I am glad it worked! I too am having great luck. I have had no issue whatsoever since the day I last posted. YES there was a system update. I am not sure if that is what did it. The other thing I did was go into the app info for Messages+ and uninstalled updates. Right now my Messages+ is showing version 6.4.7 in the app info. Not sure if this is the older one (the one that came pre-installed with the phone) or the latest one. Messages+ is not interfering now and everything is working as it should. Not sure if it's the version of Messages+ or if it's the system update that fixed it, but it's fixed. I am glad that worked for you, DEB. I had tried that and it was still interfering even though I had disabled the app. Do you recall if you had the recent system update? Maybe there is something they did to fix the problem. Now I wish they'd just fix the volume problem...but that's another topic 
I also uninstalled the updates, and not sure if that worked or not. My Message+ version now is 6.3.7. But so far, so good...not going to complain since it's working now! I did have the recent update, but the issue had started prior to that. And I hear you about the volume issue. That's been problematic since I've had the phone as well. But overall, I'm happy with the phone. I would like to get a mod for it...do you have any for yours yet? I was thinking about getting the projector..I totally don't need it, but think it's a pretty cool toy! 