This post is based on conversations with Lumia 950 purchasers (AT&T and unlocked) and information from Microsoft/AT&T representatives. This information should be revised over time if better information becomes available (or if the AT&T features becomes downloadable, like on Google Play for Android).
For those who are picking up the unlocked (Dual SIM) phone from Microsoft instead of the carrier-locked AT&T version, be aware...
No Visual Voice on non-AT&T phones
Visual Voice Mail is an AT&T-loaded (or AT&T-provisioned) application on AT&T retail phones. It will survive reformatting and OS upgrades. But according to my research so far, this feature cannot be installed through the Windows Store.
Some users of older Single SIM non-AT&T Windows phones have reported success getting VVM to work, so this may be something which can be provisioned by AT&T. Parts or all of the VVM software is built into Windows 10.
So far I have not found any successful reports of VVM working on any Dual SIM Windows phone.
No HD Voice or Wi-Fi Calling on unlocked phones
HD Voice and AT&T's upcoming Wi-Fi Calling features appear to only be available on AT&T retail phones.
SIM cards must be provisioned to activate AT&T features
To use AT&T features like Visual Voicemail, AT&T SIM cards must be provisioned to activate those features. If you are moving from a Windows 8.1 phone, you are probably fine simply moving your SIM to an unlocked Lumia 950.
Advantages of AT&T Lumia 950 phones (vs. unlocked)
Please post if/how you get these features working on an unlocked Lumia 950
If you purchased an unlocked Lumia 950 or Lumia 950 XL, and if you are able to get any of the AT&T-specific software or AT&T features like Visual Voice Mail working, please post how you made it work here.
Big screens (950 XL) and Dual SIMs (unlocked 950s) are cool. If we can figure out how to get VVM and other AT&T features working on them, that would be excellent.
For those who are picking up the unlocked (Dual SIM) phone from Microsoft instead of the carrier-locked AT&T version, be aware...
No Visual Voice on non-AT&T phones
Visual Voice Mail is an AT&T-loaded (or AT&T-provisioned) application on AT&T retail phones. It will survive reformatting and OS upgrades. But according to my research so far, this feature cannot be installed through the Windows Store.
Some users of older Single SIM non-AT&T Windows phones have reported success getting VVM to work, so this may be something which can be provisioned by AT&T. Parts or all of the VVM software is built into Windows 10.
So far I have not found any successful reports of VVM working on any Dual SIM Windows phone.
No HD Voice or Wi-Fi Calling on unlocked phones
HD Voice and AT&T's upcoming Wi-Fi Calling features appear to only be available on AT&T retail phones.
SIM cards must be provisioned to activate AT&T features
To use AT&T features like Visual Voicemail, AT&T SIM cards must be provisioned to activate those features. If you are moving from a Windows 8.1 phone, you are probably fine simply moving your SIM to an unlocked Lumia 950.
Advantages of AT&T Lumia 950 phones (vs. unlocked)
- Supports Visual Voice Mail, HD Voice, and other AT&T apps/services
- Single SIM is slightly less confusing to use
- Single SIM supports one ultra-high LTE speed which is theoretically (although probably not practically) attainable
- Discounted/financed by AT&T
- Lumia 950 XL is only available as an unlocked device.
- Dual SIM Unlocked phones support two SIMs: one phone for work and home numbers.
Please post if/how you get these features working on an unlocked Lumia 950
If you purchased an unlocked Lumia 950 or Lumia 950 XL, and if you are able to get any of the AT&T-specific software or AT&T features like Visual Voice Mail working, please post how you made it work here.
Big screens (950 XL) and Dual SIMs (unlocked 950s) are cool. If we can figure out how to get VVM and other AT&T features working on them, that would be excellent.
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