Packet8 Features
STANDARD PACKET8 FEATURES - NO EXTRA CHARGE
VOICEMAIL
Personalized voicemail is a service that allows callers to leave messages on your phone. Packet8's voicemail permits you to record your own outgoing message, so that when calls are routed to your voicemail after a selected number of rings, they will hear your greeting and have the option to leave a message. Your voicemail message will also provide you a timestamp so you know when your caller contacted you. The timestamp can be configurable via account details page.
VOICEMAIL TO EMAIL NOTIFICATION
As an optional feature Packet8 allows you to receive email notification with the actual message attached as an audio file every time you receive a voicemail message. You will be able to forward voicemails to others as an email attachment or even save them for future reference. Most of the popular media player formats are supported. This is a Packet8 feature that is always free of extra charge.
LOCAL NUMBER PORTABILITY (LNP)
Local Number Portability (LNP) allows customers in the US to retain their local telephone number or Internet telephone service phone number when switching service providers. Packet8 does not charge to move your current phone number to Packet8.
Although Packet8 makes every attempt to work with all telephone service providers across the United States, certain local or regional guidelines may preclude your current provider from releasing your number to Packet8. In such cases, a new number from Packet8 would be required to subscribe to our service. The process can take from 6-8 weeks to complete. During this process, Packet8 will provide a temporary phone number as well as turn off your old service.
CHOOSE YOUR AREA CODE
Packet8 allows you to choose a phone number from any of the available rate centers, regardless of where your Packet8 phone will be physically located. Packet8 asks you to specify the "rate center" (calling area or city name) that you would like to have assigned to your account. There can be many rate centers within one area code. With Packet8, you can request a rate center that is local to those who call you the most. Rate center selection does not affect your Packet8 calling rates.
When you make calls from your Packet8 account, all calls within the United States and Canada are included with your flat rate Packet8 service. On all of our calling plans, calls between two Packet8 subscribers are always free and unlimited, anywhere in the world. Remember: Packet8 is available to you even if we do not have your local area code or rate center. Your Packet8 area code and phone number is only used for inbound calls. If a more desirable rate center later becomes available, Packet8 will assign a new number to your account. This is a Packet8 feature that is always free of extra charge.
CALLER ID
Caller ID allows Packet8 subscribers to view an incoming caller's phone number before answering the call. With caller ID, when your phone rings, the incoming caller's number appears on the display screen of your telephone. Obviously, your phone must have caller ID capability for this feature to be used. This is a Packet8 feature that is always free of extra charge.
CALLER ID BLOCKING
You can prevent your phone number from being displayed when calling, by using Calling Line ID Delivery Blocking. This feature allows you to block your number from being shown when calling other numbers. You have the choice of turning it on or off for all calls from your account manager. This is a Packet8 feature that is always free of extra charge.
To employ Caller ID Block on all outgoing calls:
1. Go to your personal online account page
2. Select your particular Packet8 account
3. Click "Account Details" tab
4. In "Account Settings" select "Edit Settings" tab
5. Inside the "Block my phone number when making calls" select your preference
CALL WAITING
Call Waiting permits callers to get through to you even when you are on the phone with another call. You will hear a beep indicating an incoming call. You will then be able to put your current caller on hold and answer the new call. You can continue to alternate between parties as often as you'd like. It's like having two lines while paying for only one. You'll never miss a phone call again. This is a Packet8 feature that is always free of extra charge.
How does it work? When you are on a call and the line beeps, simply press the flash button or switch hook. You will be connected with the waiting party and your original party will be placed on hold. Press the flash button or switch hook again, to reconnect to the original party and hold the waiting party. If a third caller tries to reach you they'll get a busy signal or be forwarded to voicemail.
CALL WAITING DISABLE *70 per call or all calls
You can disable call waiting two easy ways:
1. On a per call basis - by dialing *70 before making your call, you can disable the call waiting for that call. Doing this will send all incoming callers to voicemail or present a busy tone if voicemail is disabled while you are on the call.
2. For all calls - by activating/deactivating the Call Waiting feature after signing in at your account details page.
This is a Packet8 feature that is always free of extra charge.
CALL WAITING ID
Call Waiting ID allows your phone to display the number of another caller while on the phone. Call Waiting must be enabled for Call Waiting ID to display. This feature requires that you have a telephone with built-in Caller ID capability and a display or an external Caller ID box with a display. This is a Packet8 feature that is always free of extra charge.
CALL RETURN *69
Call Return is a service that allows you to automatically call back the last incoming call whether you answered it or not, without having to dial the number. To call back the last party that called, dial the call return feature code *69. This is a Packet8 feature that is always free of extra charge. To use the feature: Pick up the phone. Press *69 and stay on the line to automatically ring the last number that tried to phone your number.
CALL FORWARDING
Call Forwarding allows you to forward all your incoming calls to a different phone number, such as your home, friend's house, office or cell phone. Call Forwarding makes your life easier because it gives you the control you want. Note that the number you forward your calls to must be permitted by your outgoing calling plan. When calls are forwarded, your original Packet8 line will also ring simultaneously. This is a Packet8 feature that is always free of extra charge.
To employ call forwarding:
1. Go to your personal online account page
2. Select your particular Packet8 account
3. Click "Account Details" tab
4. In "Account Settings" select "Edit Settings" tab
5. Goto Simultaneous Ringing and input one phone number
You can also set call forwarding via calling to your P8 voicemail box and press Option 2.
THREE-WAY CALLING
Three-way calling allows you to create an instant conference call between yourself and other two parties. No special equipment is required to use Three-way calling. This is a Packet8 feature that is always free of extra charge.
To initiate a Three-Way Call:
1. While you are on a call press the flash button or switch hook on your phone.
2. When you get a dial tone, dial your second contact.
3. When the second contact answers, press flash or the switch hook again.
4. Immediately, you and your two contacts will be connected on a conference call.
Three-way calling behaves like two individual phone calls made from your account at the same time. If you are on Packet8's Freedom Unlimited plans, both calls are completely free.
ONLINE ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT AND BILLING
Save time and money with Packet8's Online Account Management and Billing. Online billing lets you view, automatically pay and analyze your billing statement all through an Internet connection. Because Packet8 does all billing online, you eliminate all the paperwork and the need for stamps. This helps us keep our costs low, which we gladly pass on to our users for great savings. Still, some users need a hard copy of their invoices for record keeping purposes. You can print a billing history at any time from the billing tab of your account manager.
Packet8's online billing is designed to be convenient for you to view an itemized call history of both inbound and outbound calls. You can also view current and previous invoices, billing and charge summaries, monthly usage summary, and payment history. Packet8's online account allows you to manage the configuration of your packet account including turning off voicemail, setting the number of rings before going to voicemail, and forwarding your phone to an alternate location. This is a Packet8 feature that is always free of extra charge.
DO NOT DISTURB - *78 activates, *79 deactivates
The Do Not Disturb (DND) feature allows you to send all incoming calls to your voicemail without ringing your phone. This is a great feature for giving yourself a little quiet time. To activate DND, simply dial *78 on your Packet8-connected phone. A modified dial tone is presented to the user indicating DND is enabled. Dial *79 to deactivate. This is a Packet8 feature that is always free of extra charge. (Note: if in your account setting voicemail is turned off, the incoming caller will receive a busy signal when DND is enabled.)
ANONYMOUS CALL BLOCKING - *77 activates, *87 deactivates
Callers who block their identity to avoid being screened by Caller ID can be handled by this useful feature. Anonymous Call Blocking can be enabled to send these callers directly to your voicemail. A modified dial tone is presented to indicate when anonymous call blocking is enabled. This is a Packet8 feature that is always free of extra charge. Simply dial the code *77 to activate this service and *87 to deactivate. (Note: if in your account setting voicemail is turned off, the caller will receive a busy signal when Anonymous Call Blocking is enabled.)
PHONE-BASED CALL MANAGEMENT
Packet8 allows you to use your telephone keypad to change your voicemail and call settings as well as your personal access password. How it's done: Dial 012-0005 from your Packet8 phone, enter your password when prompted and then select "1" for voicemail, "2" for call settings or "3" for "Personal Access Password." Follow the voice prompts to make the changes desired.
FIND ME, FOLLOW ME
Packet8's Find Me, Follow Me is a call hunting feature that allows you to enter up to five phone numbers to ring in sequence . For example: you can enter your mobile phone number as well as your office phone number to ring when your Packet8 home number is not answered. When a call comes in and you are not at home, after ringing the assigned numbers of times, the call will cease to ring on the Packet8 home number and then move on to ringing the mobile phone. Then if there's no response there, the call moves on to ringing your office number. If there's still no answer, the call can then be guided to your voicemail box. This is a Packet8 feature that is always free of extra charge.
SIMULTANEOUS RINGING ON MULTIPLE PHONE NUMBERS
The Simultaneous Ring feature permits an incoming phone call to ring not only your Packet8 number but also a standard PSTN number along with any other Packet8 numbers all at the same time. With this feature, you will never miss a call.
7-DIGIT LOCAL DIALING
In most cases you will now be able to dial local numbers with 7 digits. You will no longer need to dial your area code when calling a local number within the same area code unless you have multiple telephone area codes within the same geographical area (area code overlays). In these cases, you should dial 10 digits just as you would on a traditional telephone line. To determine if you are calling within a multiple area code region, go to http://www.lincmad.com/areacodemap.html
NETWORK UNAVAILABLE FORWARDING
If for some reason, your Internet connection goes down, you will lose Packet8 phone service until your internet connection is restored. However, you won't lose callers as they can be automatically forwarded to any other number (like a cell phone) that you have pre-programmed.
ENHANCED 911
The three-digit telephone number "9-1-1" has been designated as the "Universal Emergency Number," for citizens throughout the United States to request emergency assistance. It is intended as a nationwide telephone number and gives the public fast and easy access to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). With the emergence of cellular and Internet telephone services, there is demand to deliver a comprehensive 911 solution from these telecommunication mediums as well.
Packet8 is the first Internet residential telephone service to offer "Enhanced" 911 (E911) service which automatically routes calls and computer-based "screen pops" of caller information to emergency personnel at local Public Safety Answering Points ( PSAPs). Because Packet8's E911 call data is routed as emergency traffic and is accompanied by E911 caller information, callers receive the same response from emergency personnel that they are accustomed to receiving from legacy, switched telecommunications 911 services provided by traditional telephone carriers.
Packet8's E911 also provides emergency operators with a caller's location information. This information could be vital for cases where the caller is unable to reveal or communicate their whereabouts because of the emergency condition. 8x8, a signatory to the Voice on the Net Coalition/NENA (National Emergency Number Association) statement of principles, has been working with its commercial partners and NENA to rapidly deploy E911 services to Packet8 subscribers. Until now, Internet telephone service providers have either not supported 911 emergency calls or have utilized simple "10-digit routing" technique to pass 911 calls to non-emergency, telephone numbers.
These "10-digit routing" techniques typically resulted in 911 calls being connected to a variety of locations including non-emergency or administrative lines of PSAPs, the "crime-not-in-progress" number of a police station, or, in some instances, invalid numbers. Packet8's E911 service, developed in partnership with Level3 Communications ( Nasdaq : LVLT), eliminates these issues, and delivers on the principles outlined in 8x8's past agreements with NENA. Upon signing up for this optional Packet8 service, 8x8 will take down vital information of your stationary location so that in the unfortunate event where emergency E911 services are required, you will be automatically routed to the correct group and location handling standard 911 calls.
Mandatory Cost: $1.99 per month