network and voicemail

[momof2inmn]

Is is true that regular phone voicemails from the stock voicemail app go through the 3G/4G data network so that you can't get voicemails unless you have your data on? I was told this by Sprint advance tech support tonight but that doesn't seem right to me.

My voicemail does a couple different things:

a. icon shows in status bar but won't do audible notification until data is toggled on, or

b. no icon shows in status bar, no audible notification until data is turned on, or

c. flashes a notice that voicemail could not be downloaded and puts up the icon but in a different spot on the status bar, no audible notification. Once data is turned on I get audible notice and the icon moves to the correct spot in the status bar.

I am positive that I used to get voicemail notices with both the icon on the status bar and an audible notification. I have never kept data on (I prefer it that way) and had the phone at least a couple of months before I noticed that my voicemail wasn't working properly. Really, there is just no way that I could have coincidentally had data on every time I got a voicemail notice prior to seeing this issue. Maybe I'm wrong but it seems like too great a coincidence for this to happen.

Thoughts??

 

[burnrubber]

I also have the same question as i leave data services off until i need them to save battery life . I have done extensive searching on this topic ,called Sprint tech ,HTC Tech .I'm using carrier voicemail.

 

[FreudSlipped]

If you went out and bought a flip phone to use on Sprint, it would have to be CDMA compliant. If you went out and bought a new smartphone, it would also have to be CDMA. Same frequencies, just different capabilities.

The radio has to stay on for voice calls because it is transmitted over the same "wire" as data.

 

[momof2inmn]

If you went out and bought a flip phone to use on Sprint, it would have to be CDMA compliant. If you went out and bought a new smartphone, it would also have to be CDMA. Same frequencies, just different capabilities.

The radio has to stay on for voice calls because it is transmitted over the same "wire" as data.

But wouldn't that mean that I couldn't receive phone calls or text messages without data turned on either? I do get both of those without data being on. I don't really know what CDMA means, can you explain what you mean in "really not tech savvy" terms? :-[

 

[FreudSlipped]

Look at it this way; you have cable TV and Internet coming in from the same company? They both come in on the same line but are controlled differently inside the house. The TV has a converter that sorts out all the channel data. The computer has a modem that, in a way, does the same thing for the computer data. Unplug the modem and you still get TV service.

CDMA is the type of transmission standard used by companies such as Verizon and Sprint. Companies like AT&T and T-Mobile use a different standard referred to as GSM.

Wiki on CDMA - Code division multiple access - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Here is how I explained it to my wife: When she is talking to her friend, who is driving home from work, and all of a sudden the connection gets scratchy and then the call is dropped? That's her friends service on AT&T and she just hit the dip in the Garden State Parkway around mile marker 94. LOL (It's funnier when it actually happens while they are on the phone. Trust me. )

Edit: The tech did explain to you that your voicemail messages are saved to your phone, didn't they? If you want to check that, put your phone into Airplane Mode, which rurns off all the radios. Go to the Voicemail app and you should still see (and play) any saved messages.

 

[burnrubber]

This phone uses sprint CMDA voicemail like a non smart phone so you can call your voicemail and retrieve .It also uses visual voicemail that does go thru the 3g and 4g and wifi.Visual voicemail is an pre loaded app on this phone .To clear the icon with the data off after listening to the voice mail just go to the app and select clear data or turn data on and delete it