Category: Outlook

How to remove voice mail transcriptions from Unified Messaging Voice Mail

Exchange Unified Messaging Tips & Tricks
The new campus voice mail service (Exchange Unified Messaging) has a feature which provides text transcriptions of voice mail messages to the Inbox by default. The accuracy of these text transcriptions may suffer for callers with accents, or poor quality calls (e..g, cell phone callers with bad reception).

Voice Mail Preview isn't available for this message.We expect the accuracy of these transcriptions to improve when we upgrade the system within the coming months. However, some users may wish to opt out of text transcriptions and check their voice mail by either playing the audio attachment or by dialing into the system at extension 88673. Here is how to disable the transcription feature:

 

  1. Login to webmail.smu.edu. Click the gear icon, click Options, then click General, then click Voice Mail Preview.
    -or-
    Open Outlook, click File – Manage Voice Mail.
  2. Under Voice Mail Preview, uncheck “Include preview text with voice messages I receive”.
  3. Click Save.
Updated 07/10/2017: Include updated instructions for the new system.

How to record a greeting for a secondary extension in Unified Messaging

Exchange Unified Messaging Tips & Tricks
Some SMU users have multiple extensions assigned to their personal mailbox for Unified Messaging Voice Mail. The secondary extension could be a department number or resource phone. By default, the same voicemail message will be played for all extensions assigned to a mailbox.

Here is how to record a unique greeting for a secondary extension:

To get started:

In Microsoft Outlook: In Webmail:
  1. Click File -> Manage Voice Mail
  2. Log on via the web interface.
  3. Follow the instructions below.
  1. From Webmail, click Options -> See all Options.
  2. Click Phone.
  3. Follow the instructions below.

To change the greeting:

  1. Under Call Answering Rules, click New Rule.
  2. Enter a name for the rule.
  3. Under Add conditions, select “If the caller dialed my phone extension…”, and select your secondary extension.
  4. Keep the default action, and click “Call the Play on Phone number to play or record a greeting for this call answering rule…”.
  5. Click Yes to save the call answering rule.

You will receive a call which will prompt you to leave a voice mail message. Be sure to include “press pound to leave a message”; this is a requirement for secondary extensions.

If you would like to switch your primary and secondary extensions, please email help@smu.edu to create a help desk ticket.

How to reset your PIN in the new voicemail system

Exchange Unified Messaging Tips & Tricks
When enabled for our new voicemail system (Microsoft Exchange Unified Messaging, or UM), you received a notification email with a temporary PIN. This PIN allows you to access to the voicemail system. If you are a new user, you will need to change it when you first log in to the system.

What happens if you lose your PIN, or misplace the notification email?

There are two options for PIN recovery. 

Please note that the following options are not available for departmental accounts. Please contact the OIT Help Desk to reset a departmental account PIN.

In Microsoft Outlook:

  1. Outlook's Manage VoicemailClick File -> Manage Voice Mail and logon to the web interface.
  2. Click Reset PIN -> “Reset My Voice Mail PIN”, then click “OK”

You will receive an email with a new temporary PIN.

In Webmail:

You can get to the same screen above by logging on to webmail.smu.edu/owa.

  1. Click the gear icon, then click Options.
  2. Click General, then click Reset PIN.
  3. Click “Reset My Voice Mail PIN”, then click “OK”

You will receive an email with a new temporary PIN.

When you receive your temporary 4-digit PIN, call 214-768-8673 and enter your 5-digit telephone extension. You will be prompted to create a new PIN.

Updated 07/10/2017: Include updated instructions for the new system.

How do I change my greeting in the voice mail system?

Exchange Unified Messaging Tips & Tricks
Campus voice mail is provided by Microsoft Exchange Unified Messaging (UM). A common question is, “How do I record a custom voice mail greeting?” UM offers a few options, including allowing separate greetings for when you are away from the office.

Please note: The online option (Outlook/Webmail) is not available for departmental (shared) accounts. These accounts must always be updated by phone. If you cannot recall your PIN, please contact the OIT Help Desk and a temporary PIN will be generated for you.

To change your greeting:

In Microsoft Outlook:

  1. Click File -> Manage Voice Mail, and logon to the web interface.
  2. Click Greetings
  3. Click “Call me to play or record the selected greeting…”
  4. Enter your phone number and click “Call.”
  5. You will receive a call which will allow you to record your greeting.

There are multiple other configuration options available from this screen as well.

In Webmail:

You can get to the same screen above by logging on to webmail.smu.edu/owa.

  1. Click the gear icon -> options.
  2. Click Greetings.
  3. Click “Call me to play or record the selected greeting…”
  4. Enter your phone number and click “Call.”
  5. You will receive a call which will allow you to record your greeting.

Via Phone:

You can also change your greeting by phone.

  1. Call 214-768-8673.
  2. Enter your 5-digit extension and your PIN, and then say “personal options” at the voice prompt.
  3. Press 2 and you can record your new greeting.

The prompts will walk you through these steps when you dial the number.

Updated 07/10/2017: Include updated instructions for the new system.

Issues with Outlook for Mac and El Capitan

Looks like another major application is having problems with Apple’s latest OS release, El Capitan. This time, the popular email client Microsoft Outlook for Mac is having difficulty with the OS. The problem identifies itself when the application tries to connect to the server to sync email and the application locks up. If you use Microsoft Outlook, you are highly encouraged not to update to the last Mac OS at this time.

In an emailed statement to Computerworld, a Microsoft spokeswoman said the company is looking into the problem.

“We know that some users may be experiencing issues with Office 2016 for Mac running on El Capitan,” the statement read. “We are actively investigating the matter with Apple. Until there is a fix, we recommend people install the latest updates to Office 2016 for Mac using Microsoft AutoUpdate.”

The Project Manager for Outlook, Faisal Jeelani, recently commented on a post on the company’s support forum.

We are aware of the issue with Outlook 2011 on El Capitan and of Office 2016 on El Capitan.

We are working on a fix for 2011 and for 2016 we are working closely with Apple to resolve this issue as soon as possible. Unfortunately we do not have any timelines for either fix, please stay tuned and thank you for your understanding.

While Microsoft is acknowledging that users of its Office for Mac 2016 application suite are encountering frequent crashes and that their team is working on a fix, there is no timeline for an update. Until then, Microsoft suggests that users can work around this issue by running Outlook for Mac 2011 on Mac OS X Yosemite (version 10.10) or an earlier version.

IT Connect is published by the Office of Information Technology at Southern Methodist University.


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