Setting Up a New Mailbox for the First Time

You must set up or initialize your voice mailbox before it will record messages from callers, or before you can use other voice mail features. At the same time, you should establish your personal greetings (what callers will hear when you are unable to answer your phone). This is a short process that typically takes less than 5 minutes and the prompts will guide you through the process.

Before You Start

• Have your password ready: Your password must be 6 to 15 digits. In addition to numbers 0 through 9, you can also use the star (* ) key to create a password. Create a password that you can remember and is hard for others to guess. Do not use numbers that can be easily guessed like your birthday or house address.
  
  
• Have your greeting ready: You have the option of recording messages that you want callers to hear when you are unable to answer your phone. Write a script and practice it so you can record your greeting without stumbles or long pauses. If you have a flexible schedule, consider changing your greeting so your information is always current and reflects your schedule.

Note: These instructions are for PennNet Phone only. If you do not record a personal greeting, callers will hear the generic system greeting: “Please leave your message after the tone. When done, hang up or press the pound key.”

Step One: Create Your Password

When initializing your voice mail account for the first time, you must create your password using PPS. Afterwards, you can change your password at anytime using either PPS or by calling into the voice mail service, see Voice Mail Tips, and click on the Feature Shortcuts tab.

1. Log in to PPS (PennKey authentication required). For information about this web service, see the PPS page.
2. At the Home page, click on “Features and Voice Mail” in the left navigation column.
3. At the Features and Voice Mail Settings page, type a new password in the Create New Password field.
4. Re-enter your password in the Confirm Password field.
5. Click the Submit button. PPS updates your account with the new password.
6. Click "Log Out" in the left navigation column to exit PPS.

Step Two: Record Your Greeting

1. Using your phone, press the Messages button to the right of the keypad to access voice mail. For instructions on how to access voice mail using a traditional phone or when off campus, see Voice Mail Tips, and click on the Accessing PennNet Phone tab.
2. At the prompt, enter your password.
3. Press 0 for mailbox options.
4. Follow the prompts to record your personal greeting.
5. Select the type of greeting you want to record. Record either an unavailable or name greeting. Do not do both:
   • Press 1 for unavailable (what callers will hear when you do not answer your phone).
   • Press 2 for busy (what callers will hear when you’re on the phone)
   • Press 3 for name (callers will hear the generic system greeting but your name will be in your voice).
6. Wait to hear the system prompt, record your greeting, then press # when you’re done.
7. Choose the status for the recording:
   • Press 1 to accept this recording
   • Press 2 to listen to it
   • Press 3 to re-record it
8. When finished, press * to return to main menu or * # to exit.