Better Voicemail: What to expect
The University of Victoria is improving its campus telephone system. Once switched to Better Voicemail, you will have access to enhanced features, including integration with your email and calendar.
Key features of Better Voicemail

- Listen to, forward, or reply to e-mail messages.
- Listen to calendar information.
- Accept or cancel meeting requests.
FAQ
- You will receive a welcome email from Microsoft containing a temporary PIN.
- Enter the temporary PIN through your phone set by clicking on the message button or by entering 4444. If you are off campus or using a mobile phone call 250-472-4444.
- Continue when it tells you that your temporary PIN has expired and enter a PIN of your choosing.
- Listen and follow the prompts to record your name and then to record your personal greeting.
- Login to your UVic email account using the URL https://mail.uvic.ca/owa/. Ensure that pop-ups are enabled for this site.
- Click on the gear icon and the top right corner and select Options.

- From the "Options" left side-bar, click Phone.

- Be sure that voice mail is selected.

- Scroll down the page. Under the "Reset PIN" heading, select Reset my voicemail PIN....

- Click OK from the "Reset Voice Mail PIN" dialogue box

- Click on Save.

- An email with the subject Your PIN has been reset. should now be in your inbox.

- Call your voice mail [4444] and enter the PIN supplied from the email at the prompt.
- You are now asked to choose a new a PIN.
- Re-enter your PIN followed by the [#] key.
- Your new PIN is now set.
You need to make https://mail.uvic.ca/owa as a trusted site.
To add https://mail.uvic.ca/owa to the trusted sites in IE v10 browsers:
1. Navigate to https://mail.uvic.ca/owa.
2. Click on the gear at the very top right of the browser, underneath the close "x". Click on Internet options.

3. Click on the Security tab. Click on the Trusted sites checkmark.

4. Click on Sites.

5. In the first text box it should say https://mail.uvic.ca.
6. If it does click Add.
7. If it doesn't, clear the text box and type https://mail.uvic.ca into the box and click Add.

8. Click on Close.

9. Click OK.

10. Restart your web browser.
When a new PIN is generated by the system and sent to you via email, its set to an expired status to force you to create a new PIN the first time the system is accessed. Unfortunately this may be confusing, but is normal behavior.
- Dial 250-472-4444 from your Off-Campus or cellular phone
- When prompted, enter your mailbox number
- When prompted, enter your current PIN
- Press [0] to activate the touchtone keypad commands and then press [1] to access Voicemail Messages
To momentarily switch from voice commands to touchtone (keypad) commands, select [0]. This change lasts only for the time of that particular call to your voicemail. To permanently switch to using the touchtone interface, call into your voicemail account and say "Personal Options", then select[4].
A: If you are listening to your voicemail messages through speakers, try using a pair of headphones instead. Alternately, Better Voicemail allows listening of messages from your Exchange account to your phone in 1-click:
- In Outlook, from the "Message" tab, select the "Play on Phone" icon.

- From the "Play on Phone" dialogue box, enter the phone number you wish the hear the message on and the select "Dial". By default, Better Voicemail lists the last number dialed first. If you are off-campus, you will need to enter the number including its area code (example: (250) 721-5555).

- From your Exchange inbox (using Microsoft Outlook application), under the file tab, enable Automatic Replies (Out of Office)

- Login to your UVic email account using the URL https://mail.uvic.ca/owa/. Ensure that pop-ups are enabled for this site.
- Click on the gear icon in the top right corner and select Options.

- From the "Options" left side-bar, click on phone.

- Be sure that Voice Mail is selected.

- Click on the plus (+) icon to add a new rule.

- Enter a name of your choosing for the rule.

- Under "If a caller reaches my voice mail, and:" select My automatic replies are turned on.

- Click on Select Options.

- Select # leave a voice message from the list provided and then click OK.

- You will see that the rule has been created.

- Click on the pencil icon to go back in and edit your rule.

- Click on More options...

- Under Greetings and Prompts, click on Call me to play or record a greeting for this answering rule...

- Your local will be listed under "Dial this phone number." Click on Dial. Your telephone will ring. You can record a new greeting for this answer rule, or you can use the standard greeting. When you are finished, click OK.

- When you are finished, click Save.

If multiple locals share a single UVic email inbox, only messages left on the designated primary phone number will trigger the red light (message warning indicator).
Better Voicemail support
Please contact the Computer Help Desk (by sending an email to
helpdesk@uvic.ca) in order to learn more about available voicemail options for shared phones.
Please contact the Computer Help Desk (by sending an email to
helpdesk@uvic.ca) in order to learn more about available voicemail options for employees with multiple phone numbers.
1) If the voicemail account is linked to a role-based email address:
- You simply need to reset the passwords used to access these systems by the former employee.
2) If the voicemail account is linked to the former employee’s primary email address:
- Please contact the Computer Help Desk (by either calling 7687 or sending an email to helpdesk@uvic.ca) to request the deprovisioning of a former employee's voicemail account.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your departmental support personnel or the Computer Help Desk: