Voice Mail

What is Voicemail?

Voicemail gives callers the opportunity to leave a message when you are not available and is very similar to mobile telephone voicemail.  

Voicemail allows:

• easy retrieval of messages from any phone, on or off-site
• ablity to copy messages to colleagues (who also have voicemail)
• ability to converse with colleagues via messages (rather than via the telephone)
• ablity to send messages to groups of users
• ability to mark a sent message as urgent, private (it cannot be forwarded) or for return receipt
• enhanced security as access is password controlled and the password is set by you
• ability to set a message for future delivery, eg alarms, reminders
• more space on your desk
• a spare mains electrical socket
• never needing to remember to switch your answering machine on/off or worrying about a power cut.

Voicemail offers much more control than with an answering machine.  For instance, you can dial in from outside the University at any time to listen to messages, to send or forward messages or to change your greeting.

How do I know when a message has been received?

This depends on the type of phone you have.  If you have a digital phone a button will be programmed to alert you when a new message arrives.  On other handsets the standard alert is a broken or stuttered dial tone.  Alternatively you can programme your mailbox to call your extension when a new message arrives.

We have developed a usage policy that is designed to maximise the benefit of the service to callers.  It is a condition of taking the voicemail service that you agree to use it in a responsible manner and within the University's usage guidelines.