Weird text messages showing up for voicemail box status?

JohnTheLearner · 26 Mar 2021, 05:28

Similar to item #4 mentioned in this referenced post, I am seeing weird texts from "x-ofono-unknown". It seems these come in when new voicemails land in my VM box and also once messages are cleared from the box. For both cases, I get multiple texts.

It seems this is a status message the carrier sends the phone to provide updates on the carrier voicemail box. Seems this should be parsed and used by the phone's notification mechanisms, but not necessarily displayed in the messaging app. I searched but the above-referenced thread was the only one with this weird text message sender. Is this a known issue or is there a way to clear this up?

note: I can send/receive basic texts just fine...I just get these extra nuissance

Nexus 5 with 16.04 LTS - armhf (20201208)
UBports Image part: 20201208-1616
Device Image part: 20201208-31867

As I posted this, I am realizing the phone OS is out of date, so I'm running an update. I'll follow-up after the update if this behavior changes.

Update:
same thing happens with updated OS (OTA-16):
Nexus 5 with 16.04 LTS - armhf (20210305)
UBports Image part: 20210305-29818
Device Image part: 20210305-30293

Also, to quantify, on my test where I just received 1 voicemail, then called in and deleted it...it seems I'm getting ~ 3 of these weird texts upon both receipt and deletion.
Newb to the forum, so hopefully I tagged this post properly...two nexus 5 tags available in the list.

lduboeuf · 26 Mar 2021, 08:25

@johnthelearner I don't understand the issue, but VM is not supported afaik. Can't you just delete the message ? ( swipe right on the message bubble, and delete )

AppLee · 26 Mar 2021, 08:44

@johnthelearner
These messages are used on android by the voicemail app.
The first message notify of an existing message.
The second one notify the message had been read.
The last one about deletion.

With my carrier at a time I was able to disable these notifications for visual voicemail (they called it something like that).

It's not a bug and I suspect each carrier has its own implementation so it cannot be used by the system.

rocket2nfinity · 26 Mar 2021, 08:45

@johnthelearner Do you have Visual Voicemail enabled with your carrier? Turning it off will make the strange messages disappear.

JohnTheLearner · 26 Mar 2021, 21:23

@lduboeuf - of course...they're easy enough to delete, but just a nuisance like I said as I like to stay at 'notification zero'. These sometimes trickle in after I've put the phone down so I later look at it and wonder what I've missed, but oh yeah...those messages again.

JohnTheLearner · 26 Mar 2021, 21:26

Thanks @applee and @rocket2nfinity. That's what I figured happened on android. I don't recall setting up vis' voicemail, but I'll check in with my carrier.

On that note, though, if VV were to be turned on and I turn it off via carrier, would I expect to get ANY notification on the phone that there's a VM waiting, or I'd just have to "know" to check?

Thanks again!

AppLee · 26 Mar 2021, 21:53

@johnthelearner
I think I got a notification of having a VM but not really sure.
I don't have a lot of missed calls...

JohnTheLearner · 26 Mar 2021, 22:15

Reporting back in case anyone else can benefit later...I got visual voicemail turned-off @ the carrier and this solved it! I DO get a notification when there's a voicemail awaiting and it goes away upon checking/clearing the VM box, but I no longer get the extra text messages. Mission accomplished - thanks @applee and @rocket2nfinity!