Voice Mail / Best Way to implement

[dennislongnecker]

Its a Partner ACS R7 system with VMS. I just activated the voice mail and the people are getting used to it. We have about 5 incoming phone lines (copper) and 30 extensions. Only 10 people are getting voicemail.

Right now, when someone calls the main number, the phone rings at the receptionists desk. The phone company has it setup, so if the main number is busy, it rings the other numbers (total of 4). The 5th incoming line is for the fax machine. Basically, all of the incoming line ports are assigned. If someone calls after hours, QWEST voicemail picks it up (leftover from no Partner VMS).

So, no I want to move forward and fully implement the voicemail. I was going to setup an Auto-attendant for after work hours.

Given the above configurations, how can we set it up so that a staff person can call during work hours and check their voice mail (I assume during non-work hours, they could use the auto-attendant and get routed)? I was thinking about using DID numbers, but I read in other posts it has to be T-1, which it is not. Is the only alternative that they call and the receptionist (or whomever answers the phone) transfers them to voice mail?

 

[kwing112000]

You could make your 4th line ring to the auto attendant all the time or the person answering has to transfer the caller. I have sites doing this. They have 3 lines that ring in and the 4th goes right to VM attd. Then if a regular caller calls and gets 4th line they will still be able to dial ext or operator. The oly drawback is only 1 person can check VM from outside at a time.

 

[1043]

That is a good way to do it. Make sure the caller knows the difference between the Auto Attendant and Qwest voicemail. A couple drawbacks are first if that line is being used the person checking for messages would get a busy signal or Qwest voicemail. Also somebody might have that 4th number saved as a callback number (cell phone caller ID etc...)and if that line is used would get a busy signal or Qwest voicemail and you would miss the call.
With only 4 lines your best bet in my opinion is have the reception transfer calls to voicemail (transfer 777 hangup).