Office Phones
Our department provides VoIP phones that can be used by Faculty, Staff, TAs, and researchers to make calls and receive voicemail. Below are some instructions on how to use the features of our phones,
Calling
This section deals with anything related to calling features of the phones.
Dialing
Below are the dial codes that you will use to place calls.
Dialing within our department
For calls within the CS department, you can dial the extension as normal.
Example: Dial "7749" to reach extension 7749
Dialing other university extensions
When trying to call an extension that is still located on campus, but not for our department, you can either dial the 4 digit extension or dial 3 beforehand with the 4 digit extension afterwards.
Example: Dial "34192" OR "4192" to reach university extension 4192
Dialing out of local area
For any numbers that are not on campus, but are local to 757, dial 9 beforehand without the area code included.
Example: Dial "95812579" to reach (757) 581-2579
Dialing out of local area
For any numbers that are not on campus, dial 91 beforehand with the area code included.
Example: Dial "919315812579" to reach (931) 581-2579
Emergency Dialing
If you need to reach emergency services, you can dial 911, 1911, 9911, or 91911. All of these numbers get send out as a call to 911, so you don't have to remember 1 specific number to call.
International Dialing
If you need the ability to place international calls, please contact root@cs.odu.edu
Calling features
Holding
While on a active call, press the hold button to hold the call. While a call is on hold, you can make further calls and that person will stay on hold as long as they do not hang up. The amount of calls that can be placed on hold depends on the model of each phone. Typically most phones can place 2 calls on hold at once, but some models support up to 6 at once.
Parking
If you want to place a call on hold, but allow that call to be picked up by someone else at the same time, you will park a call. To do this, press the menu key that says "Park Call". This will release you from the call and put the caller on hold. To pick up a parked call, find the "Parked Calls" menu key. Clicking on this will let you browse through currently parked calls, and allow you to pick up any you need.
Transferring
To transfer a call, press the transfer call button in the bottom right. This will place the caller on hold temporarily. Dial the number you want to transfer it to as you would regularly. Once you call them, you will be released from the call and the caller will be ringing the person you transferred to.
Redialing
If you wish to redial, press the "Re-dial" key on the bottom right. This will dial the last person called on the phone.
Call Pickup
If your phone is configured to support call pickups, you will see a line key that says "Call Pickup". This means that you can pickup any of the lines you see on the phone screen when they are ringing. To do this, press the contact key next to the line that says "Call Pickup", while another phone is ringing. You will then pickup the call as if it had rung your line.
Misc
Speakerphone
You can use the speakerphone key to pickup calls or switch them to speakerphone.
Muting
Press the mute key to mute the handset. The caller will not be able to hear anything until you unmute.
Volume
Use the "+" and "-" keys to adjust the volume of the speaker.
Context Keys
Context keys are keys that have functions that change depending on what is on the LCD display. The following describes the 2 types.
Line Keys
Line keys are displayed to the right of the screen, with a first name, an extension, and a status symbol displayed next to them on the LCD. Typically, there will be only one line key active at a time, but if there are more, they will act as speed dial keys. Hit the button next to the line to call it. These also act as "monitors" for the lines, you can see when one is ringing, when someone is on a call, and when someone is busy.
Menu Keys
The menu keys have many different functions, here I will list the functions available at the main screen.
Call Log
Displays the history of calls made to and from this phone.
Contacts
Displays an up to date directory with all the extensions available in the CS department. From here you can dial, or directly leave a voicemail, for any extension listed.
Status
Allows you to set a status for your phone.
Info
This key lets you get more info about lines on your phone. Press this key and a line key to see more information about the line.
Parked Calls
Lets you see the parking lots for calls. From here you can pick up calls that are in a lot you are subscribed to.
Forward
Here you can configure a phone number to forward calls to instead of ringing your phone. You can set conditions for a forward, such as forwarding on no answer, or forward on busy. You should enter a phone number as you would dial it normally on the handset.
Example: "99315812579" to forward calls to (931) 581-2579
Menu
Accesses the settings menu.
More
Moves to the next page of items.
Voicemail
You can access your voicemail form the key with the letter on it in the bottom right. This displays a menu on the LCD where you can manage your voicemail inbox.
Initial setup and recording greetings
To record greetings, unavailable, and busy messages, dial *97 to reach the audio menu. The first time you access this will take you through an initial setup where you will,
- Set a new password for your mailbox
- Record your name
- Record busy and unavailable messages
Accessing voicemail from off campus
If you want to access your voicemail without physically being at your office phone, dial (757) 683-7830. This will bring you to a prompt to enter you extension number, and your mailbox password. From here you can play back messages as normal
NOTE: In order to do this you must do the initial setup of your mailbox on your office handset to set a mailbox password.