ITC – Telephone Services

Telephone & Network Coordinators Newsletter

January 2005

 

Did You Know That…

 

           1. If you have a voice menu with several mailboxes (ex: Adjunct Office), and you request all but one mailbox to be removed, we will remove the voice menu? That way your callers don’t have to listen to a voice menu to leave a message for one faculty member (faculty member will get a new mailbox number). This saves your department money each month and your callers a lot of frustration!

            2. The FTC adopted some new spam rules? To read the entire CAN-SPAM Act and related rules, visit the FTC website at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/spam/rules.htm.

 

Cell-Phone Directory

*Reprinted from the ACTUA eNEWS at http://www.acuta.org/home.cfm.

 

For months (years?) the buzz on the Internet has been that a directory of cell-phone numbers will soon be published. Is it really true this time?

 

IT is true that AllTel, AT&T Wireless, Cingular, Nextel, Sprint PCS, and T-Mobile have banded together and hired Qset, Inc., to produce a Wireless 411 service. Their goal is to pool their listings to create a comprehensive directory of cell-phone customer names and phone numbers that would be made available to directory assistance providers.

 

But, according to the CTIA (http://www.ctia.org), “First, every wireless carrier participating in wireless directory assistance has clearly stated that numbers will be listed on an opt-in basis only. That means consumers will have to choose to be included in the directory. While some consumers may have already provided consent through a signed service contract, wireless carriers have said that these consumers will be given an additional chance to decide whether or not to opt-in to the system. That means no current customer will be automatically included in a wireless directory. Every consumer will have the opportunity to opt-in or say ‘No, thank you.’

 

“Second, participating wireless carriers have said they will not charge customers for not being listed.

 

“Third, the wireless directory will not be printed in a telephone book, nor will it be available on the Internet. This directory will not be sold to third parties or sold to telemarketers. In fact, more than a decade ago, the wireless industry fought to make it illegal for telemarketers to call a wireless phone.”

 

Yes, there is a cell-phone do-not-call list. If you still want to be included on it, you must call 1-888-382-1222 from the number you wish to register, or go to their website at http://www.donotcall.gov.

 

 

 

Donating Cell Phones For A Good Cause

 

Have you been wondering what you could do with that old cell phone besides throw it in the garbage? We have a solution for you!

Consider donating your old cell phone. With the holidays behind us, many wireless users purchased or received a new phone. Rather than simply throwing away old wireless phones, Verizon Wireless encourages users to donate your old phones to its HopeLine Program, which recycles and refurbishes them to help victims of domestic violence. Wireless phones and accessories from any carrier can be donated at any Verizon Wireless store.

For more information: http://www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline

Telephone Directory Updates

 

       It’s starting to be that time of year again that people are transferring about campus or ending their employment with the University.

            If your department is experiencing some of these changes, please submit the updates to us for our campus directory. Updates are requested year-round and greatly diminish the amount of work entered just prior to printing.

We update the campus directory but also our live telephone database, which is used on a daily basis for our campus switchboard. This database is used also, to supply the information for the online directories.

To view your departmental listings and make changes, please visit the online directory at http://gemini.msu.montana.edu/msuinfo/dplist.html. Click on your department and print the listings. Make any necessary changes and fax the updates to extension 1955.

If any questions on updates, changes, or corrections, please contact Marilyn Heitz at extension 5050 or email her at mheitz@montana.edu.

 

Call Forwarding

 

This month’s feature is on Call Forwarding. Call Forwarding is used when either you are not in the office or do not want to be disturbed. It’s also great when you are running out of the office and want your calls to be forward to voicemail. This means your phone won’t ring two, four, or six times before going to voicemail!

 

To use Call Forwarding on a digital set:

 

  1. Keeping handset on the hook, press your “Forward” button once. The light should be flashing.
  2. Dial the desired extension you wish to forward your calls to. If you want your phone forwarded directly to voicemail, dial ‘6060’.
  3. Press the “Forward” button once more. The lighted arrow should remain solidly lit at this time. Your phone is now forwarded.
  4. To cancel call forwarding, press the “Forward” button once. The arrow will disappear.
  5. To forward to the same number again, press the “Forward” button twice.

 

To use Call Forwarding on an analog set:

 

  1. Lift the handset, enter #1 and the desired 4-digit extension.
  2. To forward your line to the last prior number, just enter #1.
  3. To cancel call forwarding, lift the handset and press #1. You should hear a ‘stutter’ dial tone to indicate that forwarding has been cancelled.

 

 

*** Please forward any information that is relevant to your staff. Everyone can benefit from the information! As always, if you know someone who should be added to the listserv, please email Chris at cbauer@montana.edu.