Send incoming calls to voice mail?

Hello

(I have an 8520, but this question isn't limited to that model so I figured I should ask in a more general section of the forum.)

I don't use my cellphone much, just for a few calls + unlimited SMS, and use a prepaid plan where I just add credits every once in a while. So far, so good.

Problem is, the MVNO (or the actual carrier, I don't know which) sends unanswered incoming calls to voice mail after only three rings. I asked to increase that number, but it's either three rings or nothing... so I asked them to cancel voice mail entirely rather than missing calls and having to call people back at my expense (I guess that was the carrier's plan all along...)

As a result, when I can't answer a call, I'm stuck with either letting my cellphone ring until the caller gives up, or hit the red Cancel button but in this case the caller hears the busy tone right away and knows I didn't take the call on purpose.

So... since Blackberry (or at least the 8520) doesn't provide an internal voicemail (ie. in the phone itself), is there some key or shorcut I could use on the Blackberry to send the current incoming call to voicemail manually?

That way, I could stay with my el cheapo prepaid solution while enjoying the freedom of not taking calls when I can't.

Thank you.

My HD2 windows OS doesn't allow you to specify number of rings, I don't know of another way to soften the non responce or do not answer issue, Maybe using the holster settings may be a work around ie, when you don't want to answer a call leave it holstered, ie auto answer when in holster option.

I don't know why its only 3 rings but you could either try Youmail or Google Voice. I get the feeling that google voice will be your best option. It isn't the easiest but it provides voicemail (I think double check with someone else) and then an app should be able to handle the redirect. It's a odd situation you are in so it's hard to give a solid answer.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

Not sure what its like abroad but in the UK you can ask the carrier to increase it until 30secs max IIRC, or google search your carrier as I remember you can do it yourself with the correct info.

Thanks for the infos. I'm in Europe, so Google Voice is not an option, I prefer to keep my cellphone in my backpack rather than in an holster, and my carrier set voicemail to three rings or nothing :-/

I doubt anyone has written an answering machine app for Blackberry, so I'm just going to have to change carriers.

The wonderful world of telcos ;-)