Universal Number for All

Glossary of Terms

A B C D E F G H I J K L M
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

ACD: Automatic Call Distribution. To reduce the increasing pressure to maximize operational efficiency, reduce costs and improve customer satisfaction, while operating an inbound call center, UniversalNumber can help you optimize your call center operation through automation. With no equipment to purchase or lease, Universal Number provides premium service while increasing agent productivity and reducing costs. Please contact Steve at 800-377-6931 to discuss how Universal Number Services can save you time, effort and money.
Add Retention Time: Messages are held for so many days depending upon the type of service you have. You may increase the number of days messages are held for $1.00 for each additional day.
Add Time to Greeting: All boxes come with a standard greeting length. Any greeting length can be extended in 30 second increments. Each increment is $2.00.
Add Time to Message: All boxes come with a standard message length. All message lengths can be extended in 30 second increments. Each increment is $3.00
Announced Call Transfer: ($5.00 per month) As an added feature for the Call Transfer service, you can have call transfers announced. The person calling is asked their name and then put on hold while you are found at your transfer number. You are then played their name and requested to press 1 to accept the call. If you do not press 1 the caller is directed to your voice mail where they may leave a message.
Automatically play next message: Rather than pressing 1 to listen to your next message every time, you can automatically hear the next one.
Automatic Transfer: If set to N on your profile, then in your greeting you must say "please press 0 to be transfered to me live". If set to X then caller is immediately transfered live to you.

Basic Voice Mail Box: ($7.95 per month) Comes with one phone number in the area of your choice, which works just like a regular phone number at your home or business. When the U# telephone number is called a personalized greeting is played, followed by a beep, after which the caller can leave a message. Your greeting can be up to 30 seconds in length. The message left can be up to 60 seconds in length. The message is stored on the computer for 4 days from the time it was received. After the caller leaves a message, the computer will page one of the following: a pager, a cell phone or any other phone to either alert you to or deliver the message that was left. (Additional charges may apply )
Basic Plus Voice Mail Box: ($10.00 per month) Comes with one phone number in the area of your choice, which works just like a regular phone number at your home or business. When the U# telephone number is called a personalized greeting is played, followed by a beep, after which the caller can leave a message. Your greeting can be up to 60 seconds in length. The message left can be up to 60 seconds in length. The message is stored on the computer for 7 days from the time it was received. After the caller leaves a message, the computer will page one of the following: a pager, a cell phone or any other phone to either alert you to or deliver the message that was left. (Additional charges may apply )
Business Premium Voice Mail Box: ($25.00 per month) Comes with one phone number in the area of your choice, which works just like a regular phone number at your home or business. When the U# telephone number is called a personalized greeting is played, followed by a beep, after which the caller can leave a message. Your greeting can be up to 5 minutes in length. The message left can be up to 5 minutes in length. The message is stored on the computer until you remove it. After the caller leaves a message, the computer will page one of the following: a pager, a cell phone or any other phone to either alert you to or deliver the message that was left.* (Additional charges may apply )

*The possibilty exists that you may incur additional charges for services that you use as a business customer. The service comes with 10 minutes of voice storage which is both greetings and messages. If in the billing cycle you go over the alloted 10 minutes then the account will be charged $1 for each additional minute used over the 10 minute allocation.

Caller ID: ($2.00 per month) When listening to a message you may press "0" to get the date, time and Caller ID ( the phone number they are calling from ) of the person that left you the message. If you have transfer service enabled you may also press "4" to be connected live to that person based on their Caller ID. You may also select "Save / Display Caller ID in File" from the Log In page. This will save and timestamp every call made to your Universal Number Service in a file on disk that may be retrieved at any time ( also from the Log In page). This service is $5.00 per month.

Call Management: Universal Number offers a wide variety of additional Scripting and IVR features which allow you to better manage your incoming calls. From Auto Attendant to a Dial by Name Directory you can add multiple features to your U#. We also offer features that will let your customers press "0" for an Operator, listen to an On Hold Script and Transfer Live to any number you choose.

Call Transfer Rings: How many times the Universal Number Service will ring the phone the caller is being transfered to live. After this amount of rings the caller will be directed back to your voice mail on the Universal Number Service.
Call Transfer Service: Live Call Transfer is an extremely useful feature of the Universal Number system. You can program any U# to transfer calls, either by having the caller press zero, or directly transferring as soon as the call is answered. Both methods can be turned on and off whenever you like. Call Transfers are 5 cents per minute. To use the Call Transfer feature you must request the service be turned on by logging in via the Log In link in the navigation bar and selecting the "Outbound dialing is allowed".

In addition, as another option when you log into your account through the Log In link on the navigation bar, there are four fields on the information page where you can program, (if you'd like) more than one transfer number. Home, Office, Cell and Other can all be programmed with any ten digit number that you can select from at any time.

The Call Transfer Feature also works while you are speaking to someone who has been transferred to you live. While you have them on the line, you can hit the # key and follow the directions which will allow you to transfer them back to your voice mail box, to a pre-programmed number, or one you enter while still on the phone. You must turn on "Transfer with Conference Capabilities" which is also on the Log In page.

Customized Message Information: Each time a message is played, the message envelope is also played. This message envelope can be customized to your liking on your profile. You can choose to hear only the date or just the time. These features can be customized via the Log In link on the navigation bar.

Dial by Name Service: Also known as a Company directory. When the Universal Number voice mail is called, the caller may select an extension by first or last name by dialing a few letters of the name using the telephone key pad. Please Contact Us for more information on this service. There is a one time charge of $15 to get this service established.
Display Caller ID on Pager: When your pager is notified that you have a message, calling person's telephone number is displayed on your pager. There is no charge for this service. To activate you must Log In and turn it on.

E-Mail Address for Messages: This is the e-mail address where your voice messages will be forwarded as .wav files
E-Mail Address for Paging: This is the e-mail pager address where your message notification will be forwarded.
E-Mail Messages: ($5.00 per month) This service allows you to have your voice messages converted into .wav files and e-mailed to your computer. Selecting this option will automatically load the e-mail address you are using for receipt of your bill. This service is bundled with the E-Mail Paging service as part of the Internet Services package.
E-Mail Paging: ($5.00 per month) Rather than conventional paging, which dials your pager and inputs your voice mail number, you can choose to send your pager e-mail notification of voice messages. This service is bundled with the E-Mail Messaging service as part of the $5.00 per month Internet Services package. Both are unlimted services.
E-Mail Services: ($1.99 per month) By selecting the E-Mail Services feature when signing up for your voice mail service you get your own E-Mail account, which is your U# coupled with '@universalnumber.com'. You can access your E-Mail account by clicking the E-Mail Services link on the navigation bar and retrieve your E-Mails, voice messages and faxes.
Expert Mode: This feature, available on your profile, is designed for those well acquainted with the Universal Number menu system. It plays abbreviated versions of the menus, rather than listening to all the options with complete descriptions.

Fax Notification: This is the number that will be called to alert you that a fax has been put in your Email. This works only if you use the Fax Service or Fax Technologies described below.
Fax Number: This is the number where your incoming faxes will be forwarded.
Fax Technologies: ($3.99 per month) Universal Number offers a fax feature which will allow you to receive faxes on the same phone number as your voice mail. When a fax tone is detected the call is sent directly to our fax server. The fax is converted to a PDF file format and E-Mailed to you. Charges for this service are 10 cents per fax with a maximum of 100 pages per billing cycle. After the 100 pages in a billing cycle it is 10 cents for the first page and 5 cents for each additional page.

Greeting: The Greeting is the recorded message that is played when a caller first dials the voice mail box. Greetings are limited to a specific amount of time, which varies per box purchased. All boxes come with Greetings.

Hold On Transfer: ($2.00 per month) Rather than simply transfer the caller to you, callers will hear a hold message while they wait to be connected to you and/or returned to your voice mail box when you are not available.

Interactive Voice Response: (IVR) is a part of the Universal Number software that accepts touch-tone keypad selection and provides appropriate responses in the form of digitally recorded voice. IVR is usually part of a larger application that includes database access.

Instant Call Back: If you have transfer service enabled you may also press "4" to be connected live to the person that called you based on their Caller ID. This would be considered an outbound dial. Most callers, when they leave a message, also imprint their Caller ID in the Universal Number message.

Leave me alone: This is the Internet method of activating Toggle Off, rather than doing it manually through the Menus, which will suspend notification of messages until you Toggle On and resume normal operation.

Memo: The Memo feature allows you deliver a message to another U# and add an introductory message or Memo.
Message Capability: This denotes either the number of messages that may be left in a voice mail box or the total amount of time available. Time available reduces each time a message is left. For example, if you have 5 minutes of voice space in your box and someone leaves a 30 second message, you then have 4 minutes and 30 seconds of message space remaining. As messages are deleted, the time available is increased accordingly. The Limited Services have an almost unlimited number of messages that they can hold.

Message Notification: Once a message is left in the Universal Number service a multitude of ways are available for you to be notified: Pager , WhereAmI, Email, Email Page, Multiple WhereAmI (Additional charges may apply )

Message Retention: Message Retention is the amount of time a voice message remains in a voice mail box before being automatically removed by the system. The retention time frame is determined by the type of box you purchase and begins on the day the message is created.
Multiple Call Transfer Numbers: Universal Number allows you to program up to FIVE Call Transfer Numbers and then live transfer to them in the order selected. There is an additional $2 per month fee for this service.
Multiple Greetings: The Universal Number comes with a single active Greeting. This Greeting is refered to as Greeting Number 1. The U# system allows up to 9,999 unique greetings. The Business Basic and the Talking Signs come with Multiple Greetings. All other Universal Numbers must turn this option on using the Log In function and turn on the Multiple Greetings option.
Multiple WhereAmI Numbers: When you activate the WhereAmI feature the Universal Number system will dial up to 5 different numbers that you program.

Number Blocking: Universal Number can prevent any telephone number that sends Caller ID to be blocked from hearing your greeting or leaving you a message. There is no additional fee for this service. Please Contact Us for more information on this service.

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On-line Payment: Universal Number provides an easy, secure method of on-line bill payment using Verisign. In order to pay your bill on-line you must first pull up your on-line bill. To do this, simply click the Billing link in the Navigation Bar. This will take you to the Billing Page. Next you need to view your current bill. Once you have perused the bill, click the Pay by Card link and follow the directions.

We use VERISIGN for your added security
when taking payments over the internet.

Outbound Dialing is Allowed: Allows Call Transfer to work. This feature is 5 cents a minute.

Pager & WhereAmI Enabled: Allows Pages and WhereAmIs to occur. The fee is 5 cents per minute.
Paging Service: Each voice mail box on the Universal Number system is capable of pager notification. The fee is 5 cents per minute for the service.
Play date and time automatically - The system automatically will play the date and time a message was received at the beginning of each new message.
Play how old is message NOT date or time - Plays the age of the message at the beginning of new messages, not the date or time it was received.
Play time only - At the beginning of each message the system will play only the time the new message was received.
Premium Voice Mail Box: ($15.00 per month) Comes with one phone number in the area of your choice, which works just like a regular phone number at your home or business. When the U# telephone number is called a personalized greeting is played, followed by a beep, after which the caller can leave a message. Your greeting can be up to 60 seconds in length. The message left can be up to 120 seconds in length. The message is stored on the computer for 14 days from the time it was received. After the caller leaves a message, the computer will page one of the following: a pager, a cell phone or any other phone to either alert you to or deliver the message that was left. (Additional charges may apply )
Premium Plus Voice Mail Box: ($20.00 per month) Comes with one phone number in the area of your choice, which works just like a regular phone number at your home or business. When the U# telephone number is called a personalized greeting is played, followed by a beep, after which the caller can leave a message. Your greeting can be up to 120 seconds in length. The message left can be up to 180 seconds in length. The message is stored on the computer for 28 days from the time it was received. After the caller leaves a message, the computer will page one of the following: a pager, a cell phone or any other phone to either alert you to or deliver the message that was left. (Additional charges may apply )

Quick Announce Transfer - As an added feature for the Call Transfer service. The person calling is put on hold while you are found at your transfer number. You are then requested to press 1 to accept the call. If you do not press 1 the caller is directed to your voice mail and they may leave a message.

Remove Messages with one key press - Instead of being prompted to press 3 twice to remove the message, changing this option allows you to press 3 once to have the message removed.
Retention: Retention is the amount of time a voice message remains in a voice mail box before being automatically removed by the system. The time frame for retention is determined by the type of box you purchase and begins on the day the message is created.
Rings Before Answering: Universal Number allows you to select the number of rings your voice mail box allows before answering and taking a message or transfering the call. Click here for Toll saver Info

Save Caller ID in data File: ($5.00 per month) This service saves all incomming caller IDs in a text file that you can access via the Internet using LogIn. The Text file contains the date, time and the caller IDs of all calls made to the Universal Number. You must turn on theSave/Display Caller ID in File option for the "Display CallerID List" to work.
Scripting: ($3.00 per month) This service takes multiple boxes and links them together in an array of patterns. The many uses of this programming feature include: Menu Options, On Hold Messages and Dial by Name Directories. Click Here for more on Scripting.
Security Code: If you have information that you want only to be heard by certain people, using the Scripting Service in conjunction with the Security Code, you can prevent unauthorized access to that information. To turn on this service please Contact Us.

Setup Fee: NONE. There is no setup fee on Universal Number voice mail.

Simultaneous Callers: All Basic Boxes come with 2 simultaneous call paths. Business Boxes come with 5. This describes the number of people who can call in or out of your voice mail box at the same time. For instance, a standard Call Transfer takes up two paths: one for the inbound call to the voice mail box and one for the outbound call transfer to you. You may select the number of simultaneous calls you can receive at $3.00 per call over the default

Talking Signs Voice Mail Box: ($50.00 per month) This service is used by Realtors and other business that put signs up. Signs are placed on or in front of houses/apartments/condos with a Universal Number and four digit code. When the person calls the U# they are prompted to enter the four digit code and then information is played to them about the item for sale/rent. Up to 9,999 unique messages are available per U#. At the end of the message the caller can then be transfered live.

*The possibilty exists that you may incur additional charges for services that you use as a talking signs customer. The service comes with 15 minutes of voice storage which is both greetings and messages. If, in the billing cycle, you go over the alloted 15 minutes then the account will be charged $1 for each additional minute used over the 15 minute allocation.

Timed Greetings: Activated when you select Multiple Greetings. Timed Greetings play Greeting #1 from 8am till 12pm (noon), Greeting #2 from 12pm (noon) till 5pm) and Greeting #3 from 5pm till 8am. It costs an extra $2 per month to activate Multiple Greetings. Timed Greetings will only work if Multiple Greetings is activated.

Toggle On and Off: This feature allows you to turn on and off message notification and call transfer whenever you wish for periods of do-not-disturb quiet.
Toll Saver: This feature allows you to save money on calls when you check your voice mail box. Immediately when you call in, if you do not have any messages that are current the phone will ring twice before answering with your greeting. If there are messages in your U#, the system will answer immediately. When you hang up before the phone answers you will not be charged by the phone company or your long distance provider for the call.
Transfer Days and Times: Clicking here takes you to the transfer page where you can select specific days and times for transfers to occur.
Transfer Number - This is the number your Call Transfer feature will forward your callers to live. Universal Number service supports up to FIVE live transfer numbers. You must turn on the "Multiple Transfer Numbers Allowed" option to use more than one transfer number. The charge for multiple transfer numbers is $2 extra per month.
Transfer with Conference Capabilities: ($3.00 per month) When a call is transfered to you live and this feature is active, you may press the # key and a menu is played that will allow you to transfer the caller to any number you want. ( from your cell phone and to your office phone).

U#: Your single number for all the electronic devices in your life. Use your U# as your single point of contact phone number. You can have your U# take messages, transfer a caller live to you at any programmed number and even change that transfer number whenever you like. Best of all you can use your U# as your e-mail address by adding '@universalnumber.com' to the end of your phone number.

Voice Mail to E-Mail: ($5.00 per month) Universal Number offers this exciting service, as part of the Internet Services package, which converts your regular voice messages received via your U# into .wav files that can be e-mailed to your computer.

Wake Up Service: ($5.00 per month) Universal Number offers a Wake-up service that will call the phone number of your choice, at the pre-determined time you select. You can program it for daily or weekly calls.
Web Administration: First go to www.UniversalNumber.com and select LOGIN. On the Login page you can manage your voice messages, display your current and past bills, view your account statistics and modify your voice/fax/email configuration information and use. There are no additional fees for using the web administration service. Depending upon the options that you modify on the login page you may incur additional fees. The fees are all explained on the login and glossary pages.
WhereAmI: The WhereAmI service dials any phone number you program, at specified intervals, until you answer and retrieve your messages at the prompt. All Universal Number's are capable of using this service. The fee is 5 cents per minute. Please see Pager & WhereAmI Overages