Accessing your messages using a phone

On recent handset models, there will be a visible “message waiting” indicator. This may take the form of a red light on the handset, or an icon (or the letters “MW”) on the LCD screen.

On some older handsets the dial tone will change from the normal continuous purr to an interrupted or pulsing tone.

How do I listen to my messages?

From your own extension, dial 517000. The voicemail system will recognise your extension number, and will prompt you to enter your four-digit security code.

From another University extension which does not have its own voice mailbox, dial 517000. As soon as you hear the greeting “This is the University of Edinburgh voicemail service”, enter 9 followed by your own six-digit extension number (e.g. 9 501234). You will then be prompted for your security code.

From another University extension which does have its own voice mailbox, dial 517000, but do nothing until you hear “Sorry, the security code you entered is not correct”. You will then hear “This is the University of Edinburgh voicemail service”. Enter your own six-digit extension number (e.g. 9 501234). You will then be prompted for your security code.

From a touch-tone phone which is not a University extension, dial (0131) 651 7000. As soon as you hear the greeting “This is the University of Edinburgh voicemail service”, enter 9 followed by your own six-digit extension number (e.g. 9 501234). You will then be prompted for your security code.

Once you are connected to your voice mailbox, follow the prompts and use your keypad to control the mailbox. In general, enter 1 for “yes” and 2 for “no”.

During message playback, you can use a number of “hot keys”:

How do messages get deleted?

Messages are automatically deleted as follows:

• If you do not listen to a new message, it will automatically be deleted after 999 days.
• If you listen to a message but do not archive it, it is automatically deleted after seven days.
• Archived messages are held for 28 days, then automatically deleted.