Can You Call & Listen In to Wireless Voice Mail?

There's no need for your cell phone when checking cellular voice mail.

In 2008, for the first time ever, the number of U.S. households with only cell phones outweighed those with only landlines. But these people who are exclusively using cellular services do not need their cell phones when they want to check voice mail.

Facts

As of June 2009, an estimated 276 million people subscribed to cellular calling plans in the United States. The bulk of those subscribers used Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint or T-Mobile, the top four mobile communication providers in the nation at that time.

Accessibility

These four providers allow subscribers to remotely check their cellular voice mail. To do so, they must first gain access to another cell phone or a landline and dial their own ten-digit cell phone number.

General Instructions

If you're a subscriber, you can usually access your voice mail by pressing the correct button at the correct time. Most services, for example, require that you press * (the star key) when your voice mail greeting begins. Then, when prompted, you will enter your voice mail access code.

Security

Cellular voice mail cannot be accessed without the code, remotely or otherwise. For security reasons, it is important that you never share your unique access code with anyone.

References

• USA Today: A Fifth of US Homes Have Cellphones, No Landlines
• SBDCNet National Information Clearinghouse: SBDCNet Connections Issue 56: Wireless Telecommunications Carriers
• Verizon Wireless: Voice Mail
• AT&T: Answer Center -- Access Voicemail and Use the Voicemail Menu Options
• Sprint: Voicemail
• T-Mobile: Calling Voicemail from a Landline