1. What does it mean when you call someone and it goes directly to voicemail?
2. Is a phone dead if it goes straight to voicemail?

What does it mean when you call someone and it goes directly to voicemail?

One ring and straight to voicemail means you might be blocked. If you only hear one ring before the voicemail picks up, there are three possible reasons: their phone is off, they’ve set their phone to auto-divert to voicemail (i.e., they’ve enabled Do Not Disturb mode), or you’ve been blocked.

Is a phone dead if it goes straight to voicemail?

If it rings and goes to voicemail then you aren’t blocked. The phone is off. If it rings forever without going to voicemail then you are blocked. If it rings and then hangs up immediately then you are blocked.