Google Voice & Verizon Visual Voicemail concerns/questions

[sake]

Hey folks,

I'm running the original Motorola Droid with Android v2.2. I'm sure this has been brought up in the past, but I've searched and can't find any real good answers.

I've had Google Voice for about a year now on my Droid. Here are some concerns I have:

1) It uses anytime minutes when someone is leaving a message.
2) Often it doesn't know when the caller has hung up and eats up additional minutes recording only silence.
3) With the in-call volume maxed out I can barely hear the voicemail through the handset speaker.

For a couple months last year I had Verizon Visual Voicemail and these were the concerns I had:

1) It costs $2.99/month (but doesn't use anytime minutes)
2) Like Google Voice, with the in-call volume maxed out I can barely hear the voicemail through the handset speaker.
3) Notification of voicemails was nowhere near as quick as regular voicemail or Google Voice.

My biggest question right now for both of them- Is there any way to get the in-call volume fixed when listening to messages? Anyone else having these issues?

It's important for me that voicemail volume is good and notification is quick. I can't seem to find a visual voicemail option that hits all the nails on the head.

 

[jasoraso]

One workaround for me on the in-call volume issue is to CALL my voicemail number (google voice) rather than use the visual voicemail interface. I do this mostly because I have a BT headset I would rather listen to messages on (especially when driving).

 

[sake]

That doesn't really work for me as I'm on a 450 minute plan and am careful about going over. Google voice uses your Anytime Minutes when people leave a message. Using your method, you'd also be using Anytime Minutes checking your messages.