In fact, there is no answering machine on this device or smart card or memory to store messages.
That is why there is no display the number of messages.
The responder simply get automatically connected with your operator to automatically query answering your operator if you have already subscribed.
(The manual is called the operator "Orange", therefore, is that it works with SFR or Free or others? I do not know!)
If not for the rest, everything is good, good fun and useful phone.