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Ponderosa Voice Mail: What your User Guide doesn’t tell you.
The Voice Mail User Guide and
voice prompts will easily lead you through how to use your voice
mail features, but there are some things that need further
clarification. This document addresses those more advanced
features and some things you should know.
To
view or print a pdf format User Guide, please select from the
following options:
a.
Single Mailbox Instructions
b.
Multiple
Mailboxes Instructions
Click on a quick link below:
Q:
How do I change my password?
A: Access the main
menu and press 9, mailbox setup. Press 2 to change password and
follow the instructions.
Q: How many characters are
required for the password? Which characters cannot be used?
A: Any length password from 1-16 characters is accepted by the
system. For maximum security we recommend that you implement a
password with 4 or more characters. Do not use # or * as part of
your password.
Q:
Auto Login: What is it and how does it work?
A: Auto login is a convenience which allows you to access your
voice mailbox, from the subscriber number handset where your
voicemail is established, or from a notification message, without
entering a password. Please note that when auto login is
turned ON, anyone can now listen to the messages from the
subscriber number handset where your voicemail is established.
Auto login is disabled
initially when you receive your mailbox account. If you wish to
enable it: from
the Main Menu, press (9) Set-up menu, then press (4) and follow
the recorded prompts.
Q: I have enabled auto-login and it still
asks for my password. Why?
A: When
multiple mailboxes are present on one phone number the system will block the
auto-login selection to protect privacy. You will still hear the prompts but the
function is blocked. If you have a one mailbox configuration and it does not
work, call 6-1-1 for assistance.
You can record and select from
1-10 personal greetings. To access Greeting Options: from the
Main Menu, press (9) Set-up menu, then press (1) and follow the
recorded prompts.
The last greeting you work
with will be selected as your current greeting by default.
Once you have completed your
action, you will NOT hear a confirmation that your greeting has
been completed. Simply exit the menu by pressing (*).
Q: Can all of my mailboxes
share a common greeting?
A: No. You must record a greeting in each separate mailbox. Each
mailbox is a completely separate entity, even though they reside
on the same phone number. All recorded greetings apply only to
the mailbox or submailbox you are currently logged into.
Q: Can an incoming caller
press a function key such as # or * to bypass a mailbox
greeting?
A: This is not supported in this product.
Q: How do I return to the Main
Menu, or back up to previous instruction level?
A: Pressing (*) will always take you back to a previous menu
level and eventually the Main Menu.
All message routing features (Reply, Send, Forward and Distribution Lists) work only with
other Ponderosa Voice Mail subscribers.
Q: What is Reply to message
(5) on Message Retrieval Menu?
A: This is a call back feature that will ring the line of the
party who left the message. If they pick up you can speak with
them. If not it will go to voice mail and you can leave a
message. This feature only works within the Ponderosa Voice Mail
subscriber network. You will receive an error message when you
reply to callers outside the Ponderosa subscriber network.
Other ways you can respond to messages without
ringing the party's phone back is to forward the original message (6) and append
a comment to it or to use the send a message feature from the main menu (3) and
address it to the calling party's mailbox.
Q:
How do I create lists?
A: From the Main Menu choose (9) Mailbox setup, then press
(6) Distribution list options and follow prompts.
Q: With which features can I
use distribution lists?
A: Send Message, Forward Message
Q:
Will I be prompted to use distribution lists with these
features?
A: You will be
prompted to enter phone number(s) to send to. The system
considers the group distribution list number (1-10) a phone
number and you can enter that instead of, or along with, other
7-digit phone number(s).
Q: Can I include persons not
in the Ponderosa Voice Mail network on distribution lists?
A: Only Ponderosa Voice Mail subscribers can be included
participants in voice message routing features.
Q: Do you offer other language
options in voice prompts?
A: English and Spanish are offered as voice prompts.
English is set as default. Please contact our customer
care center if you wish to select Spanish.
Q: What are some uses for a 2nd mailbox on one phone number?
A: The benefit of 2 mailboxes is you can have greater privacy when you are
sharing a phone number with others, as well as the convenience of not having
to wade through someone else’s messages to hear if there are any for you.
The caller chooses in which mailbox to leave a message. There are as many
different applications as there are varied lifestyles. Following are just a
few examples of 2nd mailbox uses for children, caretaker,
roommates, club organizer, & home business:
Q: How many mailboxes are
included in my package price?
A: The first 2 mailboxes are included in your package price. You
can choose to activate 1 or both at the time of signup. If you
wait to activate the 2nd mailbox at a later date,
your monthly charge will not increase, but there will be a one-time activation
fee ($10) to set it up.
Q: How many mailboxes can I
have on a single phone number?
A: Up to 9 mailboxes.
Q:
How do I switch between mailboxes, for example if I am
already in mailbox ID 1, how do I access mailbox ID 2?
A: When you are
ready to exit mailbox 1, press (*) until you hear the prompt
“enter your mailbox number”, then enter your 7-digit phone
number, and select another mailbox ID.
Q: Does the administrator
greeting level have complete mailbox functionality?
A: This level is a simple greet and transfer function. Once your
greeting is recorded, it will instruct callers as to which
mailbox options can be selected to leave a message.
Sample
message: “This is the Jones residence. We’re not available to come to the
phone right now. To leave a message for Mary, press 1, to leave
a message for Paul, press 2.”
Q: What is the maximum message length that may be left by incoming callers?
A: Two minutes maximum.
Q: The system disconnects some
of my callers. Why?
A: The caller may
have reached the 2 minute limit or may have paused for 2 seconds
before or during speaking. The system is programmed to
disconnect after 2 seconds of silence.
This feature allows your voice
mailbox to send a “new message received” notification to you
at another phone number, or send a digital message to your pager
or pager-enabled phone, at specified times or intervals. It is a
notification message, and not a live call transfer. Options must
be set up from the service location handset.
Q: Does this service come with
my standard voice mail package?
A: This is an optional subscription feature. Call us to order
this feature.
Q: Can I change and administer
my own outdial numbers and setup features such as times to
notify?
A: These features will need to be administered by Ponderosa.
Please contact our
Customer
Care
Center
.
Q: Can I have the notification
feature call me at a long distance phone number?
A: The system is limited to 7-digit phone numbers. In some
cases, such as calls to cell phones or to 7-digit toll calls in
(559) area codes, such as Fresno, which are normally toll areas,
a toll charge will be placed on your long distance bill.
Q: Will a notification message
be left if I do not answer my phone?
A: Yes, if you have a voicemail option enabled in the receiving
phone.
Q: How do I know if I have a
new message while at the location of my service?
A: If you pick up the handset and hear a stutter dial tone, you
have a new message. Another
inexpensive subscription feature is a message waiting light
indicator for telephone hardware equipped with this option. Call
us to order this feature.
If you are not available this
feature gives the caller the option to press a key to ring you
at another telephone number.
This is an optional feature is available for an
additional charge.
Q:
Can I administer this feature myself?
A: The outdial
number must be set-up by Ponderosa Telephone.
Q: Can the feature outdial to
a long distance number or different area code?
A: The system is limited to a 7-digit telephone number, which in some
cases may be long distance. If it is a toll call, you will
receive any long distance toll charges on your long distance
bill.
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