Qwest (SIMON) voice mail and messaging services
DIS provides voice mail and messaging services at Qwest Centrex sites through a
contractual agreement with Qwest. At central office locations with requirements
for 100 or more voice mailboxes, dedicated SIMON (State Interagency Messaging
Network) voice mail systems have been installed. At locations which cannot meet
the 100 mailbox threshold Qwest offers its Business Voice Mail Service (BVMS)
at SIMON rates. The primary differences between SIMON and BVMS service are:
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SIMON operates on Octel voice mail platforms that are dedicated for State use.
BVMS is provided on Qwest using Octel voice mail platforms that are shared with
other business and residential users.
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All SIMON nodes are networked and any SIMON user can send a voice mail message
to any other user on the SIMON network. SIMON and BVMS are not networked.
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Some standard reports are provided with SIMON. Reports are not provided with
BVMS. SIMON and BVMS voice mail service are currently offered at the following
locations.
Voice messaging functionality
Some of the functionality provided by the SIMON voice messaging system includes:
Fully integrated telephone answering:Offers the ability for the voice mail
system to provide call coverage to callers who dial your telephone number. This
involves directing the call forwarding features of the telephone system to the
voice mail system and passing the called party identification to the voice mail
system. Integrated telephone answering also provides message waiting indication
(a message waiting light or stutter dial tone) and the ability to redirect a
call to an operator. Four different classes of service are available to meet
various requirements. An explanation of features provided with these classes of
service is listed below.
Networking: The SIMON system includes the capability to send or forward voice
mail messages to any other user on the SIMON network.
Distribution lists: The SIMON system allows users to create distribution lists
that may be used to simultaneously send a message to multiple users at multiple
locations.
Automated attendants: Automated attendants announce options which caller may
select to have their call routed to specific departments.
Voice forms: Voice forms allow agencies to develop applications to collect
standard formatted information such as data for questionnaires, or addresses to
mail information to. The questions are recorded and played to callers and their
responses are recorded. The agency is then able to transcribe the data at a
later date and take appropriate action.
Listen only mailboxes: Listen only mailboxes allow agencies to record frequently
asked information such as directions or office hours so callers can access them
directly.
Applications development: Applications development is available as part of the
SIMON service.
SIMON Class of Service
Costs: Rates and fees for
SIMON Service