IT Update: Things to do before your telephone is replaced over Winter Break
By: Jan Jones
December 18th, 2006
The campus is getting an entirely new telephone system over Winter Break. The switchover will take place after 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 21. The following checklists will help you get ready.
Everyone, before Dec. 21, you need to:
- Write down any important voicemail messages left on your old telephone. Once the old phone systems are officially “cut” after 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 21, you won’t be able to access them.
- Attach a note on any personal telephone or answering machine you want to keep because all existing phones are being removed and replaced with new ones. The note should say: “Personal Property. Do Not Pick Up.” However, we ask that you DO NOT REMOVE the telephone until after Winter Break, as it will be more difficult for the telephone team to determine where your new phone should be installed. Of course, personal and existing telephones are not compatible with the new system.
- Remotely record a new voicemail greeting anytime after Wednesday, Dec. 27. (See instructions below.)
To learn more details about the new phone system, go to “FAQs about the New Telephone System.”
If your current phone number has an extension . . .
- Learn your new telephone number. You’re going to get a new, 7-digit direct line all your own. Everyone (all faculty and staff) will be receiving an email on or around Dec. 19th with their phone number, whether it has been changed or not, and instructions for remotely accessing your new voicemail. Telephone numbers will also accompany the new phone set when it is left on your desk.
- Send a notification email with your new number to everyone you talk to regularly.
- Consider creating an “Electronic Business Card” that’s easy to add to Outlook Contacts. But, at the very least, update your email “signature” line with your new telephone number.
- Use the online University Directory to look up someone else’s new number. The new database of telephone numbers will be uploaded as soon as possible.
- Update any websites – yours or your department’s – that list your old telephone number.
- Update your business cards with your new telephone number or order new ones. Here’s some helpful Marketing & Communications information for ordering new cards.
IMPORTANT: Whether or not you have a new phone number, you can remotely record a new greeting and pick up messages, after Wednesday, Dec. 27. Simply dial (775) 682-9950 and follow the prompts for your account number (your 5-digit extension) and password. Note: Our telephone vendor, NEC will update all departmental voicemail greetings.
When you get back after break, 5-digit dialing begins:
You’ll have a new telephone on your desk. So will everyone else. When dialing someone on campus you now need to dial 5 digits, not 4:
- To reach someone with a 784-number, dial 4 + the last four digits
- For 327-numbers, dial 7 + the last four digits
- For 682-numbers, dial 2 + the last four digits
Please send questions about the new telephone system to Steve Zink, vice president for information technology, at stevenz@unr.edu.
To read more IT Update columns, visit the Our Workplace Archives.
Jan Jones, technical communications specialist, Information Technologies, can be reached at janicej@unr.edu.
