Answering System Operation
About the Answering System and Voicemail
Your telephone has separate indicators for two different types of voice messages: those left on its built-in answering system and those left at your service provider’s voicemail (fees may apply). Your telephone’s built-in answering system messages and voicemail messages are separate. Each alerts you to new messages differently. If displays or the voicemail light on the base turns on, your telephone service provider is indicating that it has new voicemail for you. To listen to your voicemail, you typically dial an access number provided by your telephone company, followed by a security code or PIN. To listen to messages recorded on your digital answering system, press the PLAY/STOP button on the telephone base.
Some service providers bundle or combine multiple services like voicemail and call waiting, so you may not be aware that you have voicemail. To check what services you have and how to access them, contact your telephone service provider.
You can use your telephone answering system and voicemail together by setting your built-in answering system to answer before voicemail answers. To learn how to program your voicemail settings, contact your telephone service provider. Set your answering system to answer calls at least two rings earlier than your voicemail is set to answer. For example, if your voicemail answers after six rings, set your answering system to answer after four rings. Some voicemail providers may program the delay before answering calls in seconds instead of rings; in this case, allow six seconds per ring when determining the appropriate setting. By doing this, if you are on a call, or if the answering system is busy recording a message and you receive another call, the second caller can leave a voicemail message.
Message Capacity
The answering system can record and store up to 99 messages. Each message can be up to four minutes in length. The total storage capacity for the announcement, messages and memos is approximately 14 minutes. The actual recording time depends on individual message characteristics. Messages remain available for replay until you delete them.
Turn the Answering System On or Off
The answering system must be turned on to answer and record messages.
When the answering system is turned on, the ANS ON/OFF light on the telephone base will be on and ANS ON will display on the handset.