Why did AT&T add a password to voicemail?

Question

Level 1

5 points

Why did AT&T add a password to voicemail?

For no reason known to a seasoned iPhone user, as I setup my new iPhone 5, a popup asked for my voicemail password! I have never had a voicemail password and had no idea what it was, so I entered some numbers that might be the one, but iPhone just kept asking for this. Never did it tell me it was wrong or Try again. I finally called AT&T and they reset the PW and I should change it. But WHY???? Is there any need for this to be different than the iPhone 4 or 4S, with all the added frustration.

Maybe there is a logical reason for such a password, as it allows one to get voice messages from any phone. Maybe this service has value, but might that be better served with an OPT IN or OPT OUT question during the setup rather than the confusion with a one answer dialog box.

Comment welcome!

iPhone 5, iOS 6

Posted on Oct 29, 2012 5:47 PM

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Answer 1

KiltedTim

Level 10

232,166 points

Oct 29, 2012 6:55 PM in response to sgtphil

Call AT&T. They will have to reset it if you don't remember it. Once you enter it, it won't bug you for it again.

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Answer 2

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

237,239 points

Oct 29, 2012 7:56 PM in response to sgtphil

There has always been a password on your voicemail. You needed it when you accessed the voicemail from a regular phone and also from the iPhone. It may have been that AT&T set it up the first time, but it normally carries over when you set the phone up from a backup. You can use this AT&T support document to try and fix your password issue. http://www.wireless.att.com/support/knowledgeBase.do?content=KB81229.html if it doesn't help, then you will need to contact AT&T as KiltedTim advised. Good luck.

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Answer 3

Oct 29, 2012 8:14 PM in response to sgtphil

ATT didn't add a voicemail password. It's always been there.

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