To *86 or not to *86 w/verizon

[LowTech]

I was reading the fineprint on Verizon Wireless' website and found that you are charged minutes for checking your voicemail from your cell phone. So now that in network calling has been started w/Verizon Wireless, I'm wondering if its better to just set your voicemail button to dial your number instead of dialing *86. Anybody know?

[xikle]

Over at Hofo, there is a thread about this. From what I've read Verizon is switching their systems over so it doesn't matter if you dial your number or *86, it will still come out of your bucket of minutes. I don't quite understand how that would work if you are dialing your own number because technically you are calling a Verizon Wireless number so it should come out of the mobile to mobile minutes. I'll just have to check my bill and see I guess.

Edit-

Here's the thread regarding VM. Hofo

[LowTech]

Thanks. When I had Cingular they also charged for voicemail...not sure if they still do or don't. But either way thats so lame. Whats the point of calling it free voicemail if you're still charged airtime. In reality probably less then 10% of the subscribers check their voicemail through a landline phone.

[jayc]

This is being fixed... either way will deduct from your anytime minutes.

[NYCDru]

Originally posted by: jayc
This is been fixed... either way will deduct from your anytime minutes.

Which is kinda stupid but such is life right.

[scottb]

If I call my daughter's Verizon phone from my Verizon phone and it goes to her voice mail, I can press *, then log in to my voice mail. Is that counted as m2m?

[xikle]

I think so because you are calling another Verizon phone, but I'm not sure.

[BillRadio]

Originally posted by: LowTech I'm wondering if its better to just set your voicemail button to dial your number instead of dialing *86. Anybody know?

It depends on your plan and your market:
a)-In some markets, either way goes to MtoM.
b)-Others, only calling your own number goes to MtoM.
c)-Yet others, no V/Mail calls go to MtoM.

Therefore, just in case, I would program my own number in the V/Mail key. I do that anyway to access V/Mail while roaming, so it has double value. In your case, if a) or b) works in your market, you're covered. Remember, while roaming, no calls go to MtoM and *86 doesn't work.

On my plan, off-peak calls to my own number go to MtoM, so I make sure to enter *86 Nights & Weekends.

Verizon sez this will all change in April, but I'll change my dialing habits when i know for sure.

-Bill

[MeRomey]

You can use a vmail target number to use your M2M minutes. Ex: xxx-xxx-6245 for MAIL. You have to find out which prefix in your area accesses the voicemail system. When it answers you can press pound and enter your voicemail by following the prompts. This in essence is a M2M call! Works for me. Good Luck!

[Andy]

Originally posted by: MeRomey
You have to find out which prefix in your area accesses the voicemail system.

And how would I find that out??? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

[jayc]

I think that April 1st is the actual date when no matter what you do and where it'll take from your peak or off peak minutes... NEVER mobile to mobile.

[tattoounknown28]

Hey love cell to cell call my parents on it and they call me cut out regualr phone bill and i call *86 on my regular phone and it dont cost me nothing.

[WirelessBeachBum]

It could be worse a once worked for a company that would charge our prepay customers airtime when people would leave messages...and the messages could be up to five minutes long....

[jayc]

Originally posted by: WirelessBeachBum
It could be worse a once worked for a company that would charge our prepay customers airtime when people would leave messages...and the messages could be up to five minutes long....

VZW prepaid does this unless something has changed? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

[WirelessBeachBum]

I wasn't aware of that, however I don't ever sell prepaid any longer...too much of a hassle when not in a retail environment.

[agentHibby]

Originally posted by: WirelessBeachBum
I wasn't aware of that, however I don't ever sell prepaid any longer...too much of a hassle when not in a retail environment.

Verizon's prepay is expensive, so I can understand why you would not sell it.

[WirelessBeachBum]

i probably could, but my job is business & government sales, it's a hassle to sell a prepaid...

[SQFreak]

Well, as an update (also posted in the VZW forum at HoFo):

I thought that as of the April billing cycle, VM retrieval went against peak or off-peak depending on the current rate period at the time of the call, not M2M/IN-Network minutes. I have this item on my bill though:

98 03/25 08:17PM P 2 Winston Sa NC (336)692-xxxx Mailbox CL MNR

M = IN-Network Calling
N = IN-Network Calling Allow
R = Voice Mail Retrieval

Are they starting the new billing with calls in April?

On the other hand, I have this item on my bill as well:

47 03/12 05:17PM P 1 Greensboro NC (336)692-xxxx Mailbox CL AR Included

A = Price Plan Allowance
R = Voice Mail Retrieval

So, I'm confused.

[jayc]

Basically you got charged a minute fo rchecking your voicemail... There is *NO* work around since it is past April 1st.

BTW: VZW's prepay rates have changed... 10 cents a minute, 25 cent connect fee per call. Better than the old on at least.

[SQFreak]

But the point is I didn't get charged a minute on the 25th, only on the 12th, both of March.

As I said, I'm confused.

[Andy]

Well I didn't used to get charged anytime minutes when accessing VM by dialing my own number, but now I am [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

Well, everyone else is charging you regular airtime also, so why shouldn't Verizon??? But too bad they got away with us being able to use M2M minutes for accessing VM...