I'm helping my uncle choose a voicemail system for his Partner ACS 6.0. He owns a vet hospital. They have around 8 CO lines, 18 extensions (24 max presently).

I will choose between:
Partner Messaging v.7 (HD based)
Comdial Debut

One thing they want to do is have the phone auto answered after x rings during business hours, play a message like "all of our receptionists are busy please stay on the line..." and then put the person on HOLD.

I understand from reading previous posts that we need the Avaya ASA/DXD card for this.

Another peculiarity is that many doctors share one phone so there will be a many-to-one relationship between mailboxes and extensions.

Anyone have any advice on which voicemail to go with?

Cheers,
Rick

Rick:
Please fill out your profile so that we know where you're from and your e-mail address so that if someone needs to send you something they can. I'm certainly not an Avaya expert here, but my first thought would be for you to stick with the same manufacturer as the phone system. I also see some real challenges as far as programming for these applications. Some of the Avaya guys should be jumping in here soon. Good Luck.

we sell duvoice. The duvoice made for partner will do more at about the same price and is more user friendly and easier for the customer to make changes.

Have you looked at the Partner Voice Messaging PC card Large? It supports up to 16 mailboxes, has two ports (can answer 2 calls simultaneously) and plugs into a PC card slot on the ACS processor. It also has the auto attendant, direct extension dialing and system answer features so no ASA/DXD card is needed. You can program mailboxes without having a physical phone on the station port. The only drawback to not having a phone on the port is no visual message waiting indicator. This voice mail system is tailored for the Parnter ACS, easy to set up and very user friendly.



[This message has been edited by nectec (edited December 08, 2004).]

i seems your mixing voicemail with a acd function the hold next operator is something you find in large systems airlines,mail order etc
take a look @voicegate.com and look at there ics product
it has 1500 hours ,250 mailboxes ,voice mail to email capability,out dial to cells or beepers which could eliminate ans service
guest mail boxes for doctors sharing 1 phone
they also have a hold feature that gives you the option to hold for ext/built in music on hold/ will ans for 4 different companies
they maybe able to write a mod to give you
exactly what you want / plus 100 other features you may or not use / hd based
redundant hd available

[This message has been edited by KENB (edited December 08, 2004).]

The Message 7 or the PC card isn't going to work for your needs, I would suggest the Duvoice unit as it has a Call Center application for the Partner and was made to work with the Partner ACS system.

First, let me thank everyone for the help! I checked the Partner voice messaging docs (pc card, https://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/partmail/prminpr2.pdf) and searched for the word "hold". Nowhere does it mention how to put a caller on hold after playing a greeting. How do you do it? Thanks very much,
Rick

reread the posts above from dtmf and myself
hold features not in the partner mails

Thanks for the reply. I don't see why message 7 along with the ASA/DXD card won't work. During the day the ASA/DXD card will handle overflow by playing a greeting and putting callers on hold. When the receptionist gets to a call she can take the call or transfer to voicemail if appropriate.
Cheers,
Rick

Right. The hold feature is handled by the ASA/DXD card not voicemail. Here is a description of the ASA/DXD card:

"Automatic System Answer helps the system operator handle outside calls during peak calling periods. When an outside call rings on a line programmed with Automatic System Answer, the system answers it after a specified number of rings and plays a short user-recorded greeting (20 second announcement) to the caller. Then, the system does one of the following:

* Places the call on hold at extension 10 (the outside caller hears Music-On-Hold, if it is available)
* Continues to ring all extensions that have access to the line (the outside caller hears Music-On-Hold, if it is available)
* Disconnects the call"

Cheers,
Rick

Please give me a call (800) 775-4843 extension 200. I will be happy to help you with some comparison information and reviewing the requirements of the job. There are many other/better options

Best Regards,
Tim Payson


------------------
Tim Payson
https://www.cobotyx.com

[This message has been edited by tpayson (edited December 08, 2004).]

You could use a ASA/DXD card for day and set the R7 for night but that will require you to purchase both, you could do it with one unit if you go with a third party VMS, I still think you should look at the Duvoice as it will do what you need and will more then likely cost less. they are built for and work with the Avay products very well.

[This message has been edited by dtmf (edited December 08, 2004).]

Rick, Sorry for the confusion. I didn't realize that putting call on hold automatically was your primary focus. No the Partner Voice Messaging PC card will not do what you want. The other posts have probably answered your question, you need maybe some type of ACD system. Your original idea of the ASA/DXD card plus voice mail will probably work.