Visual voicemail app not installed on my unlocked phone

[user36DblCviJT]

Why is it not installed on my Unlocked phone? And unable to use it.

I have read numerous posts from answers from Samsung "ambassadors" claiming that it's my carrier's fault (T mobile) and when I get on the phone with them, they say they don't have any control over any apps on my phone. 

I don't know who to believe. 

This feature on iPhone and Google Pixels work seamlessly, why can't Samsung??? 

[ShadowArtist201]

When you go to "Phone > Keypad" and select the 3 dots in the top right corner, do you see "Visual Voicemail"? It should be above "Settings".

[user36DblCviJT]

Nope. Just "voicemail"

[ButtaBean_420]

As far as I know the app just says Voicemail not Visual Voicemail do you have an app that says Voicemail

[user36DblCviJT]

Nope not there, (searched with Show System App)

[ButtaBean_420]

It's not in System Apps

[user36DblCviJT]

I see, well... it's not there... and direct galaxy store link says incompatible with device... sigh

[LongHiker · Accepted solution]

@user36DblCviJT Visual voicemail is a carrier supplied service.

If you buy a carrier locked device, they preinstall visual voicemail in the firmware. 

If you buy an unlocked device, some carriers allow you to download and use their visual voicemail software and some do not. 

If you want great visual voicemail which provides great speech to text, use Google Voice. Download the Google Voice app, grab a number. Then forward your carrier provided number to the Google Voice number in this scenarios:

• Forward when busy
• Forward when unanswered
• Forward when unreachable

[user36DblCviJT]

I see, thank you for a work around.

I'm just very disappointed that I can't use Android native visual voicemail and use an alternative solution.