A system and method that enables faster, more reliable setup of voicemail message playback for a mobile device is provided. A mobile device receives an message that alerts the user that a voicemail message has been received. When a user dials into the voiccmail system to retrieve the message, a message is sent from the mobile device to the voicemail system to tell the voicemail system to queue-up the message for playback. The message proceeds from the mobile device through a relay to a virtual Message Service Center (MSC) gateway over a high-speed GPRS connection. The virtual MSC gateway sends the message to the voicemail system over a permanent or substantially permanent connection. Communications are acknowledged to increase reliability. The voicemail system is ready to play the message when the voice call is received.