Field staff
Site visit
You've reached [first name] from [business name]. I'm on a site visit and can't talk right now. Leave your name and number, or text me, and I'll get back to you this afternoon.
Work mobile
Voicemail greeting on iPhone and Android
For many sole traders and field staff, the mobile is the business line. Where your carrier supports it, an iPhone lets you record the greeting in the Phone app. On Android, Australian carriers mostly mean calling your voicemail number.
iPhone: change the greeting in the Phone app
Open the Phone app
Unified layout: tap Calls, then Edit, then Edit Voicemail Greeting. Classic layout: tap Voicemail, then Greeting.
Tap Custom
Then tap Record. Apple notes this is not supported by every carrier in every country.
Play your file
Start the downloaded MP3 on a computer next to the iPhone and record it into the phone.
iPhone details for Australian carriers
01
Live Voicemail
Telstra notes that iPhones on iOS 18 use Apple Live Voicemail by default. It plays the greeting from MessageBank’s visual voicemail, so record your greeting there.
02
Visual voicemail on
Telstra: text VVM ON to 144. Vodafone and TPG: dial 1217 from the iPhone.
03
Voicemail password
Settings, Apps, Phone, Change Voicemail Password.
Android: Phone app and carrier number
In the Google Phone app, voicemail lives under Settings, Voicemail. There you can set up the mailbox under Advanced settings and change notifications. Google says visual voicemail depends on the carrier and the region.
On Android, the reliable way to change the greeting is your carrier’s number: 101 for Telstra MessageBank, 321 for Optus and amaysim, 121 for Vodafone and TPG. On Samsung and other Android phones, the carrier numbers work the same way.
Scripts for a work mobile
Sole trader
Two-person business
Hi, it's [first name] at [business name]. We're both out on jobs today. Leave a message with your name, address and what you need, and one of us will call you back.
Consultant
Travelling interstate
This is [first name] at [business name]. I'm travelling interstate this week. Leave a message, and I'll return calls each evening, [Melbourne] time.
Questions
Can I copy the MP3 straight onto the phone as a greeting?
Neither Apple nor Google describes importing an audio file as a voicemail greeting. Record it by playing the file next to the phone.