What is this?

[NTlayoff]

I was called in to a site.  Never been there before.
They had 8 POTS lines and I was to put in a PRI.
Found out they have a 3rd party external Voice Mail.
After the PRI went in and is now working, they asked if they can still transfer to VM.

Make the story short.......
Feature * 0  and push one of a number of buttons - it shows  185*   yes that is 185 (star).
Others would be a different number followed by * .
Here is the weird part.  I must be drawing a blank because I don't know how this works.
First - Lines 31-34 are still connected for the moment.

They answer a call and want to send the call to "Joe's" voice mail so they push this button with 185* and
it goes out lines 31-34 to the 3rd party VM.
I can only assume that it would have also used lines 1-4 if I still had that card in place.

But if I am on a call and just dial 185*  absolutely nothing happens.

Anyone know WHAT this button is and how it was programmed ?
I want to reprogram it so that it will go out the PRI when pushed.

Thanks for any help.

[telemarv]

There have been many 3rd party voice mails over the years.

Most have either been a Dialogic Norstar board or anlog interfaced with a VMI.

I've never encountered this type before, but here is an educated guess. the button 185* is merely a speed dial. There may also be an SD button that is 185#DN number to check messages.

This voice mail is connected to MICS on lines 31-34 (1st card of trunk module in port 7 or 4 depending which size expansion is being used).

 I suspect if you dig into the routes and desinations you will find a) a route to line 31-34 and b) a desintation 185 that links to the afore mentioned route. Or 185 may simply be a pool code with line 31-34 line a line pool. Although my says routes and destinations. The * is probably a voice mail code that activates the prompt to enter a mailbox.

Easy test: from an i/c dial 185

[NTlayoff]

Marv:   Thanks for the reply.

Unfortunately, I was not asked to return and do anything more with it.   Guess I will never know.

But I don't think it is just a SD button because I can manually dial 185* and nothing happens.
That is basically what a SD button would do.

So this button has to cause something to happen first and then send the 185*.

And I did not get to try the I/C dial 185*.  That would have been a good test.

Thanks

[curlycord]

Just doing 185* sounds like trying to do F983 when there is no party to connect.

I agree with Marv...... F*1 key.

Was the vmail onsite or offsite?.