Accessing Your Voicemail

Last updated: February 23, 2024
Audience: InstructorsStaffResearchersIT Staff / TechnicalDecision Makers

UW-IT’s voicemail system is by Applied Voice & Speech Technologies (AVST).

For a summary of system features and interactions when accessing the voicemail system by phone, see the Quick Reference.

Accessing the Mailbox

You can access voice messages, record messages, or change voicemail settings from a phone or on the web.

Accessing the Mailbox From Your Personal Campus Phone

To access the Main Menu from your personal campus phone:

  1. Press [79898].
  2. Enter your security code.
  3. The system will announce the number of messages you have received.

Accessing the Mailbox From Any Campus Phone

To access the Main Menu from any campus phone:

  1. Press [79898].
  2. Depending on the line you call from, you may be prompted to immediately enter a security code.
    • Press [*] to bypass this message.
  3. Listen to the introductory prompt.
  4. Press [#].
  5. Enter your 7-digit mailbox number.
    • This is your phone number without the 3-digit area code.
  6. Enter your security code.
  7. The system will announce the number of messages you have received.

Accessing the Mailbox From an Off-Campus Phone

To access the Main Menu from a non-UW phone:

  1. Dial 206-897-9898.
  2. Listen to the introductory prompt.
  3. Press [#].
  4. Enter your 7-digit mailbox number.
    • This is your phone number without the 3-digit area code.
  5. Enter your security code.
  6. The system will announce the number of messages you have received.

Accessing the Mailbox From the Web

Your voice mailbox includes an online tool, Web PhoneManager, to manage your voicemail features and functions.

Please note that there are limitations to the web interface:

  • Recording new messages, greetings, and announcements must occur over the telephone that belongs to your mailbox, not through a microphone on your computer.
  • You may listen to incoming voice messages through your computer, but playback of existing greetings (unlike messages) requires telephone playback.
  • Access to the Voicemail PhoneManager web page is restricted to campus networks (including Husky OnNet and Department VPNs).

To access your voice mailbox from Web PhoneManager:

  1. Navigate to Web PhoneManager at https://voicemail.tel.washington.edu/.
  2. Enter your 7-digit mailbox number under Username.
    • This is your phone number without the 3-digit area code.
  3. Enter your security code under Security Code.
    • This is the same security code you will use when accessing your mailbox by phone.
  4. Click Login.

Setting Up Your Mailbox

To use the voice mailbox, you must first set it up. Setting up the mailbox includes changing your temporary security code, and recording your name and greetings.

Setting Up Your Mailbox by Phone

To set up your mailbox by phone:

  1. Submit a request using the Telecom Help Form to get your 6-digit temporary security code that you will use to set up your mailbox.
  2. Access the voicemail system by following the Accessing the Mailbox instructions, using your temporary security code.
  3. Follow the prompts to create a new security code, and then to record your name and greeting.
    • All three steps (security code, name, and greeting) must be done to complete the setup.
    • When you hear “congratulations”, you have completed the set up.
  4. Listen as the system explains how to find help while in the voicemail system and then enters the Main Menu.
  5. Press [*] or hang up to exit the voicemail system.

Setting Up Your Mailbox from the Web

You can also set up your mailbox through Web PhoneManager. To set up your mailbox from the web:

  1. Submit a request using the Telecom Help Form to get your 6-digit temporary security code that you will use to set up your mailbox.
  2. Log in to Web PhoneManager by following instructions in Accessing the Mailbox From the Web above using your temporary security code.
  3. On the left, select the Personal Settings page.
  4. On the top, select the Security Code tab.
  5. In Current Security Code, enter your temporary security code.
  6. Choose a new security code for your voice mailbox and enter it into New Security Code and Confirm Security Code.
  7. Click OK.
  8. Record your Recorded Name Greeting and Personal Greeting by following instructions in Changing Greetings from the Web.

Email Notification

You may also set up your voice mailbox to send you an email with a copy of the voicemail message as a .wav attachment.

Note: If you listen to your message via the .wav attachment, the original message remains in your voice mailbox and does not extinguish the message waiting indicator on your phone.

To enable or modify voicemail notification to email:

  1. Follow the steps in Accessing the Mailbox From the Web above to log in to Web PhoneManager.
  2. On the left, click Notifications Settings.
  3. At the top, select the E-Mail tab.
  4. Check Enable Simple UM Notification.
  5. In the E-Mail Address field, enter your UW email address.
  6. Check Include WAV Attachment, if desired.
  7. Click OK.