Voicemail User Reference

FreePBX - VoiceMail

Voice Mail Navigation

  • 1 Read voicemail messages
    • 3 Advanced options
      • 1 Reply
      • 2 Call back(1)
      • 3 Envelope
      • 4 Outgoing call(1)
      • 5 Send Message (only available if sendvoicemail=yes in voicemail.conf)
    • 4 Play previous message
    • 5 Repeat current message
    • 6 Play next message
    • 7 Delete current message
    • 8 Forward message to another mailbox
      • 1 Use Voicemailnumber (only available if usedirectory=yes in voicemail.conf)
      • 2 Use Voicemail Directory (only available if usedirectory=yes in voicemail.conf)
    • 9 Save message in a folder
      • 0 Save in new Messages
      • 1 Save in old Messages
      • 2 Save in Work Messages
      • 3 Save in Family Messages
      • 4 Save in Friends Messages
    • * Help; during msg playback: Rewind
    • # Exit; during msg playback: Skip forward
  • 2 Change folders
    • 0 Switch to new Messages
    • 1 Switch to old Messages
    • 2 Switch to Work Messages
    • 3 Switch to Family Messages
    • 4 Switch to Friends Messages
  • 3 Advanced Options
    • 5 Send Message (only available if sendvoicemail=yes in voicemail.conf)
      • 1 Use Voicemailnumber (only available if usedirectory=yes in voicemail.conf)
      • 2 Use Voicemail Directory (only available if usedirectory=yes in voicemail.conf)
  • 0 Mailbox options
    • 1 Record your unavailable message
    • 2 Record your busy message
    • 3 Record your name
    • 4 Record your temporary message (new in Asterisk v1.2)
      • 1 Record your temporary message
      • 2 Erase your temporary message (going back to the standard message)
    • 5 Change your password
    • * Return to the main menu
  • * Help
  • # Exit
 
  • After recording a message (incoming message, busy/unavail greeting, or name)
    • 1 - Accept
    • 2 - Review
    • 3 - Re-record
    • 0 - Reach operator(1) (not available when recording greetings/name)


(1) Prompts for these are only played if these options are enabled in voicemail.conf

 

An Overview

Unavailable Greeting

The standard voice mail greeting is the “unavailable” greeting. This is used if you don’t answer the phone and so the call is directed to your voice mailbox.
·         You can record a custom unavailable greeting (which is recommended—see below).
·         If you have not recorded your unavailable greeting but have recorded your name, the phone system will play a generic message: “Recorded name is not available.”
·         If you have not recorded your unavailable greeting and have not recorded your name (see below), the phone system will play a generic message: “The person at extension number is unavailable.”
 

Busy Greeting

If you wish, you can record a custom greeting used when someone calls you and you are currently on the phone. This is called your “busy” greeting.
·         You can record a custom busy greeting (see below).
·         If you have not recorded your busy greeting but have recorded your name, the phone system will play a generic message: “Recorded name is on the phone.”
·         If you have not recorded your busy greeting and have not recorded your name (see below), the phone system will play a generic message: “The person at extension number is on the phone.”
 

Temporary Greeting

You can also record a temporary greeting. If it exists, a temporary greeting will always be played instead of your “busy” or “unavailable” greetings. This could be used, for example, if you are going on vacation or will be out of the office for a while and want to inform people not to expect a return call anytime soon. Using a temporary greeting avoids having to change your normal unavailable greeting when you leave and when you come back.
 

The Default Folder List

0 New Messages
1 Old Messages
2 Work Messages
3 Family Messages
4 Friends Messages
      (and others as you define)
 
When a caller leaves a message for you, Asterisk will put the message into the “New Messages” folder. If you listen to the message, but do not delete the message or save the message to a different folder, the Asterisk PBX will automatically move the message to the “Old Messages” folder.
 
When you first log into your mailbox, the Asterisk PBX will make the “New Messages” folder the current folder if you have any new messages. If you do not have any new messages the Asterisk PBX will make the “Old Messages” folder the current folder.
 

The Directory

The Asterisk PBX voicemail system can provide a directory of the users on the system. The directory can be reached by dialing 411.
 

Leaving a Message in a Mailbox

If you are not able to answer a phone call, Asterisk PBX will allow the caller to record a message that you can listen to later. The caller will first hear a greeting and some instructions before being allowed to record a message.
 

Record a Message in a Mailbox

The process of leaving a message in someone’s voicemail looks like this:
 
1.      The caller will dial the user’s extension. If the extension is not answered, the caller will be transferred to voice mail.
2.      The system will play the appropriate greeting. See below for more information on which greeting will be played.
3.      The system will play some short instructions, followed by a beep.
4.      The caller can then record the message, and optionally review the message.
 
While listening to the greeting or the instructions, the caller can press any of the following buttons:
#    Skip the rest of the greeting and instructions and immediately begin recording the message.
* Transfer out of the message recording application and log into the mailbox. The caller will be prompted for the password of the mailbox and then be able to listen to messages. This is one way users can access their own mailboxes.
0 Transfer to an operator or, if there is no operator extension, back to the initial system menu.
 
After the greeting and instructions, the caller will hear a beep and then the system will start recording a message. To end the recording, the caller can hang up the phone or press the # button for more options.
 
If the caller hangs up the phone to end the recording, the Asterisk system will put the message in your “New Messages” folder.
 

Options after Recording a Message

If the caller pressed the # button to end the recording, the caller will be presented with the following options:
1 Accept this recording.
2 Listen to the recording.
3    Re-record your message.
0 Transfer to an operator or, if there is no operator extension, back to the initial system menu.
 
If the caller presses 1, the message will be placed in your “New Messages” folder. If the user presses 0, the message will be cancelled and the user will be transferred to the operator (or, if there is no operator extension, back to the initial system menu).
 

Accessing Your Mailbox

Logging In

Your extension: (this number is shown on your phone, e.g. 401)
Your initial voicemail password: 1234
 

Logging in by dialing *97 from your office phone
Enter your password when prompted. You may press # after each entry if you wish or just wait for your entry to be accepted.

Logging in by pressing the “Voice Mail” key from your office phone if your phone has this key
Enter your password when prompted. You may press # after each entry if you wish or just wait for your entry to be accepted.

Logging in by dialing *98 from any office phone
Enter your extension when prompted, then your password when prompted. You may press # after each entry if you wish or just wait for your entry to be accepted.

Logging in Remotely with *
Dial in to your own mailbox, when you hear your greeting press *, then enter your password

Logging in by using a web browser from an office computer
Your administrator will provide you with the User Control Panel URL, if they wish to enable this

 
 
 
This document does not cover Voicemail to Email, to configure VM to Email please refer to the Extensions and/or User Control Panel documentation