how do i turn off voice mail transcribing?

Maybe you're not familiar with the term "beta" or how it is used in software development. It describes a testing phase that people voluntarily undergo in exchange for something (perhaps early access). This is contrasted with "GA", which stands for "generally available", which means it's available to the general (i.e. paying) public. While it has become popular for software companies to put a beta sticker on everything to give them a self-granted pass on crappy, buggy code, and possibly to absolve them of legal liabilities, that does not make it right. It will ultimately not make customers happy, and it will ultimately not save them in court. If it is beta it should be optional. Foul, apple. Foul.

As for Siri, I only wish that I could forget everything related to Siri. I wish she/he had never been born.

I know what they are talking about here. It doesn't even give you the play button while it's trying to transcribe your voicemail. The screen just stays there saying transcribing but you have no functionality controls till it gets done. I have had mine take a little longer on some and I have ran into that situation, but when I say longer, it's mainly because my data was slower in that area and it took more like 15-20 seconds instead of 3-5 like it usually does. It simply doesn't give you the option to play it till it's done transcribing.

This transcription feature is terrible and Apple is being unfair about forcing a beta version test on our phones

It's terribly inconvenient to get to listen to voicemail quickly. Also if it's transcribed, does that mean my voicemails are sent back to Apple?

I completely agree. I hate this feature and it's invasive.

Apple has totally gone down hill on its production and design process. Between this beta transcription feature to the terribly designed battery pack extension case, I think the best days of the company are behind it

There is currently no way to disable the feature. Post your views at Apple.com/feedback

I also find if it can't transcripe the message it won't allow you to play the message. Tried resetting the phone etc and nothing works. Some messages I just can't listen to so now I medical fit as well not have voicemail.

I have had the same issue when I expand the voicemail it just scrolls back up and you're left back at the voice message but can't play it. Also, the edit button at the top is greyed out. If you go to airplane mode then go back into voice mail there is a banner about voice recognition or whatever it indicates is not available. But you are now able to select the voice mail that scrolls and stays in place to allow you to play the message. For me it's a work around.

We should be allowed to deactivate this feature instead of Apple forcing it down our throats. Same thing with "voice control" that has to be the most annoying thing created. Even in silent mode if you accidentally press to long up pops the blue screen along with the double tone sound at full volume. Great when you are at a function that would be frown upon. But another feature that cannot be disabled. No wonder people jailbreak their phone to have some control over it since it appears Apple does not want to allow us control over forced upon features we don't want. I know the pundits would say that you can always use a different maker than Apple for a phone but that's a cop out and is beside the point. All features should be able to either use or not to use. User discretion versus makers discretion. That's the point.

As long as you're here to complain about features like this but still continue to buy their products, apple or any other company for that matter is not going to change what they're doing. If you don't like what they're doing, don't buy their products, then and only then will it make them take a step back and evaluate their business model. Until such time as that happens, they're going to continue doing what they're doing. I find it almost comical that so many people complain about how their iPhone doesn't do this or can't do that, and yet they still buy it. You're making apple laugh all the way to the bank.

I'll buy whatever I want, and I'll complain about whatever I want.

I have same issue; I. E. After transcription, which doesn't do all of message, I'm unable to listen to voicemail in traditional way. I have to message it to myself n then listen.