Meridian Mail - BT Network Equivilant

[Stevehewitt]

Hi Guys,

We're installing a Meridian system but Head office won't pay for the mail features. This isn't a major issue, but we need someway to tell inbound callers that there is nobody here. Don't necessarily need to be able to leave a message - we just want people to know that we are shut.

Anyone know if BT could set this up at network level? (We're using 0800 numbers mapped to DDI's which go into a basic ACD is it makes any difference)

Thanks in advance,


Steve.

 

[janaya]

So you don't have announcements in the Meridian Mail?

I guess if you wanted to get off cheap, the only way I think you can do it, at the PBX level, is to create a RAN recording and assign it to an ACD and create a phone and log the phone in and keep it in perpetual Not Ready so they hear a looped message.

we have a network IVR that ATT provides and we can change messages at the network level, so I couldn't see any reason BT doesn't offer the same service, but it's probably a package deal you have to buy.

John

 

[Stevehewitt]

Hey John,

Thanks for your reply.

Your right - no announcements. I think Head Office will let us have it after their financial end of year though.

Sounds like a good idea.

I did suggest something like having the night service go to a spare analogue port which will have a analogue answering machine - but the call centre manager didn't seem to pleased about that!

Thanks for your help,


Steve.

 

[muttsnuts]

Steve,

How far pregnant are you with BT? If you buy stuff later as an upgrade, strangely enough you can end up paying more. The answering machine solution won't work if you have more the one call arrive at once. The second caller will get busy tone. To do this properly without announcements from meridian mail/call pilot you ought to have a RAN route. I'm quite happy to chat off line about this if you want. I used to manage the switch in a call centre for one of the ferry companies in the UK so I have some impartial knowledge here. I doubt BT can offer you a network based announcement, however some other folks like THUS, Energis etc probably can with their non-geographic number platforms.

Regards

John

 

[johnpoole]

bt or any telco, can offer timed based switching.. you would just need their basic call answering voice mail on your main number...based on tod, dow... my home phone only goes to voice mail after 5 and on the weekends (i live in a sprint service area) but the same options are ava with most carriers.. i would use a miran card if i had access to one. either that or a ran device with multi ports... just use the nite answer option..

john poole
bellsouth business
columbia,sc