Tech

Managing Voicemail on the Vodia PBX

Published on:

February 27, 2020

Setting up the voicemail server on the Vodia PBX system allows administrators to customize features that enhance user experience and security. Key settings include the time before a call is sent to voicemail, the maximum number of voicemails and their duration, and the required PIN length for accessing messages. Administrators can also manage options like direct dialing into mailboxes, offering callers the ability to reach a user’s mobile phone, and enabling the compression of messages to save storage space. Advanced features, such as allowing callback options when extensions are busy, and integrating external voicemail systems, further enhance the functionality of our innovative phone system.

This is a quick overview of how to set up the voicemail server on the Vodia PBX.

Overview

  • Domain voicemail settings

Domain voicemail settings overview

The voicemail setting on the Vodia PBX helps the administrator determine what features are required when setting the VM.

Note: Some of the voicemail settings, like "Mailbox pickup," can be overridden by the user.

Navigate to your Domain - under settings click on Voicemail

Vodia Admin Voicemail

Time until the mailbox picks up: This controls how long the system will take to decide to send a call to Voicemail. 20 or 30 seconds should give the user ample time to pick up the call or give it enough time to redirect the call to the user's cell phone if a redirection has been programmed.

Vodia Admin - Voicemail Time Pickup

The maximum number of voicemails: This setting controls how many voicemail messages can be kept in the user's mailbox.

Vodia Admin - Max Voicemail Duration

Maximum voicemail duration: This setting controls how many seconds a voicemail message should last.

Vodia Admin - Maximum Voicemail Duration

Voicemail PIN digits: This setting specifies the number of digits required for the voicemail PIN. Although any number larger than one digit is acceptable, we recommend you require four or five digits. See also the PIN setting in the extension account.

Vodia Admin - Voicemail PIN digits

Automatic deletion of messages: Users' messages will be deleted based on a number of weeks.

Vodia Admin - Automatic Deletion of Messages

Max PIN failure attempts before PBX disconnects the call: This setting allows the domain administrator to set the number of failed attempts before the PBX disconnects the call. This setting is useful when someone else tries to access your mailbox and repeatedly enters the wrong PIN.

Vodia Admin - Voicemail Failure

Require entering mailbox PIN: When this setting is enabled, users will be required to enter the PIN before retrieving voicemail messages.

Vodia Admin - Voicemail PIN

Calling own extension number goes to the mailbox: By default, the system will send a user to the voice mailbox if he or she dials his or her own extension. In some situations, however, it is useful to have the system call the registered extension.

Vodia Admin - Calling Own Extension Number

Compress mailbox messages: The Vodia PBX will compress mailbox messages to save space on the hard disk.

Vodia Admin - Compress Mailbox Messages

Mailbox escape account: If the Mailbox Escape Account setting is set, a user who reaches the mailbox can press 0 to get to the account you specify here (the user must press 0 before the tone). The number must be an internal number, i.e., account 70 transfers to the Auto Attendant.

Vodia Admin - Mailbox Escape Account

Mailbox direct dial prefix: This setting allows users to call directly into their mailboxes or transfer a caller directly to a user’s voicemail without having to wait for the voicemail timeout. Typically this prefix is an 8, so by dialing 8511 the caller goes directly to the voicemail greeting for extension 511.

Vodia Admin - Mailbox Direct Dial Prefix

External voicemail system: This setting is used if you want to use an external voicemail system (e.g., Microsoft Exchange 2007/2010). The setting requires a telephone number that can be dialed and can include replacement fields, which are used in the caller-ID representation for outbound calls. The dial plan for the called extension will decide which trunk will be used to send the call.

Vodia Admin - External Voicemail System

Mailbox explanation prompt: Users who configure their extensions to play a personalized message when callers reach their extensions can activate this setting so the system will deliver an explanatory message after the playback of the personalized recording. The explanatory message explains the caller may now leave a message and informs the caller of any other options. For standard greetings, the system always explains the options.

Vodia Admin - Mailbox Explanation Prompt

Camp on: This setting allows you to offer Camp On to callers, rather than limiting them to leaving a voicemail. Callers have the option to press 1 for a callback only if the callee has a valid caller-ID. Once the extension becomes available (the system will track a person’s availability by monitoring keypad activity) it will ring the extension with callback announcement.
Note: Turn off the "camp on" feature if you are using external voicemail systems such as Microsoft Exchange.

Vodia Admin - Camp on

Call forward on no answer timeout: This setting establishes the number of seconds the system will wait before performing a timeout action. This setting should be shorter than the voicemail timeout; if it isn't the call will be sent to voicemail instead of being forwarded.

Vodia Admin - Answer Timeout

Play envelope information before playing the mailbox message: When this setting is enabled, envelop information will be offered to the user while retrieving voicemail messages. To retrieve the information, the user can press #5. If this setting isn't turned on and the user presses 0 to hear more options, the envelop information will be offered.

Vodia Admin - Envelope Information

Offer to call cell phone when entering user's mailbox: When this setting is set to yes, the caller will have the choice to call the user's cell phone by pressing #3.  

Vodia Admin - Calling Cell Phone

Switch to T.38: When this setting is set, the user will be able to receive faxes after the mailbox listens to the CED tone. Received faxes will be converted to PDF and emailed to the user.  

Vodia Admin - Switch to T.38

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