Cisco Unity User Guide (With IBM Lotus Domino), Release 4.0(5)
Changing Message Notification Settings

Table Of Contents

Changing Message Notification Settings

Using the Cisco Unity Assistant to Set Up a Notification Device

Cascading and Chaining Message Notifications

SMS (SMPP) Text Message Notification Considerations

Enabling or Disabling a Notification Device by Phone

Changing a Notification Phone Number by Phone


Changing Message Notification Settings


Cisco Unity can call a phone or pager to notify you of new messages. Cisco Unity can also send message notifications in the form of text and SMS messages (for example, "Urgent message for Technical Support" or "You have new voice messages") to e-mail addresses, text pagers, text-compatible cell phones, and other such devices. Your Cisco Unity administrator can tell you whether these options are available to you.

Cisco Unity calls a phone or pager or sends a text message based on the notification schedules and contact options that you set in the Cisco Unity Assistant. You use the Cisco Unity Assistant to set up the following notification devices: a home phone, several alternative phones, an SMS device, and several pagers, including text pagers.


Tip You can set up text pager devices in the Cisco Unity Assistant to e-mail message notifications not only to text pagers, but to text-compatible cell phones and other e-mail accounts (such as a home e-mail address) as well.


Using the phone, you can only turn notification on and off and change notification phone numbers for your home phone, work phone, a pager, and a spare phone.

This chapter contains the following sections:

Using the Cisco Unity Assistant to Set Up a Notification Device

Cascading and Chaining Message Notifications

SMS (SMPP) Text Message Notification Considerations

Enabling or Disabling a Notification Device by Phone

Changing a Notification Phone Number by Phone

Using the Cisco Unity Assistant to Set Up a Notification Device

You can set up all your notification devices in the Cisco Unity Assistant. For Cisco Unity to make notification calls, the phone or pager must be enabled, or turned on. Disabling a notification device does not delete its settings. Cisco Unity considers notification successful if the device answers, even when new messages remain. (For example, notification is considered successful even when an answering machine picks up and records the message.)

You can change the type of messages that Cisco Unity notifies you of, your notification schedules, and the contact options for your notification devices only from the Cisco Unity Assistant, not by phone. For each notification device you want to set up, do the applicable procedure in this section.

To Set Up or Change Phone or Pager Notification Devices from the Cisco Unity Assistant

To Set Up or Change an SMS (SMPP) Notification Devices from the Cisco Unity Assistant

To Set Up or Change Text Pager Notification Devices from the Cisco Unity Assistant

To Set Up or Change Phone or Pager Notification Devices from the Cisco Unity Assistant


Step 1 In the Cisco Unity Assistant, on the Notification Devices menu, click View Notification Devices.

Step 2 Click the notification device that you want to change or set up.

Step 3 Check the Notification Enabled check box to enable the device, or uncheck it to disable the device.

Step 4 In the Phone Number field, enter the phone number of the phone or pager, beginning with any access code needed to make an external call (for example, 9).

Use digits 0 through 9. Do not use spaces, dashes, or parentheses between digits. For long-distance numbers, also include 1 and the area code. You can also enter:

, (comma) to insert a one-second pause.

# and * to correspond to the # and * keys on the phone.

Depending on how Cisco Unity is set up, you may not be able to enter certain phone numbers or your phone system may require additional characters. If you are experiencing difficulties with this setting, contact your Cisco Unity administrator.

Step 5 Check the Try To Detect Connection check box if you want Cisco Unity to automatically try to detect a connection to the phone or pager before dialing extra digits.

Step 6 In the Dial Extra Digits field, enter any extra digits that Cisco Unity will dial after the phone number. The digits could be a password or an access number that you enter to hear messages, or an ID required by a pager.

Step 7 In the Dial After field, enter the number of seconds that Cisco Unity waits after dialing the phone or pager number before it dials the extra digits. (You may need to experiment with this setting. Try 6 seconds, then increase or decrease the time as needed.)

Step 8 To set up your notification schedule, use the Quick Add options to specify a schedule.

Or

Check or uncheck the check boxes in the schedule to specify the active and inactive hours for the notification device. Cisco Unity makes notification calls during the active hours, if you have new messages. When a new message arrives during inactive hours, Cisco Unity sends a message notification at the start of the next active hour in your schedule.


Timesaver There are several ways to set up your notification schedule quickly. Click Clear Schedule to uncheck all check blocks at once. Alternatively, click Invert Schedule to check all the blocks that you currently do not have checked and uncheck the ones that you do have checked. You can use the Copy Day's Schedule function—below the schedule—to copy a schedule for one day to other days.


Step 9 Specify the timing and frequency of the calls that Cisco Unity makes to notify you of new messages:

Attempt First Contact
After <x> Minutes

Enter the number of minutes that Cisco Unity waits to makes the first notification call once message notification is triggered.

If the delay time takes the notification out to a time when the device schedule is no longer active, the notification does not take place. You can space notifications on different devices at regular intervals, such as 15 minutes, to achieve a cascading message notification effect.

Contact Me Each Time
a New Messages Arrives

Click this option so that Cisco Unity makes a notification call each time that message notification is triggered. When this option is selected and the Attempt First Contact After <x> Minutes field is set to 0, Cisco Unity triggers message notification immediately.

However, if you enter a delay in the Attempt First Contact After <x> Minutes field, Cisco Unity delays notification that number of minutes instead of dialing immediately. Messages that arrive during the delay period will not trigger separate notifications.

If There Are Still New Messages,
Try Again Every <x> Minutes

Enter the number of minutes that Cisco Unity makes regular notification calls, as long as you have new messages. The range for the redial frequency field is 1 to 100 minutes.

For example, if you set the repeat notification interval to 5 minutes at 11:47 a.m., Cisco Unity will notify you of new messages at 11:50 a.m., 11:55 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 12:05 p.m., 12:10 p.m., 12:15 p.m., 12:20 p.m., 12:25 p.m., etc.

If <Device> Does Not Answer

Cisco Unity follows your settings for an unanswered device. Indicate settings for:

Hang Up After <x> Rings—Set to a minimum of 3 rings. Choose a higher number to give yourself more time to get to the phone.

Try Again <x> Times—Choose a higher number to accommodate when you step away from the phone briefly. Choose a lower number to avoid disturbing others.

Try Again After <x> Minutes—Choose a higher number to accommodate when you step away from the phone for long periods of time.

If <Device> Is Busy

Cisco Unity follows your settings for a busy device. Indicate settings for:

Try Again <x> Times—Choose a higher number if you use the phone frequently.

Try Again After <x> Minutes—Choose a higher number if you have long phone conversations.

If Notification Fails Try

Select an option for an additional device to send notification to when the first device does not answer or is busy. Cisco Unity calls the alternate device only if it is enabled and its schedule is current.


Step 10 Click Save.


To Set Up or Change an SMS (SMPP) Notification Devices from the Cisco Unity Assistant


Step 1 In the Cisco Unity Assistant, on the Notification Devices menu, click View Notification Devices.

Step 2 Click SMS (SMPP).

Step 3 In the To field, enter the phone number for your SMS device.

The format and the number you enter depends on the SMPP provider. For example, you may need to include international country codes, beginning with a plus sign (+) and followed by the country code, area, city, or trunk code, and then the number for your device: +12065551234. Do not start with a zero or the international dialing prefix. Do not include spaces, dashes, parentheses or other punctuation. Ask your Cisco Unity administrator for assistance if you experience difficulties.

Step 4 In the From field, what you enter depends on the SMPP provider:

If the SMPP provider requires a "source address" for the server sending the message, enter the IP address for the Cisco Unity server.

If the SMPP provider does not require a "source address," enter the phone number that you want to appear at the end of the text display. (For example, enter the number you dial to reach Cisco Unity when you are not dialing from your desk phone.) Like the To field, the format and the number you enter depends on the SMPP provider.

Ask your Cisco Unity administrator to assist you if you are not sure what to enter in this field.


Tip For SMS (SMPP) devices, consider that some service providers replace the number that you enter in the From field with their own phone number. For an alternative method of including a callback number, try entering the number within the text of your message. For example, enter: tel:2065551234 in the Text field (see Step 5).


Step 5 In the Text field, enter any text you want displayed (for example, "You have voice mail"). Every time a message arrives that matches the criteria selected in the message notification settings, Cisco Unity sends this message.

Step 6 In the SMPP Provider list, select a provider, then check the Notification Enabled check box to enable the device.

If you are uncertain which SMPP provider to choose or if there are no providers in the list, contact your Cisco Unity administrator.

Step 7 In the Voice Messages, E-Mails and Faxes lists, choose the types of messages and message urgency for which Cisco Unity will call the device. When None is selected, Cisco Unity does not call the device when a new message of that type arrives.

Step 8 To set up your notification schedule, use the Quick Add options to specify a schedule.

Or

Check or uncheck the check boxes in the schedule to specify the active and inactive hours for the notification device. Cisco Unity makes notification calls during the active hours, if you have new messages. When a new message arrives during inactive hours, Cisco Unity sends a message notification at the start of the next active hour in your schedule.


Timesaver There are several ways to set up your notification schedule quickly. Click Clear Schedule to uncheck all check blocks at once. Alternatively, click Invert Schedule to check all the blocks that you currently do not have checked and uncheck the ones that you do have checked. You can use the Copy Day's Schedule function—below the schedule—to copy a schedule for one day to other days.


Step 9 Specify the timing and frequency of the calls that Cisco Unity makes to notify you of new messages:

Attempt First Contact
After <x> Minutes

Enter the number of minutes that Cisco Unity waits to makes the first notification call once message notification is triggered.

If the delay time takes the notification out to a time when the device schedule is no longer active, the notification does not take place. You can space notifications on different devices at regular intervals, such as 15 minutes, to achieve a cascading message notification effect.

Contact Me Each Time
a New Messages Arrives

Click this option so that Cisco Unity makes a notification call each time that message notification is triggered. When this option is selected and the Attempt First Contact After <x> Minutes field is set to 0, Cisco Unity triggers message notification immediately.

However, if you enter a delay in the Attempt First Contact After <x> Minutes field, Cisco Unity delays notification that number of minutes instead of dialing immediately. Messages that arrive during the delay period will not trigger separate notifications.

If There Are Still New Messages,
Try Again Every <x> Minutes

Enter the number of minutes that Cisco Unity makes regular notification calls, as long as you have new messages. The range for the redial frequency field is 1 to 100 minutes.

For example, if you set the repeat notification interval to 5 minutes at 11:47 a.m., Cisco Unity will notify you of new messages at 11:50 a.m., 11:55 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 12:05 p.m., 12:10 p.m., 12:15 p.m., 12:20 p.m., 12:25 p.m., etc.


Step 10 Click Save.


Related Topic

SMS (SMPP) Text Message Notification Considerations

To Set Up or Change Text Pager Notification Devices from the Cisco Unity Assistant


Step 1 In the Cisco Unity Assistant, on the Notification Devices menu, click View Notification Devices.

Step 2 Click the text pager that you want to change or set up.

Step 3 Check the Notification Enabled check box to enable the device, or uncheck it to disable the device.

Step 4 In the To field, enter the e-mail address of the text pager, text-compatible cell phone, or another e-mail account (such as a home e-mail address).

Step 5 In the From field, enter the phone number that you want to appear at the end of the text display. (For example, enter the number you dial to reach Cisco Unity when you are not dialing from your desk phone.)


Tip If you have a text-compatible cellular phone that you set up as a text pager, you can activate the automatic callback function available with your phone when this number is displayed.


Step 6 In the Text field, enter any text you want displayed (for example, "You have voice mail"). Every time a message arrives that matches the criteria selected in the message notification settings, Cisco Unity sends this message.

Step 7 In the Voice Messages, E-Mails and Faxes lists, choose the types of messages and message urgency for which Cisco Unity will call the device. When None is selected, Cisco Unity does not call the device when a new message of that type arrives.

Step 8 To set up your notification schedule, use the Quick Add options to specify a schedule.

Or

Check or uncheck the check boxes in the schedule to specify the active and inactive hours for the notification device. Cisco Unity makes notification calls during the active hours, if you have new messages. When a new message arrives during inactive hours, Cisco Unity sends a message notification at the start of the next active hour in your schedule.


Timesaver There are several ways to set up your notification schedule quickly. Click Clear Schedule to uncheck all check blocks at once. Alternatively, click Invert Schedule to check all the blocks that you currently do not have checked and uncheck the ones that you do have checked. You can use the Copy Day's Schedule function—below the schedule—to copy a schedule for one day to other days.


Step 9 Specify the timing and frequency of the calls that Cisco Unity makes to notify you of new messages:

Attempt First Contact
After <x> Minutes

Enter the number of minutes that Cisco Unity waits to makes the first notification call once message notification is triggered.

If the delay time takes the notification out to a time when the device schedule is no longer active, the notification does not take place. You can space notifications on different devices at regular intervals, such as 15 minutes, to achieve a cascading message notification effect.

Contact Me Each Time
a New Messages Arrives

Click this option so that Cisco Unity makes a notification call each time that message notification is triggered. When this option is selected and the Attempt First Contact After <x> Minutes field is set to 0, Cisco Unity triggers message notification immediately.

However, if you enter a delay in the Attempt First Contact After <x> Minutes field, Cisco Unity delays notification that number of minutes instead of dialing immediately. Messages that arrive during the delay period will not trigger separate notifications.

If There Are Still New Messages,
Try Again Every <x> Minutes

Enter the number of minutes that Cisco Unity makes regular notification calls, as long as you have new messages. The range for the redial frequency field is 1 to 100 minutes.

For example, if you set the repeat notification interval to 5 minutes at 11:47 a.m., Cisco Unity will notify you of new messages at 11:50 a.m., 11:55 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 12:05 p.m., 12:10 p.m., 12:15 p.m., 12:20 p.m., 12:25 p.m., etc.


Step 10 Click Save.


Cascading and Chaining Message Notifications

Cascading message notification allows you to set up a series of notifications to a widening circle of recipients. Alternatively, message notification can be set to "chain" to a series of notification devices if an attempt to send notification to the first selected device fails. (The definition of failure to a notification device is based on the options you select for retrying a device that is not answered or is busy.)

When setting up a chain of message notification devices, select the types of messages and message urgency for which Cisco Unity will call only for the first device. If any message types are selected for a device other than the first, message notification for the device will begin immediately and will not wait for the notification failure of the previous device. Therefore, your notifications will not occur as a chain but will all be activated simultaneously.


Note To include text pager and SMS (SMPP) devices in a chaining message notification, you must specify the device as last in the chain because notification to these types of devices does not fail.


To set up multiple notification devices to function in a cascading or chaining sequence, you may need to contact your Cisco Unity administrator for instructions. Without certain settings, cascading or chaining notification may not work correctly.

SMS (SMPP) Text Message Notification Considerations

Depending on how Cisco Unity is set up, SMS (SMPP) notifications may not be available to you. If they are, consider the following before you set up SMS (SMPP) text message notifications:

SMS (SMPP) notifications are for use with GSM cell phones and other SMS-compatible devices. SMS notifications are generally much faster than (SMTP) text pager notifications, and some SMS service providers offer the additional benefit of replacing a previous notification with the latest one.

SMS service providers often charge for each SMS message or group of messages that Cisco Unity sends. To reduce costs to your organization, consider limiting the number of notifications that you receive by a particular message type or urgency (for example, only voice messages or only voice messages and urgent e-mail messages).

Some SMS service providers replace the phone number that you enter in the From field on the SMS (SMPP) Notification Device page in the Cisco Unity Assistant with their own phone number. For an alternative way to include a call back number, try the Tip in the "To Set Up or Change an SMS (SMPP) Notification Devices from the Cisco Unity Assistant" procedure.

The time stamp for an SMS (SMPP) notification on some phones reflects the time that the SMS message was sent by the SMS service provider to your SMS device. For this reason, the time stamp may not reflect your local time zone or preferred time format.

Enabling or Disabling a Notification Device by Phone

By phone, you can only turn notification on and off for your home phone, work phone, a pager, and a spare phone. Additional notification devices can be turned on and off from the Cisco Unity Assistant. Disabling a notification device does not delete its settings.

Do the following procedure to enable or disable a notification device when using standard or Optional conversation 1 styles. Keypad mappings for other conversation styles are documented in the "Cisco Unity Phone Menus and Shortcuts" chapter. Ask your Cisco Unity administrator which conversation style you are set up to use.

To Enable or Disable a Notification Device by Phone (Standard and Optional Conversation 1 Styles)


Step 1 Log on to Cisco Unity.

Step 2 Press 4 2 1.

Step 3 After Cisco Unity announces your notification status, press the corresponding key for the phone or pager you want to change:

Key
Option
Key
Option
1

Pager

3

Work phone

2

Home phone

4

Spare phone


Step 4 Press 1 to enable or disable notification to the phone or pager.

Table 19-1 Use These Keys Anytime

Key
Task
Key
Task
*

Cancel or back up

0

Help



Changing a Notification Phone Number by Phone

By phone, you can change the notification number for your home phone, work phone, a pager, and a spare phone. Additional notification numbers can be changed from the Cisco Unity Assistant.

When entering phone numbers, do not use spaces, dashes, or parentheses between digits. Begin with any access code needed to make an external call (for example, 9). For long-distance numbers, also include 1 and the area code. Depending on how Cisco Unity is set up, you may not be able to enter certain phone numbers.

Do the following procedure to change a phone number for a notification device when using standard or Optional conversation 1 styles. Keypad mappings for other conversation styles are documented in the "Cisco Unity Phone Menus and Shortcuts" chapter. Ask your Cisco Unity administrator which conversation style you are set up to use.

To Change a Notification Phone Number by Phone (Standard and Optional Conversation 1 Styles)


Step 1 Log on to Cisco Unity.

Step 2 Press 4 2 1.

Step 3 After Cisco Unity announces your notification status, press the corresponding key for the phone or pager whose number you want to change:

Key
Option
Key
Option
1

Pager

3

Work phone

2

Home phone

4

Spare phone


Step 4 Press 3 to change the notification number.

Step 5 Enter the new number, or press # to keep the current number. (Enter only an extension when you use phone numbers inside your organization for message notification.)

Table 19-2 Use These Keys Anytime

Key
Task
Key
Task
*

Cancel or back up

0

Help