"Extension 71 is not available"

[dabb]

Hi everyone,

First off, I am a total newbie when it comes to Partner systems.

So here goes...
My parents own a restaurant with a Lucent Partner system. Callers are greeted by an auto attendent with an option to press 0 to make a reservation (which rings a phone at the host-stand, as well as one in the office). If no one answers the phone the caller hears "Extension 71 is not available" (it is not a voice mail box, they cannot leave a message). We would like to change that message to something like "Sorry, no one is available at the moment, please try again later". The Avaya/Lucent techs. say this is not possible. How can that be??

Any ideas?

Thanks alot

 

[itpphoneguy]

Hi dabb,
The Partner does not provide vm coverage for groups (no group mailboxes). Put another extension in that group and connect it to an unused CO port. Give a mailbox line ownership of that CO port and put your greeting there.
-Chris

 

[dabb]

Chris,
I think I understand what you mean, however (I wasnt clear in my first post) we do not want a VM box for extension 0... just a message telling the caller to try again later. Also, I think it needs to stay in a group because when the caller presses 0 the phones need to ring in both locations.
Thanks

 

[itpphoneguy]

Hi dabb,
Change the mailbox mode to announce only (does not take a message). Note that the Partner family does not have any queue capability. To play a message and place the party on hold, you may be able to use an ASA card (or option with Partner II, forget it with Partner Plus). Route the CO port to the ASA function instead.
If you need to get fancy, iP Office. Totally open programming. Lic for VM Pro. Isn't cheap though.
Anyhow, the ext routed to a CO port is in a group. It only takes effect when it takes the call, otherwise the group would ring.
-Chris

 

[dabb]

Thanks, I'll look into announce only mode.

 

[TouchToneTommy]

Just how are callers getting to mailbox 71 anyway? In my experience, there is no coverage for group calling. Calls transferred from the auto attendant to a group will ring forever, until answered or abandoned by the caller. The exception is when the voice mail ports are mis-programmed, with the transfer return extension still set to themselves. Then transfers to calling groups will ring for X number of rings, return to the voice mail port that did the transfer, but without mode codes. Then the VM port will not know how to handle the call and send it to the Call Answer Service Operator with the announcement of "Transferring to Operator"

Anyway, yes the solution is to loop a station to a CO port, include the station in the calling group, have the CO port covered by a mailbox with the announcement and set to answer only mode.