topic Re: Voicemail notification by text message - possible or impossible? in Tech Support

Voicemail notification by text message - possible or impossible?

Growltiger — Wed, 21 May 2025 12:43:18 GMT

I just want a text message whenever a voicemail has arrived. Has this feature been discontinued? If not, how can I get it?

No one seems to know.

I rang O2 and was talked through setting up an APN that was identical to the one I already have. That took 30 minutes and didn't help.

Searching the internet I find reference to an "idata" APN and feature but they didn't seem to have heard of it and I don't know if that would enable it or is relevant or even exists.

I also found some old messages from 2009 where it said it used to be offered on the 901 menu, it isn't there now.

By the way I'm not asking for the text alert service (for missed calls) provided by dialling 1710.

Anyone?

Surely someone here or at O2 must know?

(PS. Pay monthly account. Samsung S8+ phone.)

Re: Voicemail notification by text message - possible or impossible?

Bambino — Wed, 21 May 2025 12:46:20 GMT

@Growltiger Answers to questions about voicemail can be found here:

https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/How-to-Guides/All-you-need-to-know-about-O2-Voicemail-901/ba-p/547712

Re: Voicemail notification by text message - possible or impossible?

Growltiger — Wed, 21 May 2025 12:57:18 GMT

Thank you Bambino. That is a useful list of information about Voicemail but does not answer my question, as it does not cover voicemail notifications by text.

Re: Voicemail notification by text message - possible or impossible?

MI5 — Wed, 21 May 2025 13:30:47 GMT

@Growltiger

O2 Call Alert
What is it?
O2 Call Alert is a simple, easy-to-use alternative to Voicemail 901. It provides missed call information for up to four callers, at no extra cost, by sending you a text message update.
So, if you're on another call or your mobile's switched off, if you're out of coverage or you just don't answer in time, O2 Call Alert will tell you the caller's number and the last time they called.
But it's not just you who benefits from the service. Callers also hear a message telling them that their number's being sent to you via text message, to let you know they called. (Although, if anyone decides to withhold their number, you won't be sent the missed call text and they'll be told to call again later.)

How do I switch it on?
You can turn on O2 Call Alert any time by calling 1710 free from your mobile phone. And you call exactly the same number to switch it off.

Re: Voicemail notification by text message - possible or impossible?

Growltiger — Wed, 21 May 2025 13:39:44 GMT

Thank you MI5 but as I wrote, I don't want call alert. I want to be told by text when I have a voicemail.

Surely someone knows if this service exists or was shut down?

Re: Voicemail notification by text message - possible or impossible?

MI5 — Wed, 21 May 2025 13:52:22 GMT

That is a text you get @Growltiger

That's alll O2 offer.

Re: Voicemail notification by text message - possible or impossible?

Growltiger — Wed, 21 May 2025 14:23:43 GMT

If you are right than at some stage they removed the voicemail text notification service, which is a shame.

Do you know what the idata thing is? I've seen it mentioned but no explanation.

Re: Voicemail notification by text message - possible or impossible?

MI5 — Wed, 21 May 2025 14:29:38 GMT

iData is only for iPhones @Growltiger

It provides a specific apn for unique iPhone features.

Re: Voicemail notification by text message - possible or impossible?

Growltiger — Wed, 21 May 2025 14:35:17 GMT

@MI5 Thanks for the explanation about iData.

Re: Voicemail notification by text message - possible or impossible?

pgn — Wed, 21 May 2025 19:45:35 GMT

An old post here that explains how the missing option was re-enabled for a since-departed customer in 2009, @Growltiger - no guarantee that, as Visual Voicemail took off, that O2 have not silently removed the feature:

https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Other-Devices/Voicemail-Notifications/m-p/42926/highlight/true#M4144

Good luck!

Re: Voicemail notification by text message - possible or impossible?

Growltiger — Wed, 21 May 2025 20:50:12 GMT

Thanks @pgn. I had seen that 2009 thread. I think that sadly, 16 years later, the feature seems to have been lost forever. It's a real shame.

There really should be some way for customers to have some way to get things like this into the ears of the people at O2 who decide things. A way to set up a campaign perhaps.

PS. I used to use Vodafone. O2 is vastly less bad.

Re: Voicemail notification by text message - possible or impossible?

pgn — Wed, 21 May 2025 21:20:23 GMT

There was a really useful app called TuGo - texts and call history visible on your PC, you could compose and send SMS from your phone but using your keyboard instead of the phone keypad (a bit like WhatsApp and WhatsApp Web today) - gone, sadly ending what had promised to be a remarkably useful bit of messaging innovation.

Never used Vodafone, O2's signal where I live trumps any of the other networks.

Thanks for the feedback, @Growltiger.

Re: Voicemail notification by text message - possible or impossible?

Cleoriff — Thu, 22 May 2025 07:25:14 GMT

TuGo......used in the good old days. (Particularly useful when abroad and over Wifi) Discontinued in 2017.

Seems to be a habit of O2, to stop something which proves useful to customers.

https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Discussions-Feedback/The-demise-of-TuGo/td-p/1081516

Apologies for going off topic. I simply couldn't resist when TuGo was mentioned!