So very frustrated

[obijohn]

My previous cell carrier was T-Mobile. I used Google Voice only for voicemail -- I loved the visual text transcriptions and being able to listen to the messages without calling in to a voicemail line. No one even knows my GV number, I simply use it for voicemail.

But now that I've switched to Virgin Mobile with the Optimus V, I discover that Virgin does not allow conditional call forwarding, so I cannot set it so that missed calls are sent to my GV voicemail.

I'm faced with a couple of options, none of which make me happy.

1) I can disable Virgin voicemail altogether, give everyone my GV number as my "new" number, and have GV ring my cell. No one will know my actual cell number, they will only use the GV number. This will work great for keeping the nice GV voicemail, and I can set it to use GV for outgoing calls as well. However, I'm then stuck with using the GV app for texting. It's very ugly for sms compared to Handcent or Go SMS, and (the biggie) it does not support MMS! I almost do as much texting as I do calling, so this is a big deal.

2) I can do #1 above, but give everyone my actual cell number to use for texting. This gets me the best of both worlds, but it will be a nightmare. I can just see everyone constantly trying to text the GV number and me having to send countless replies that they should text the other number. Or, even worse, someone will try to call me from their SMS app. This will still ring my cell, but since they are calling the Virgin number directly they won't be able to leave a voicemail if I don't answer. This is also a big deal.

3) I can drop GV completely and just use the lame non-visual, no-app, have-to-call-in-and-use-my-minutes Virgin Mobile voicemail. No one else will be confused about which number to use for calls or texts (#2), or why their MMS isn't going through (#1). But I lose GV and visual voicemail. Again, a very big deal.

Right now my brain is fried trying to figure out the best solution when none of them sound good at all, so I guess I have to sleep on it. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know!

P.S. I called Virgin to complain about them not allowing conditional call forwarding, since every other major carrier in the U.S. allows it (even Cricket!). I don't know if it did any good. She kept telling me "don't worry, we are working on improving our service and I'm sure you will be able to do it soon", but she was probably just reading that from a script.

 

[Liquidplacidity]

They don't allow call forwarding, but there are a lot of apps for it. Try the market search and see if you can get it working that way.

 

[obijohn]

They don't allow call forwarding, but there are a lot of apps for it. Try the market search and see if you can get it working that way.

None of the call forwarding apps work with Virgin Mobile.

 

[vee]

What I'd do if I was you, since it's ONLY voicemail you love it for, I would learn to deal without it, because both of your solutions are so bad I can't even imagine doin either lol. Or, I would switch carriers, im sure this isnt an option since ppl who switch to VM is usually for the price. Learn to live without it =/.

You could always send MMS through email

 

[obijohn]

What I'd do if I was you, since it's ONLY voicemail you love it for, I would learn to deal without it, because both of your solutions are so bad I can't even imagine doin either lol. Or, I would switch carriers, im sure this isnt an option since ppl who switch to VM is usually for the price. Learn to live without it =/.

You could always send MMS through email

Yes, I could learn to deal without it. But having used it for 2 years, I feel it is an integral part of the "Google" experience on Android. It was my single most-used app besides Handcent. Right now I look at the phone and just dread having to make an actual phone call just to check my voicemail. I mean, come on, we are not living in 1998 anymore. Visual voicemail has been common for about 5 years now, half a decade.

This is probably because I'm just pissed about it and feeling negative, but I really believe Virgin Mobile is intentionally not allowing the conditional call forwarding which would enable Google voicemail, simply because this forces you to use their call-in voicemail to eat up your minutes. Having to use your own minutes to call and check your voicemail is enough right there to cause someone to have to upgrade to the $40 plan because checking voicemail will use half your minutes on the $25 plan.

 

[JerryScript]

Just wanted to point out that you can check your voicemail from another phone without using your minutes up.

 

[spikey911]

I have sort of the same issues...

I dropped T-mobile, but not sure if I would stick with VM, so I opted to then give out my GV number and thought that would be a great solution.
Virgin gave me an area code that people would need to dial a 1+area code... Google gave me an area code within my area so it works out better as well.

Soon after I realize that GV text message app kind of sucks. Seems as though nothing works with it as far as notification apps, etc..
Calls through GV have been pretty poor overall, even worse when moving..

I almost wish I never switched..

 

[whyaphoenix]

delete

 

[Bigtuna00]

now i dont see why anyone would complain about low quality voip calling on 3G when there is a perfectly good PHONE built into your phone.

or is there something im not getting about it?

Yeah, you've pretty much missed the whole point The OP has nothing to do with VOIP. Also Google Voice has very little to do with VOIP.

The OP wants to use Google Voice's *voicemail* feature, not VOIP. This doesn't work with Virgin's network. Clear as mud?

 

[Eollie]

Also OP you realize it costs nothing to call your voicemail?

Nothing, not one minute of your time.

Personally, and dont take offense, I feel your acting like a spoiled brat. Wanting your cake and ice cream without sharing.

 

[Liquidplacidity]

Also OP you realize it costs nothing to call your voicemail?

Nothing, not one minute of your time.

Personally, and dont take offense, I feel your acting like a spoiled brat. Wanting your cake and ice cream without sharing.

What? It doesn't? On my call logs, it has calls going to myself, and it still charges me minutes every time. I try to stay away from dialing voicemail.

 

[Eollie]

What? It doesn't? On my call logs, it has calls going to myself, and it still charges me minutes every time. I try to stay away from dialing voicemail.

It will show but if you look closely it doesnt cost you to call voicemail.
It shows in the call logs.
If your getting charged call Virgin and complain.
Its in the agreement that VM calls are free.

ETA**
I stand corrected, I looked again and Ihad misread the first time.
Although ON my account it shows VM call used 1 minutes then shows it again using no minutes.
After every single call.