Mailbox Types - Penn Voice Services

ISC Networking and Telecommunications offers a wide variety of voice mailbox type options.

All PennNet Phone mailbox types allow you to record mailbox greetings and manage passwords. Additional features are available if you are using your phone to listen to and manage messages. All unanswered calls are automatically transferred to voice mail after the fourth ring.

Mailbox types can be changed at anytime by logging in to PPS to manage mailbox delivery methods. (PennKey required).

PennNet Phone Mailbox Type	Suggested Uses
Email Only - Callers incoming voice mail messages appear as audio attachments (. wav files) in an individual's email inbox. Individuals can listen to caller messages anywhere they have access to a web browser.	Redirect and forward voice messages to other email accounts Save voice mail offline Persons can listen instantly to the voice mails that they want as opposed to skipping through the ones they don't want Perfect for individuals who travel, especially internationally where a country may not support their mobile phone. Manage all communication via the desktop (calendar, voice mail, and email).
Email and Telephone - Callers messages can be accessed by telephone and in email.	Individuals do not mind managing messages in both places.
Telephone Only - Callers messages are retrieved by telephone only.	For persons who do not have voice mail accounts.
Telephone and Email Notification - Callers messages are accessed by telephone but individuals receive an email alert every time callers leave voice mail messages.	Great for persons who work primarily at their computers and need immediate notification of voice messages.

Listed below are the mailbox type offerings available with traditional service. If the Basic Voice Messaging Mailbox type does not provide enough functionality to meet your office's needs, you may be interested in one of our other mailbox types. Mailboxes can be set up to provide callers with menu options that will route them to designated campus extensions. Other mailboxes are available to send bulletin broadcast messages to a large group of voicemail users. ISC N&T can even provide a mailbox that allows callers to spell a name on their touch tone pad that will ring the correct extension of their party. If you would like assistance in choosing a mailbox that will best suit your group's needs, please contact our customer service team at 746-6000 or service-requests@isc.upenn.edu and ask to speak with one of our Voice Consultants.

To request new, modify existing, or delete voice mail service, use our online Voice Mail Request Forms.

Traditional Phone Mailbox Type	Suggested Uses
Basic Voice Messaging Mailbox	Most campus voicemail users take advantage of our basic voicemail type, our Voice Messaging mailbox. This mailbox type comes in three sizes and includes a set of features that allows each user to customize a mailbox to best serve their individual needs.
Callers Menu - Callers hear options on a menu and make a selection which will route them to a designated campus extension or other mailbox type.	Use of this mailbox type is often referred to as Enhanced Call Processing, accommodating multiple simultaneous access for your organization's main number. Offers callers choices (not busy signals), offloads routine calls by providing recorded information, is available around the clock, and can be used in conjunction with an 800 number.
Extension/Group - Perfect for groups of people who share a single phone extension but each individual would like their own personal mailbox. Callers dial the extension, select the numbered option for the person they are trying to reach, and leave a message.	Provide individual staff with their own voice mailbox without an additional phone line.
Listen Only - Callers can listen to recorded announcements and information; a great place for general or routine information to reside!	Alleviate staff response time to repetitive questions by offering prerecorded information. The University's MELT line is a listen only mailbox.
Listen and Reply - Callers can listen to recorded announcements and information and then leave a message in your mailbox.	Ideal for RSVP events
Voice Forms - Callers answer a custom designed verbal questionnaire. The responses are stored in a mailbox for retrieval at your convenience.	Perfect for requests for applications and catalogs. Can also be used to survey callers.
Group Distribution - Send broadcast announcements to a large group of mailbox owners quickly and easily.	Use to advise staff members of upcoming meetings, new policies, and other important organizational information. Forward received messages you want others to hear.
Directory - Callers use the keys on their phone touch pad to spell a name which then rings the extension of the desired party.
Dial-by-Name - Callers use keys on their phone touch pad to spell a name and their call is immediately routed to that person's mailbox to leave a message.
Transfer - Callers are automatically transferred to the University extension you specify.
Conditional Transfer - Callers are automatically transferred to the University extension that you specify at a particular time of the day.	Use to coordinate received calls between individuals sharing phone answering responsibilities. Calls transfer to person on day shift from 8AM-5PM and to the person on night shift from 5PM-2AM.
Virtual - Usually a voice mailbox is associated with a person's phone line. But what if you don't have a phone line and still want a voice mailbox? You can have this by requesting a virtual mailbox.	Often used in combination with a Caller's Menu or a Group Extension mailbox. For example, you may share a line with a colleague. When no one answers a call, it would transfer to a group extension mailbox with a recording that tells the caller to press 1 for you, and 2 for your colleague. Each of you would then have a virtual mailbox where the caller could leave a message. To retrieve your message, you would call the University's main voicemail number and then enter your mailbox number.