Skype voicemail improvements
Skype voicemail means that you’ll never miss a call. Your unanswered calls are sent to voicemail and you can listen to messages when you want, wherever you sign in to Skype, or using Skype To Go. To make voicemail even better, we’ve added two new features: voicemail to text and voicemail alerts.
Voicemail to text
With voicemail to text, you’ll never miss an important voicemail – thanks to our partnership with the ultra-cool SpinVox. SpinVox will convert your voicemail to text, and we’ll send it directly to your mobile by SMS for you to read (SpinVox’s blogger, James Whatley, is understandably quite excited about this 
). The SpinVox gnomes currently understand voicemail messages left in English, French, German and Spanish, and, believe me, they’re pretty good.
Each voicemail to text conversion will cost €0.20/£0.17/$0.25 plus the cost of sending up to 3 SMS at standard low Skype rates, depending on the length of the voicemail message. The number of messages we send will depend upon the length of the voicemail message – if we can’t fit it all into 3 SMSes, you’ll see an ellipsis (…) at the end of the third message, and you’ll have to sign in to Skype or call your Skype To Go number to hear the full message.
Voicemail alerts
You can now set up email or SMS voicemail alerts to let you know when you have new voicemail messages. Email alerts are free, and SMS alerts are charged at Skype’s standard low SMS rates. You can also use Skype To Go to pick up your voicemail on the move.
To make life easier for you, we’ve also introduced privacy settings for voicemail alerts, so you can get alerts only from people on your contact list. In addition, you can set a daily limit for the number of alerts.
Both of these enhancements should make Skype voicemail even more useful – and don’t forget; if you have any comments or questions about these new features, leave a comment below and I’ll respond as quickly as I can.
This is all very enlightening to see that others have problems. But I simply want to know how do I retrive my voice mail; what exactly do I do to listen to the messages. once I can do this then I’ll know if there is a problem or not.
Skype is absolutely the worst service I have ever used of any type based on the sheer number of problems in comparison to the amount I have used it. I have had my service cut off for 30 days because they didn’t like what country I used my credit card from. Now I simply want to listen to voicemails, and the only way seems to be to set up a “skype togo” number and call it, which I did, then it asks for my personal number, I have input all the numbers it could possibly be, but none work! I guess I will wait another month like last time for the problem to be resolved, eBay customer service at its best!
@thembpgroup @jmla500 @barneycox1 I’ve asked someone from our support team to investigate – they’ll be in touch directly if they need any additional information from you.
Close but no cigar. That these alerts are only sent via SMS and not via e-mail is ridiculous. Yet another example of Skype lagging behind [competitor not mentioned b/c I don't want this to seem like an ad for them]! [Competitor] comes out with a BlackBerry app (yours was supposed to launch in MAY!), and has had VM transcription for a while now… that gets sent to e-mail. Pick up the pace, Skype.
After several years of excellent service from skype, I find that my voicemail has suddenly stopped working. Worse, it seems to work, because a caller hears my greeting and leaves a message, I can see they have left a message and how long it is, but nothing is recorded. I call my skype to go number and again, there is a message but not sound. This has been going on for about 24 hours now and it is disastrous for my business.
Actually I have to revise my last post. If someone calls my skypein number and leaves a voicemail, it records. But if it is a skype to skype call, the voicemail doesn’t record. Really weird.
I just obtained voicemail yesterday. It worked yesterday but was down and out by today. I have enabled the following options for voicemail:
-send unanswered calls to voicemail (ON)
send calls to voicemail if…
-I do not answer within [1] seconds
-I reject an incoming call
-I am already in a call
I checked my account options, clicked on “voicemail”
- it says that my voice mail is “enabled”
the checkbox is on for
- send an email alert to (my emailaddress) when I receive a voicemail.
My contacts confirm that when they call it rings forever with no answer.
I also need this problem to be fixed.
When I call my skype to go number to access voicemail, it asks me for my 4 digit password. I don’t remember it. How can I find out what my 4 digit password is? If I can’t find it, how do I change the 4 digit password?
Please add me to the misery list. I am a new subscription customer but so far have been unable to make voicemail work. I am fairly certain I have all the correct settings but it rings and rings and does not pick up. This is disappointing since this is probably the most important feature for me.
This was a stupid error on my part. I had Skype open on both my desktop and laptop but only one computer was configured to receive voicemail. Score one for customer service on this one, thanks.
Hi, Skype voicemail used to work great when Skype was an independent company, then around last winter it stopped taking messages as well as it formerly did, or forwarding calls to my mobile. And now for the last few months friends have been leaving messages even though I unchecked the “forward to voicemail button” but no sound comes out when I play them. What is happening?
I’m also on the point of starting up a business and thought of using Skype, but now I’m having to look for more workable solutions. And it seems like I’m not the only one…
I wish I had seen this thread before paying for Skype service, as it may have prompted me to find a different solution.
I received an e-mail alert 7 hours ago that I have a new voicemail message, but neither my Skype-to-go number nor the Skype app on my laptop show any messages. If there really is a message there, I need to hear it ASAP. I’ve submitted 2 support requests (is that the only way to get help?) and have received no reply. Past support requests have regularly taken several days to receive even the generic “we’ve received your request” e-mail.
Can anyone help me?
@julieknudson sorry for the delay in responding – I’ve asked one of our support team to take a look
Hi. I’ve waded through these posts but still don’t see the answer to my issue. The good news is that my skype vmail works – both on my MacBook and on my DUALphone (I have a Skype In number as well for business). I also get the email saying that I have a vmail. Yipee! But how do I get to hear the vmail without being at home or on the internet? Well, the email says use Skype to Go….. I logged my mobile number and set up a new London S2G number last night and added a US quick dial number for a mate over there but I couldn’t see anywhere how to set it up to access my skype vmail????? I’ve called the S2G this morning and get only 2 options – one to call my mate and the other to call ‘another international number’. I’ve tried hitting the #, 0 and * buttons but to no avail. Has anyone worked out how to do this? There don’t appear to be any detailed instructions anywhere – and the fact that you are pointed towards it on the vmail notification email is just going to create bad feeling until there is…..
Thanks.
Hi. I set up my online number, voicemail and SMS alerts to let me know when someone leaves me a message. It all took more time then it should due to an inadequate Help section but now everything works as stated except for one thing. I can’t hear the voicemail messages! If I call my S2G number, I get the option to listen and it does try to playback something but I can’t hear anything. When I try to play it back in Skype, I get the same results. It plays back 11 seconds of nothing. I see from some of the earlier posts that others are having this problem too. Since I can’t hear the message using my mobile phone or my PC, I know it’s not my equipment. Inaudible voice messages are about as useful as getting a message written in invisible ink so any help I can get to resolve this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Eureka! Further to my post above – I’ve just had an email telling me that I have a Skype vmail and rather than listening to it via my Mac I decided to call the S2G number, just in case I was missing anything. It worked! I was immediately given the option to press 3 and listen to my vmail message, which I then listened to loud and clear. Why oh why is the fact that you won’t have a vmail option on your S2G menu unless you have vmail not explained clearly and succinctly anywhere? Perhaps it’s obvious. Sorry.
I’ve been unable to record a voicemail greeting since subscribing to Skype 10 days ago, and I’ve been emailing back and forth with tech support ever since, following all their instructions, without result. Callers cannot hear any greeting, including the standard one, and can’t record a message. Voicemail has been activated. I’ve uninstalled and reinstalled.
The posts above suggest this is not an anomaly; I need reliable voicemail, and so I am hoping that there is some plan B for getting help from Skype experts. Otherwise, I will have to find another provider.
I think I broke the code. One of the voicemail FAQs says “As soon as you listen to a message it is transferred from our servers and stored locally on your machine until you delete it.” This means that it is no longer available by calling your Skype-To-Go number. So, unlike a typical office voicemail system, the act of listening to a voicemail by one path (a PC) makes it unavailable through other paths (such as another PC, or Skype-to-Go.)
This is NOT intuitive. It deserves an FAQ.
The fact that option 3 is used to listen to voicemail via Skype-To-Go also deserves an FAQ. That same FAQ could document the fact that this option is only offered when there’s a voicemail on the server that has not been listened to from a PC.
I listened to a voicemail on my laptop yesterday and need to listen to it again today to get the details from it, but I can’t find out how to listen to the message again on the same laptop.
I have read this: “As soon as you listen to a message it is transferred from our servers and stored locally on your machine until you delete it.” But I can’t find out where the message is or how to access it. Please help!
I have a SkypeOut number. Voicemail is switched on and receiving messages but I can’t retrieve them. The voicemail notification email says:
Sign in to Skype to listen to the message or call your Skype To Go number to hear it.
I have three messages like this.
I’ve called my number the instructions say and all I can do is leave myself a message. Is there a password to key in to access a menu? PLEASE let me know how this works!
Many thanks
@leorawien sounds like you might be calling your online number rather than your To Go number. You can set up a To Go number in your account. Hope that helps
When someone calls my skypein number it just keeps on ringing – it does not direct to voicemail. I have skype on my MacBook Pro (Leopard) and iphone (GS 3.1.2), voice mail showing as enabled and subscribed until late 2010, no call forwarding. I have read this blog and realise this is a common problem, which of course it should not be. But putting all such comments aside, is there anyway you can help me move forward to solve my problem? Many thanks Jim
As a follow up to my last posting I have solved the problem. It turns out that using the Mac inteface with Skype has less options for call forwarding and simply does not set it reliably in place. I used my parallels/Windows interface running on my Mac (try the opposite on a PC!) and downloaded skype and set it up from there. All worked first up. All the best, Jim
Bought Skype # with voice mail for my home office last June. Worked fine until I tried to add call forwarding. I found the call forwarding annoying and switched it back to just plain voice mail. Now – no voice mail. Just ring, ring, ring, ring, ……..No one at Skype to call ……..No customer service….help…..No Voice mail …..
@aribenharavre you can get in touch with our support team here – they’ll be able to help.
Is this titled ‘Voicemail Improvements’? You have to be kidding?
Our voicemail quite working at random one day…and to no avail were we able to get it working again. We have a home based business and this was a killer.
And skype is trying to get professional businesses to come over to their app? I would not recommend it. From what I have read this has been an ongoing issue for many years.
Improvement? Ha!
And Yes..we did take out a Support Ticket…and Waiting…and Waiting. No phone support? Ridiculous!
I just bought this service about two weeks ago and already it has failed me ALL week and I have lost two job opportunities. SKYPE PLEASE MAKE THIS SERVICE MORE RELIABLE OR I WILL CANCEL MY SUBSCRIPTION!
My problem apparently mirrors what other have experienced. I wanted to use voice mail for a home business. It initially did not connect, and I shut it off, re-entered the selection boxes, voila, it worked. Four days later, someone got me on my cell phone and said the voice mail was off. I tried the same disconnect/connect process. That worked for three test calls, then off again. I tried the disconnect/connect process about 6 times, but no luck. My son has been using Skype voice mail for two years without a hitch, so clearly there is a glitch that grabs some and not others. But, too chancy. I am back to using the cell phone.
When I first got Skype back around May, there was a nice little window with a list of voicemail messages, and I could just go down the list and play or delete them. Now, no matter how I search, I can’t find this simple list of voicemails. There’s some sort of list of “Events,” but it’s not the same thing — it lists calls in, calls out, etc., of which a few have associated voicemails. But what has happened to the window where you can simply manage your voicemail messages, keep the ones you want, delete the ones you don’t, etc.? How do we bring that up?
Hello,
I was having the same problem! My voicemail would never pick up, this has been going on for like a month now. I have my settings enabled, because it worked just fine before. One day it just quit working for me.
I think I might have found a fix for this problem, I thought maybe because my history is saved forever that my mailbox might be full and thus not answering. So I cleared all my history and my cookies (just to be safe) and when I called my line I got my voicemail.
I’m not sure how you can delete a single voicemail via the IM history window, it would be nice though. I never use my Skype2Go to check my voice mails.
Skype Voicemail…the WORST VoIP VM Management system on the Web or PC…bar none!
Now that we have that fact established… and you still feel you need to use Skype instead of the better VoIP systems out there… try http://www.skylook.biz They have an application you are looking for…THAT WORKS! And of course they are “Skype Certified” so even Skype can’t complain if you choose to use their VM application. Not that it would stop me or many others from doing so.
No, I don’t work for them nor do I promote them elsewhere, I just want a VM management system that WORKS PROPERLY…period. One cannot afford the shoddy implementation of the current Skype VM system they make us pay for. Yes, you need Outlook for email to use the Skylook system to its fullest, but who does not have Outlook and serious about using Skype for business??
http://www.Skylook.biz has a free version which does the job for most people, and a deluxe version for those who need a bit more support. But you will be HAPPY to have something that Skype sorely lacks…a working VM system to use with Skype!
Try it out today! Thank you.
SJ
Voicemail used to work for me, about 12 – 18 months ago I upgraded Skype and am wondering if there is any link there. Now I still get email notifications BUT cannot listen to them as they not in the History (other itmes are there). Please help, I use this for business and 18 months without reliable voicemail is appalling. I have asked for help before but just got automated email responses NOT any personal help.
Many thanks.
How about Video Voicemail?
I’m having the opposite problem. You added voicemail as a free “feature” with my subscription, and now I can’t get rid of it. I’ve spent hours with your online customer support chat, and they’ve apologized several times, but this is still not fixed. The latest email from them says:
“We are actually aware of this technical problem and are working hard on
fixing it as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, for the time being, you can only be sure that Voicemail
is detached from your account if you cancel this Online Number, as well.”
My advice to anyone reading this: Do NOT subscribe to any skype subscription services unless you want this completely disastrous and UNREMOVABLE voice mail added.”
On the other hand, the customer support people were as helpful as they could be under the circumstances.
Just as a follow up to my previous post, the Skype customer service agent confirmed that there is a “technical glitch” and that you may or may not get voicemail when you get an online (SkypeIn) number. You cannot remove this voicemail and you cannot avoid skypein calls being sent to voicemail immediately if you are offline.
To quote the agent from my chat transcript (I’ve removed the agent name):
“XXXXX – Skype Support says
Unfortunately, I cannot tell whether that number will have a voicemail and please note that our technical department is working on fixing this issue.
12:16:23 “
In short, do NOT subscribe to any online numbers or any other online subscriptions unless you are willing to take the chance of getting this unreliable voicemail whether you like it or not. The problem is exacerbated if you are forwarding to your SkypeIn from a line where you have your own voicemail. Skype voicemail will pick up the call (if you are offline) and so it will look like your call was answered.
On the other hand, again, I must say that the agent was extremely polite and as helpful as she could be under the circumstances
Like ALL the others….VM used to work fine– 2 years in fact. But now voicemail stopped picking up calls–sometime in Dec. Set to answer after 15 sec. but just rings forever. Will only pickup if I decline a call.
Fix this please.
With Skype software open on my desktop, it rang for 8 minutes, while a pop-up with Answer and Decline buttons danced on my screen with sound effects. Caller ID wandered between the correct number and “Unknown phone number”. Then after 8 minutes it hung up with:
“Lines are temporarily busy please dry again later Oh One Zero Six.”
If I click the red Decline button it goes to voicemail immediately.
If I close Skype it answers in 2 rings, about 7 seconds.
Settings:
[ ] Forward calls (off)
[x] Send unanswered calls to voicemail
Send calls to voicemail if…
I do not answer within [15] seconds (this setting never has an effect)
[x] I reject an incoming call
[x] I am already in a call
I just signed up with Skype to test the bells n’ whistles. I found out voicemail didn’t work, searched for help, and came across this blog that confirmed my fears. This is horrible, but I’m not one to give up easily. Went to Tools/Extra/Get Extras in Skype to find a voicemail system for free. Tapur is no frills, but it works. I set ring time in seconds and customized my message. Keep your Skype voicemail on or it won’t work. Voice recordings are stored in Tapur. There’s an option to also have messages sent to your email, but that doesn’t seem to be working for me. I was also able to pick up while ringing, one of the PBX extras didn’t allow that. Also tested another option, turning voicemail off and allowing it to forward to a free voicemail number provided by k7.net. http://www.k7.net also provides free fax (bonus). I typed my new call forwarding number into Skype, cut off Skype voicemail at first, and the phone only rang twice on two test tries. Cut voicemail back on, and it rang about 5 times. With k7.net, voicemails go to my email and can be store at there site as well for 20 days. I’m not sure why. Skype and voicemail period are probably quirky. For now, I’m happy. I have enough time to pick up with Skype and get voicemail when I’m away. Sweet!
Hey Hey! I just wanted to say:
I started experiencing difficulties with skype voicemail just this week – TERRIBLE TIMING as I am finally starting to get some job hits from headhunters etc. and was using my skype VOICEMAIL to communicate with these VERY important people. SUFFICE to say that’s all been f’d up this week but after reading this blog my wheels started turning and I think I might have come up with a solution… albeit I may not fully understand WHY it’s a solution.
Anyhow. Here goes.
Q. What’s the first thing you do when your computer stops doing what you want, when you want?
A. CLEAR THE CACHE.
.
. .
I went ahead and deleted my entire skype history (calls, chat, voicemail) on a hunch(after uninstalling and reinstalling skype, and contacting my third party virtual number company to blame them for the problem).
Not only is my voicemail immediately WORKING again, but it’s functioning correctly too ( I mean all the features are there when they should be, picks up after the right number of seconds, or goes directly to voicemail if I’m unavailable, or if I decline a call). AND the quality is clear as a bell, where normally it’s a cracky and gross.
So, what do you think about that? Fluke or relevant?
Skype voicemail does not work when you have the latest Windows version running and you are signed into it. If you sign out and enable voicemail on an independant skype phone it works flawlessly. If you run the MAC software simutaneously with a skype phone and same account it works. Something about the Windows software and signed in simutaneously with a skype phone that it doesnt like. That is my findings.
Please help! Lately many voicemails are not playing beyond 2 seconds (if they play at all). Sometimes, days later, I have been able to go back and listen to more (though usually not all) of such messages, but that is not always the case. I am paying for voicemail to come as soon as it arrives and getting very frustrated. Is there a trick for getting these messages to play? I thought maybe the local rain had something to do with it, maybe causing slow streaming, but today the weather was as clear as a bell (Come to think of it, I miss Ma Bell!) Any suggestions? Please help!
Thanks!
I just spent 24 dollars for 3 months on this skypein service, it worked fine for a week or so but now it just doesnt work at all. People keep calling me from other countries, well I keep calling myself on the number too, and all I always hear is two bells and then off to voicemail. I just cannot recieve calls on my mobile phone of computer for which I bought this service. If someone is out there who can help me, please do it quick, coz this coming week I am expecting some very important calls on my skypein number. I really do regret paying skype for this.
Looks like Skype really needs a Inbound Customer Service Department considering this is a year old Blog and people are still using it for tech support. Hey I know a great Company that will save you loads on your phone services. (That is as long as you dont need voicemail.) .
VoiceMail never gave me any problem till the most recent update and then some of the settings got lost somehow. Now I’ve gone back in and setup Call-Forward and VoiceMail the way they were before but they don’t play well together any more. They each work in isolation but when together I just get ring no answer.
To the many people who do get their older voicemails showing up in the history tab, but the newest voicemails are nowhere to be seen: This just happened to my wife a week ago, and I quickly realized why.
When the history tab has already been used in a Skype session, and shows the newest item (voicemail, incoming/outgoing Skype call, etc.) at the top, that vertical positioning becomes static. So if you go to another tab, and a new voicemail comes in, and you switch back to the history tab, you don’t see the new voicemail because it’s “above the top end”. You have to scroll vertically to bring the newest items (like the newest voicemail) into view at the top of the list.
Real simple! But many people miss it because it is very unusual behaviour in GUI/Windows/Internet design.
I am having the same problems as many people here are experiencing. Voicemail was working now it doesn’t work. Phone will ring and ring and ring and voicemail never picks up. I have checked all the settings, deleted my history, uninstalled and reinstalled and it still doesn’t work. Customer service has been a joke as it takes 24 hours to respond to my email and all we do is email back and forth and they just suggest all the things I have already tried. Oh and they keep informing me how to use my voicemail buttons which is a joke since I am the only right now that can hear my voicemail. Yes, my voicemail is recorded and active, the problem is and continues to be that the phone rings and rings and rings and doesn’t go to voicemail. Worked fine for 6 months now not at all. And I am not logged onto multiple devices. Skype is used only on one computer. If I hear that again from Skype I will scream – that is not the problem.
I would like to see some improvement to voicemail where I can determine how many rings before my voicemail picks up or just send all my calls straight to voicemail, etc. But I am seriously doubting I will stay once my one year subscription ends as I find the customer service is poor. Sending emails back and forth is just silly not to mention stupid. Maybe instead of spending all the money in advertising that they do, they might want to spend some in effectively dealing with their existing customers.
I have a Mac Running OS 10.6.2. I recently purchased a package from skype that included voicemail. I have the IPEVO phone and with or without the phone, I cannot select how many rings before the voicemail picks up. And when I turn it on, it doesn’t pick up at all. Please fix this problem asap.
same for me im afraid appalling , no voicemail just rings and rings and rings and rings and rings ..
Sort it out skype you have a major problem here and we all pay good money for this service , its illegal to sell a service that does not work !
My Skype was working just fine before the update to 2.8.0.851! Now, it is not picking up my voicemail! Thanks for breaking it! Can I just download and reinstall the old (i.e., WORKING) version?
Same deal for me: my clients are complaining that they call my skype-in number and it just rings and rings. I tried it a moment ago and confirmed. I am running a brand new imac with latest skype, and I have checked “send unanswered calls to voicemail” in skype preferences. It happened one time while my mac was in sleep mode (i had been away for lunch) and another time with me sitting in front of skype.
Adding another example to the stack of ‘Skype Voicemail no longer working’. Just rings and rings but voicemail never picks up. Opened a ticket and got a response that was useless – presumably just an automated email triggered from the ‘voicemail’ category. Somebody must be trying to convince us to go back to the standard voice providers…(ugh)…