A solution for notifying a user of alternate means of accessing voicemail data utilize a timer that can be set on a user device upon receipt of a message waiting indicator. When the timer expires, if no data communications connection has been established between the user device and a voicemail server, the user device can present alternate voicemail access instructions to the user. These instructions may be obtained from the message waiting indicator or may be stored on the user device. In another embodiment, a voicemail server sets a timer after sending a message waiting indicator to a user device. The voicemail server sends a message containing alternate voicemail access instructions if no connection has been established between the voicemail server and the user device upon expiration of the timer.