AT&T 3 manual Interactions with the Communications System

PARTNER MAIL Services

■A Transfer-Only mailbox allows transfer to an extension that does not need message storage space, for example, the extension in a conference room. When a caller reaches a Transfer-Only mailbox, the caller hears a greeting. The caller cannot leave a message, but can transfer to another extension.

You can create mailboxes of any type for Calling Groups and Hunt Groups. When a caller reaches a Group Mailbox, the call is handled according to the type of mailbox it is, as described above. If you create a Call Answer Service mailbox for the group, you can assign a Group Mailbox owner. Then, when a message is placed in the Group Mailbox, Call Answer Service turns On the message light on the owner’s phone.

For more information about creating mailboxes, see Mailbox.

Interactions with the Communications System

Call Answer Service is used with the following communications system features:

■Automatic VMS Cover (#310) is assigned to extensions for which unanswered intercom and transferred calls are to be automatically routed to Call Answer Service after a specified number of rings (3 rings for Release 3.1 and earlier communications systems; 1 to 9 rings for later communications systems).

■VMS Cover can be programmed on a subscriber’s phone to turn VMS Cover on and off. This button can be programmed regardless of the Automatic VMS Cover setting for that extension. However, if Automatic VMS Cover is Assigned and a VMS Cover button is programmed, the subscriber must use the button to turn VMS Cover on.

■Voice Mailbox Transfer can be programmed on a subscriber’s phone to transfer callers directly to another subscriber’s mailbox without ringing the other subscriber’s extension first. This feature is useful when one subscriber is handling calls for another subscriber who is not at his or her desk.

■Group Call Distribution (#206) Setting 3 (VMS Line Cover) can be used to identify lines on which calls go to a pre-defined mailbox after four rings. If the mail system Line Ownership feature is used to assign an owner to a line, calls go to the line owner’s mailbox. If Line Ownership is not used, calls go to the General Mailbox for Automated Attendant 1.

■Line Coverage (#208) can be used as an alternative to Group Call Distribution Setting 3 to assign ownership for a line to an extension. Calls on the owned line go to the line owner’s mailbox. This feature is available only on communications system Release 4.0 and later.

1-8Overview of System Services and Features