For this week, Dr. Z is putting up tips about the fantastic feature that everyone is talking about–the Z4 and its answering machine (My Mail)!
The new answering machine (My Mail) that is part of the Z4 and all the Z-phones (Z-150, Z-340 and Z-Ojo) has so many cool features and by giving it to you piece by piece will allow you to appreciate the power of the Z4! Some of these features may be documented, some may be hidden and some may not be documented–but don’t let this bother you–as a software pioneer himself, Dr. Z has found it best to not “read the stuff”, but play with the stuff–the actual experience is usually the best way to learn.
Most of the other VRS providers have the answering machine feature, but it is usually just for VRS calls OR for point to point calls. The Z4 (and all Z-phones) feature handles BOTH VRS and point-to-point calls. We call this the My Mail feature. Messages are forwarded to your pager or smartphone. Messages can be picked up on the Z4 or checked on the web.
The second thing to do is to customize (or create) a video message for point-to-point calls. To do that, call the SAME number on the videophone assigned to the Z4 (or the Z-150, Z-340 and Z-Ojo). You will get as screen asking you to customize. At this point, you only need to enter the number assigned to what it is asking for, like “2” for “Customize Settings.” Then “1” for “Customize Greeting.” At that point, it will record the message of you telling the caller you are not available and to leave a message. That message will be saved and will be played whenever a caller calls you and you are not available (like a missed call.)
The next time a call comes in wehen you are not available, the message you recorded will be played and then a new message will come up on the caller’s screen asking them to leave a message. The My Mail feature will record the caller’s message which usually is something like “Sorry to have missed you, please call me at .,…” That message is then sent to the Zvrs website (in your profile), to the email (or pager) address you specified in the profile and to the Z-Phone. You can pick up your message in any of these places.
Try it! This gets you close to full functional equivalence. All the hearing folks out there have voicemail and we now have our own videomail which works even better.
To sign up for a class on “My Mail”, go to this link: https://www.drzvrs.com/school/
To download the User’s Guide for “My Mail”, go to this link: https://www.zvrs.com/uploads/Image/QuickStartGuides/MyMail_UserGuide.pdf
Cool. isn’t it? Dr. Z will cover features about My Mail (answering machine) this week on this website..
Dr. Z cares about your communication access.
Disclosure: Dr. Z is a contractor working with CSDVRS on several projects.