint, this is done through setting up "Forward when busy" and "Forward when no answer" with customer service, and it carries a per-minute fee for each use. No way I'm shelling out 20 cents per minute for voicemail. Oh well...

[katmandu421]

If you are persistent enough and get to the right tech level, they will do it for you in the system. I basically had a lot of trouble doing the *7XXX thing (can't remember the code anymore) and finally got to a tech who told me that when your calls go to sprints voicemail, it is basically a call forward to a different number, just handled internally. So he changed the number in the internal system to my voicemail service (phone fusion, I'm on the android OS) and viola, call forwarding for busy and no answer calls with no charge!

It will probably take a few calls and some time, but it is possible. I would also suggest searching for and signing an online petition to sprint to discontinue this charge. Apparently they are the only US carriers who charge for this. with google voice coming, it's just not a good thing.

[hexto]

I'm on Verizon and I just have to dial *72+the number I want calls forwarded to and they just go to that number. The only issue is that it causes me to lose the free mobile 2 mobile calls because I get connected to my Google Voice account.

[bogus83]

I called five times. Each time the answer was the same (in varying degrees of smarmyness and friendliness): We used to change the voicemail number for people, and we can still do it, but aren't allowed to.

No ifs, ands, or buts.

Every one of them tried to sell me on call forwarding at 20 cents per minute. Each time I explained that if I got only one message per day, at a minute or less, that'd be an extra six bucks on my bill. Personally, it'd be much higher.

So, much as I love my Vogue, the combination of their 'anti-Android' policy and intentional incompatibility with third-party voicemail systems means that I'll be looking for a new provider when my contract is up. Maybe I'll port my number to a shiny new myTouch 3G. :D