How to Use Zone 1 Calling Features

Caller ID Block, per Call—this is a built-in function which must be activated for each call when you wish to block transmission of your Caller ID (number/name) info. Do this:

• at the dialtone, Press *67,
• dial the number you're calling.

When you hang up, the block ends and you must again dial *67 to activate the block on your next call. There is no setup fee, Order Fee, or monthly charge associated with this feature.

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Caller ID Block, per Line—prevents transmission of Caller ID info for all calls made from the line on which you have requested this feature. This is something we need to set up for you at our switch, you can not do it yourself with a code. This feature is available at no charge to those who have a heightened security risk and to those with Unpublished Numbers. We have a request form to get this setup.

To cancel the block on a per-call basis, press *82 prior to dialing the desired number. When you hang up, the block will return for subsequent calls.

To verify that line-blocking has been activated, dial (877) 532-4056, during normal business hours and we will verify that the block is in effect. There is no setup fee, Order Fee, or monthly charge associated with this feature.

NOTE: Blocking does not prevent transmission of your Caller ID info when calls are made to toll-free numbers (800, 877, 888, etc) or to 911 emergency numbers. This is because the FCC has determined that, in part because they pay for the call charges, recipients of toll-free calls have the right to the ID information. E-911 calls receive the ID information so that they can render aid to the correct location.

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Anonymous Call Block—(Included with Caller ID and Caller ID on Call Waiting, and available as a stand alone feature.) This option has some notable caveats, so please understand what it will and will not do before ordering or activating.

• To activate: press *77
• To deactivate: press *87

Anonymous Call Block allows you to reject calls from those who have enabled Caller ID block to prevent the display of their name and/or number on your ID display unit (you see “Private Caller”). Such callers are redirected to a message telling them you are not accepting ID-blocked calls and that they need to remove the block and call back if they wish to each you.

Note: This means that some cellular calls and calls from business's PBX phone systems may not get through to you. Callers on those systems may not be able to remove the ID block in order to have their call ring through.

This feature will not screen out most telemarketers’ calls, nor any other calls where the caller’s telco does not transmit ID info or the info is not available (these display as “Unavailable,” or “Unknown Caller,” or similar). Again, it works only on calls where the caller has enabled their own Caller ID block (“Private Caller”).

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Account Codes—Use Account Codes to track phone calls/charges for departments, business vs non-business, family members, etc.. Calls will be broken out by code on your bill. Our switch offers 2 built-in code “Profiles” (Profile 1 consists of 2-digit codes, 10 - 99; Profile 2, of 3-digit codes, 100 - 999) which are available at no charge, but you must request that the service be enabled. Our system uses “Verified” codes meaning that you must use the codes in order to use the enabled line to make your toll calls.
Once the feature is set up:

• You may create & assign as many 2- or 3-digit codes (depending on which Profile you select) as suits your needs—by project, department, person, etc...
• After dialing the LD number—at the tone, enter the code.

You might wish to pre-program phones with specific codes, or program into your phone’s auto-dial button(s). Or, the code is dialed manually, at the tone, after dialing the desired phone number.

If you wish to “import” your current codes rather than change to either of the Profiles generated by our switch, you have 2 options:

• a $25 fee to set up the custom codes, and each time we make a change or an addition
• a flat $8 monthly with with nob additional charges for changes.

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Call Trace—If you wish to trace a call:

• hang up on the caller to get dialtone,
• immediately Press *57. A recording will prompt you with instructions to Press 1 to make the trace, or to hang up if you do not wish to trace.

On completion of the trace attempt, you will then get a message that the "trace has been successful/unsuccessful." The number you traced will be recorded at the phone company, and if you decide to follow up on the matter, we will provide the information to the local authorities for you. Trace must be done as soon as you hang up on the call you wish to trace. If a call comes in or you hear a Call Waiting tone before initiating the trace, you’ll trace the wrong number.

Notes: This feature is available on-demand at all times. There is a per-use charge and a processing fee to prepare a report for authorities. If you wish to pursue action against callers you trace, we must receive the request from your law enforcement agency. We will remit the info to them on your behalf.

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Call Waiting—allows you to receive calls when you’re already on the phone, and toggle between the two, by using the ‘flash’ key or the receiver’s switch-hook.

• Press flash to put current caller on hold and answer incoming call.
• Press flash to toggle back to the previous caller.
• To disable on a per-call basis, press *70

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Caller-ID (Name & Number)—Requires a Caller-ID display or phone equipped for such a display—displays name and number of the caller. Caller can block the information; your display must be capable of displaying both or you will see only the number. This feature includes “Anonymous Call Block,” deactivated by default. To activate, see instructions and caveats for “Anonymous Call Block” above.

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Caller-ID on Call Waiting—Requires a suitably equipped Caller-ID box or display phone—when you have an incoming call while you’re on the phone, you will hear the usual Call Waiting tone and the Caller ID info of the second caller will display on your Caller ID display unit. Use the flash or switch-hook to toggle between callers if you wish to speak with both, as in regular Call Waiting. This feature includes “Anonymous Call Block,” deactivated by default. To activate, see instructions and caveats for “Anonymous Call Block” above.
        • Disable with *70, just like Call Waiting.

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Call Return (*69)—permits you to automatically call the last person who called you. Available on a per-use basis with a monthly cap, or for a flat per-month fee.

• Listen for a dialtone,
• Press *69; you’ll hear a message giving you the time, date, and number of the last call;
• Press 1 to dial the number, or hang up if you do not wish to return the call.
• Press *89 to cancel before the call connects

If the call attempt reaches a busy line, hang up and your phone will continue to try the number for up to 30 minutes. When a connection is made you'll be alerted by a special ring, just pick up the receiver. Call Return may not work on some 800 numbers, or on lines where certain Calling Features (e.g.: Call Forwarding, Caller-ID blocking) have been activated, and calls will not be returned for Out-of-State calls.

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Home Intercom —Use your phone system as a household intercom.

• Dial your own number and hang up.
• Wait for 2 short rings,
• you and the person at the extension pickup.

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Repeat Dial (*66)—Repeatedly attempts to call a number (in-State only) for you—rings your phone when the line is clear. When you make a call and hear a busy signal, Press and release the switch-hook or flash button, listen for a tone. The phone will continue to check the number for up to 30 minutes, and alert you with a special ring if the line frees up and the connection is made. Available on a per-use basis with a monthly cap, or for a flat per-month fee.
         • To use: Press *66.

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Variable Call Forwarding (*72)—By entering a code and destination phone number via your phone’s keypad, you can forward your incoming calls to another number.

• Listen for a dialtone, press *72,
• Dial the number you wish calls to be forwarded to.
  If there is someone there to answer the phone, and they pick up, forwarding will be established.

What if no one is there to pickup?

• Hang up. Immediately repeat the process.
• After you enter the forward-to number, you should hear a confirming tone, or 3 short tones. This indicates forwarding is established.

In either case, it's a good idea to make a test call to be sure the forwarding is in place.

To remove forwarding, listen for a dialtone and press *73—a confirming tone will indicate forwarding is removed.
Note: Local Measured rates or toll rates will apply to forwarded calls depending on where they are pointed.

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Extreme Call Forwarding —Just like Variable Call Forward, but this Call Feature also includes a remote access function so you can activate or disable from a remote location. We have several access numbers available in exchanges around the State; if there is none local to where you are calling from, pick one and dial 1-802 prior to dialing the access number itself. You will be assigned a PIN (Personal Identification Number) which must be used when controlling the activation/deactivation remotely. At home, use of the PIN is not necessary. Note: the assigned PIN is not changeable.

To activate locally, from the phone on which this feature has been enabled, and forward your incoming calls to another number:

• Listen for a dialtone, press *72,
• Dial the number you wish calls to be forwarded to.
  If there is someone there to answer the phone, and they pick up, forwarding will be established.

If no one is there to pickup:

• Hang up.
• Immediately repeat the process.
• Listen for a confirming tone, or 3 short tones. This indicates forwarding is established.

In either case, it's a good idea to make a test call to be sure the forwarding is in place.

To remove forwarding, listen for a dialtone and press *73—a confirming tone will indicate forwarding is removed.

To access the system from a remote location in order to activate, change, or deactivate call forwarding:

• Dial the local SoVerNet Extreme Forward access number (xxx-4444), or pick one from the list if none is in your local area, preceding it with 1-802.
  • A recording should prompt you to:
    • enter your directory number (ie: your 7-digit SoVerNet phone number)
    • and PIN (as supplied in your Welcome).
• Listen closely for the 3 short confirmation beeps, followed by a dialtone
• At the dialtone, enter *72
  • listen carefully for the 3 very short confirmation beeps
  • enter the complete phone number calls are to be forwarded to.
    7 digits if local to your home phone;
    11 digits (1+area code+number) if long distance from your home phone
• Listen for 3 very quick confirmation beeps, hang up

To confirm:

• Dial a local Extreme Forward number
  • enter your 7-digit phone and PIN numbers
  • after the confirmation tone & dialtone, enter *72

  A recording should tell you that forwarding is in place.

To remove:

• Dial a local Extreme Forward number
  • enter your 7-digit phone and PIN numbers
  • after the confirmation tone & dialtone, enter *73
  • listen for 3 very quick confirmation beeps, hang up

Note: Local Measured rates or toll rates will apply to forwarded calls depending on where they are pointed.

Extreme Call Forwarding Access Numbers
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Call Forwarding on Busy (*90)—allows you to send incoming calls to another number when your line is busy. Follow the regular Call Forward procedure, but

• *90 to activate
• *91 to deactivate

To change the number of rings before an incoming call is forwarded:

• *94
• listen for 3 fluttering tones
• enter number of rings (0-9) desired
  (only a single digit will work—12 will set 1 ring, not 12 rings— 0 means the call is sent on immediately, you'll hear nothing.)
• listen for 2 flutter tones, a pause, and the dialtone return
• the change is set

Note: Local Measured rates or toll rates will apply to forwarded calls depending on where they are pointed.

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Call Forwarding on No Answer (*92)—allows you to send incoming calls to another number when your line is unanswered. Follow the regular Call Forward procedure, but:

• *92 to activate
• *93 to deactivate

Note: Local Measured rates or toll rates will apply to forwarded calls depending on where they are pointed.

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Do Not Disturb —Activate and deactivate as you wish. Callers will hear a message saying you cannot be disturbed and to call back later. You can create a PIN code and give it to persons you are always ready to take calls from and they can override the feature by entering the code during the message.

• *78 to activate
• *79 to deactivate

To create or change the PIN override code:

• *56
• listen for 3 fluttering tones
• enter up to 4 digits
• listen for flutter tones and return of dialtone—code has been created

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Select-Call Reject—Define a list of up to 20 phone numbers you do not wish to receive calls from. Calls on the list will hear a message that you will not take the call and the line will hang up.

• *60
• 3 to toggle on and off
• 0 to repeat instructions

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Select-Call Forward—Define a list of up to 20 phone numbers to be forwarded to a specially designated number. Calls not on the list are handled normally (answered, sent to voicemail, forwarded elsewhere, etc)

• *63 to access
• 3 to toggle on and off
• 0 to repeat instructions

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Select-Call Forward/Reject— This residential product combines the selective call reject and forwarding features. The menus for the 2 features are basically the same, just the feature access code differs (*60 to Reject/*63 to Forward). The select forward feature allows a select list of numbers to be forwarded to a specified number. Callers not on the list will be handled in the normal fashion (answered, forwarded to other number, sent to voicemail). Callers on the selective rejection list will hear a message that you are not accepting calls and the line will hang up.

To Forward a select list of up to 20 numbers:

• *63
• The 3 to toggle on and off
• 0 to hear instructions

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Speed Calling 8—Stores up to 8 numbers for dialing using 1-digit codes. Accepts 7-digit local calls to 19-digit International calls, depending on how the number starts ("1" allows 11 digits; "011" allows 19; starting with any other number allows 7 digits to be stored); dialing sequences cannot be chained (eg: cannot use one code to dial a number and another to work through a menu system).

• *74
• enter 1 code digit (2 through 9)
• enter the phone number to be stored
• listen for 2 flutter tones, a pause and the dialtone return
• The number is stored.

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Speed Calling 30—Stores up to 30 numbers for dialing using 2-digit codes. Accepts 7-digit local calls to 19-digit International calls, depending on how the number starts ("1" allows 11 digits; "011" allows 19; starting with any other number allows 7 digits to be stored); dialing sequences cannot be chained (eg: cannot use one code to dial a number and another to work through a menu system).

• *75
• enter 2-digit code (20 through 49)
• enter the phone number to be stored
• listen for 2 flutter tones, a pause and the dialtone return
• The number is stored.

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Three-Way Calling—allows you to conference two people onto a call with you, using just one line.

• Press and release the flash button or switch-hook to place the first caller on hold.
• When you hear the dialtone, call the third party.
• When the third person answers and you’re ready to pick up the first caller again, press & release the flash button or switch-hook.

All three of you should now be connected. If the third party did not answer, or you wish to disconnect them, press the switch-hook again—just you and the first caller will remain. If either of the other two parties hangs up, the connection between you and the remaining person will continue. If you hang up, all parties are disconnected.

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Three-Way Calling, with Call Transfer—works just like Three-Way Calling, but allows you to drop out, leaving the other two callers connected. Usage charges may be incurred by the originator of the call(s).

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Six-Way Call Conferencing—Allows you to conference in up to 5 other people (6 people total).

• Press *41 to initiate the conference feature. Then dial the first number
• When the call is answered, press flash to return to the dialtone, putting call 1 on hold
• Dial call 2; when the call is answered, press flash to bring the three of you together, then flash again to put calls 1 & 2 on hold and get the dialtone
• Dial the third call; press flash to bring all 4 together, and flash to put the 3 on hold and bring up the dialtone
• Continue in this manner, using the flash twice between each person you add,
• and once after the last person called, to bring everyone together.

While you are dialing the successive participants, those already on hold can converse with each other while waiting. Any party may drop out (other than you), leaving the remaining participants connected. If you hang up, the callers are all disconnected.

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Priority Ring—This feature allows you to create a list of 20 phone numbers that will trigger a distinctive ring to alert you to “priority”callers. If you also have Call Waiting on the incoming line, and are using the phone when a Priority Ring call comes in, you'll hear a distinctive Call Waiting tone. Note that activation of Priority Ring does not automatically include Call Waiting. Pressing *61 accesses the settings menu and indicates whether the feature is ON or OFF.

Settings menu:

• Press *61 to access
• Press 1 to listen to current list of priority numbers
• Press 3 to toggle the feature On or Off
• Press # to add a number to the list

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Distinctive Ring/Multi-number—This feature allows you to add 1 or 2 additional numbers to the primary number's line. This is often an excellent alternative to running additional lines. With distinctive ring patterns for each number, you can easily distinguish the type of call or for whom it is intended. If Call Waiting is enabled, each number has its own distinctive CW tone. Obviously, when one number is in use, the line is not available for use by the other numbers.

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Toll Restriction—these blocks prevent the use of your phone for the specific types of calls indicated. Use of a PIN to override the restriction on a per-call basis is available when both In- and Inter-State Restrictions are ordered. By default, calls to 900, 500, 700, and 10-10-xxxx numbers are restricted, with no override available.

• In-State—blocks the making "local" (instate LD) toll calls
• Inter-State— out-of-state LD calls are blocked
• Combined In- and Inter-State—all toll calls restricted, in- and out-of-State.
• 3rd Party-billed, Collect, etc—prevents calls being billed to you by third-parties, or acceptance of collect calls (no PIN Override)

To use the PIN override, where available, to temporarily suspend the toll restriction, you must first change the PIN's default number (1234) to one of your choosing:

1. Press *12 (the PIN change code)
2. Wait for dialtone
3. Dial the default PIN (1234), press "#" (ie: 1234#)
4. Wait for dialtone
5. Dial the new PIN (1 to 7 digits)
   If using fewer than 7, you'll need to press the # key whenever you use the PIN
6. Wait for confirmation tone, then hang up

To override Toll Restriction Control

1. Press *13
2. Wait for dialtone
3. Dial your PIN (press “#” if PIN is fewer than 7 digits)
4. Wait for dialtone
5. Dial the destination number

When you hang up, the Restriction returns.

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Voicemail
All VMX accounts are set up with a default password which must be changed to something private to you. If you lose or forget your password, we can reset it to the default so you can start over.

Quick set up  |  Quick Home-Retrieve  |  Quick Remote-Retrieve
Full setup & use details

Voicemail will store up to 30, 2-minute messages (40 for businesses) for 30 days. After 30 days, mail is deleted on a “first in/first out” basis, so your older messages will be deleted first, as new ones arrive. Your greeting may also be up to 2 minutes long. We offer a One-box or a Multi-box system*.

The Multi-box has up to 4 mailboxes on a line, each with separate greeting and message capacity (just like the One-box). Multi-box may be ordered with 2, 3 or 4 boxes enabled. Note that any box enabled but not personalized will retain its default greeting and will be “live.” This means that a caller could leave a message which you may overlook if you fail to check the box. Also, any caller failing to make a box selection will be auto-routed to box 1, so you might consider making box 1 the catch-all box for your system. A box or boxes may be added or removed at any time. However, each separate request entails an Order Fee charge at the time of ordering.

*Note: To add VoiceMail to your Distinctive Ring/M-n line, these are your options:

• Get a One-box System for only the primary number
• Get a One-box System and have all numbers use a common voicemail box
• Get a Multi-box System and assign a box to each number

A separate One-box System is not available for each number, nor can VoiceMail be added to only a secondary number

We have specific local exchange numbers set up throughout our voice-service area, allowing you to access your voicemail from numerous areas in Vermont without incurring long-distance charges. The voicemail access numbers all end with “-6245,” (“xxx-MAIL”) and have exchanges that should provide a local call. If you need to check your messages from an area or phone that does not recognize the call as local, or does not have a local retrieval number, use your home ‘xxx-MAIL’ number preceded by “1 (802)” (which will incur long-distance charges), or use a prepaid calling card.

Voicemail Retrieval Numbers  |   top

(click here for Zone 2 Features)

On This page

Caller ID Block, per Call (outbound)
Caller ID Block, per Line (outbound)
Anonymous Call Block (incoming)
Account Codes
Call Trace
Call Waiting
Caller-ID
Caller-ID on Call Waiting
Call Return
Variable Call Forwarding
Call Forward/on Busy
Call Forward/No Answer
Extreme Forwarding
Remote Forwarding (business)
Select-Call Forward (business)
Select-Call Reject (business)
Select-Call Forward/Reject (residential)
Distinctive Ring
Do Not Disturb (residential)
Home Intercom (residential)
3-Way Calling
3-Way Calling, w/Transfer
6-Way Call Conferencing (business)
Line Bridging (business)
Priority Ring
Off-Premises Extension (business)
Repeat Dial
Speed Calling 8
Speed Calling 30
Toll Restrictions
Dir. Assist/Operator Call Block (outbound)
Voicemail