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EastLink Telephone Calling Features

For the convenience of our residential Telephone customers, Eastlink is pleased to provide a Telephone Customer Handbook with detailed information on the services and features available and how to use them. 
Click here to download the complete Telephone Customer Handbook in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.

For quick reference, we have also included information on the most frequently accessed services and the most frequently used features below. 

 

Useful Information

Message Tips and Shortcuts
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  • Press 1 to play new messages.
  • Press 3 to delete a message.
  • Press 4 to respond to a message.
  • Press 5 for playback option.
  • Press 7 to skip backwards.
  • Press 8 to pause during a message at playback.
  • Press 9 to skip forward during a message playback.
  • Press * to return to the previous menu.
  • To exit your mailbox at any time, press * repeatedly until you hear 'Goodbye.'
Directory Operator Services
 
 Help is just a phone call away! Eastlink operators are available to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your local calling needs. To look up local numbers without operator assistance, any local telephone directory can be used.

Operator Assisted Calls
 
Press 0 if you require general operator assistance in making a local call.

Press 00 if you require assistance in making a long distance call.

If you wish to make an operator-assisted call, but dial the number yourself, press 0 + area code + phone number and the system will guide you. Surcharges apply to long-distance calls requiring an operator*.

* A Long Distance plan is required to access long distance operator assistance.

Directory Assistance
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Looking for a local phone number? Dial 411.

Looking for a phone number outside of your calling area? Press 1 + area code + 555-1212.

A nominal charge applies per directory assistance request.

Calling Features

Eastlink offers a variety of features and functions that can be included in your monthly subscription service package. Add any single Calling Feature to your basic phone line service for one low, flat monthly rate. If you can't choose just one, add any three Features for less than the cost of each Feature individually! And if you would prefer to have all of the Features all of the time without all the cost, Eastlink offers a full service Feature Package at an affordable monthly rate.

The following outlines the Features available and how they are used.


Call Waiting


How do I answer a waiting call?
A special tone will alert you to a waiting call. To answer the incoming call, quickly press and release the receiver button (the hang-upbutton) on your telephone. Note: If your phone has a 'Link' or 'Flash' key, you can use this instead. Your first caller will automatically be put on hold while you answer the second call. To alternate between callers, press and release the receiver button. Each conversation will remain private. To end either call you can press the link button or quickly press and release the receiver button.

How do I temporarily turn off Call Waiting before making a call?
Lift the handset and listen for the dial tone. Press *70 and listen for a confirmation tone. You are now ready to make a call that will not be interrupted by the Call Waiting tone. Call Waiting will automatically resume after you hang up.

Visual Call Waiting


See who is behind the 'beep!'
Visual Call Waiting works with Call Waiting and Call Display. This service displays the name and number of the incoming caller (if available) when you are on the phone. Users will need a telephone with a compatible display screen to use this service.

Call Display


Know who's calling before you answer.
Call Display will show the name and phone number for the person calling you. This service requires a phone that has a display screen or a separate add-on display unit.
Note: If an incoming call displays 'unknown name' and 'unknown number', the caller is in an area that does not support Call Display services or may be calling from a cellular phone.

Call Forwarding


Automatically send incoming calls to another number.
Call Forwarding will allow you to route incoming calls to another phone number. While Call Forwarding is on, the phone can still be used to make outgoing calls.

How do I turn on Call Forwarding?
Pick up the receiver and press *72. When you hear the dial tone, enter the number where you want your calls forwarded to. When the call is answered, your Call Forward feature is in effect.
Note: If the line is busy, or there is no answer at the forwarding number, hang up and repeat the process to ensure the feature is activated.

How do I turn it off?
Pick up the receiver and press *73, you will hear a confirmation tone, then hang up. All incoming calls will now ring normally on your phone.

3-Way Calling


Talk to two people in two different places at the same time.
This service allows you to add a third person to your current call. To add the third person, quickly press and release the receiver (hang-up button) to put the current caller on hold. When you hear a dial tone, enter the third person's phone number. When ready to connect the two callers, quickly press and release the receiver button. If the third person did not answer or you wish to disconnect them, again press and release the receiver button and you will be reconnected to the person on hold.

Select Ring


Know who the call is for by the sound of the ring.
Select Ring, sometimes called the 'Teen Line', allows you to add an additional phone number to your existing phone line. Each number has its own distinctive ring, indicating which number is being called.

Call Trace


Trace obscene or threatening calls.
Call Trace will identify and document, to authorities, the phone number of the last incoming call so that you can report nuisance calls. Information about the trace will only be provided to the appropriate law enforcement officials. To trace a call, hang up on the caller. Pick up the phone, listen for the dial tone, then press *57. A recorded message will let you know if the call was successfully traced. Contact the police if you wish to take action on a traced call.

Call Block


Block your name and number from Call Display.
Call Block is provided automatically and free of charge to Eastlink Telephone customers. The service will allow you to block the display of your name and phone number on the display screen of the person you are calling. To block your name and number from Call Display, press *67 before placing your call.
Note: if you have a non-published number, do not press *67 or your number will be displayed.

Call Return


Easily dial your last caller - even if you didn't answer.
If you couldn't get to the phone in time, you can still find out who called. Press *69 and a recording will provide the caller information. You can choose to call the person back by pressing 1.

Ring Again


If you have called a number and the line is busy, hang up, then press *66 and your phone will keep trying the line for up to 30 minutes. A special callback ring will alert you when the line becomes free. Note: Some phones ring normally. To cancel your Ring Again request, press *86.

Speed Dial


Reduce frequently called numbers to a single digit.
You can enter up to eight local or long-distance numbers into your Speed Dial list. You can call these people by pressing their one-digit speed code number, then #.

How do I program my Speed Dial list?
Lift the receiver and listen for the dial tone. Press *74 and listen for the hear dial tone, then press a one-digit speed code, (choose any number from 2 through 9) and enter the phone number you wish to assign to that speed code. Press # and listen for the confirmation tone. The number is now stored. Repeat the procedure to program more numbers.
Note: For long distance calls, be sure to include 1 plus the area code.

How do I call someone on my Speed Dial list?
Lift the handset and listen for the dial tone. Press the one-digit speed code, then #.

How do I change my Speed Dial list?
Lift the receiver and listen for the dial tone. Press *74 and listen for the dial tone, then press the one-digit speed code you wish to change. Listen for the cancellation tone, then the dial tone. Enter the phone number you wish to assign to that speed code. Press # and listen for the confirmation tone.

Call Screen


To screen a particular telephone number:
Pick up the receiver and listen for the dial tone. Press *60, wait through the 2-3 second delay, and follow the prompts.
Note: To screen the last caller, press #. To deactivate Call Screen, press *87.

Toll Restrict


Block outgoing long distance calls from your home.
Toll Restrict blocks outgoing calls that begin with the digit one, with the exception of 1-800 and 1-888 calls. The service can also block calls beginning with 0 (Operator and Calling Card calls).

Intercom


Call another extension.
The Intercom feature lets you place calls between telephones in the same house or on the same Network Access Service. Simply enter your own phone number, listen for a busy signal and hang up. All extensions will ring until someone picks up. When they pick up, then you can too. If no one picks up, simply pick up the receiver and hang up to cancel the Intercom session.
Note: This service is not compatible with Voice-mail.

Multi-line Hunt


Make sure all calls are answered.
If you choose to have more than one telephone line at your residence, you can subscribe to the Hunt feature. When a call is made to any of the telephone numbers, and that number is busy or has activated Call Forward, the call is offered to the next phone number.

Ring Control


Set the number of rings before Call Answer takes a message.

Lift the receiver and press *94.
Listen for the special dial tone (three quick beeps followed by a regular dial tone).
Enter the number of rings you want to hear before Call Answer takes a message.
Listen for the confirmation tone (two quick beeps followed by a dial tone), then hang up.


Call Answering


Block outgoing long distance calls from your home.
Toll Restrict blocks outgoing calls that begin with the digit one, with the exception of 1-800 and 1-888 calls. The service can also block calls beginning with 0 (Operator and Calling Card calls).Call another extension. The Intercom feature lets you place calls between telephones in the same house or on the same Network Access Service. Simply enter your own phone number, listen for a busy signal and hang up. All extensions will ring until someone picks up. When they pick up, then you can too. If no one picks up, simply pick up the receiver and hang up to cancel the Intercom session. Note: This service is not compatible with Voice-mail.Make sure all calls are answered. If you choose to have more than one telephone line at your residence, you can subscribe to the Hunt feature. When a call is made to any of the telephone numbers, and that number is busy or has activated Call Forward, the call is offered to the next phone number.Set the number of rings before Call Answer takes a message. Lift the receiver and press *94. Listen for the special dial tone (three quick beeps followed by a regular dial tone). Enter the number of rings you want to hear before Call Answer takes a message. Listen for the confirmation tone (two quick beeps followed by a dial tone), then hang up.

Getting Started / Activation
Once you have subscribed to the Call Answer Service, activate your voice mail by pressing *99 from your home phone line. You will then be prompted to provide your mailbox number; enter all ten digits of your phone number, then press #.You will then be prompted for your temporary password; again, enter all ten digits of your phone number, and press #. Eastlink strongly encourages customers to set up their personalized password immediately following activation of their voice mail, to ensure privacy of their messages is maintained.

To create a new password, or to change your current password:
1. Press 4 on the main menu for personal options.
2. Press 2 for administrative options.
3. Press 1 for password options.
4. Press 3 to turn skip password function on or off.
5. Press 1 to change personal password.
6. Press # to enter old password.
7. Press # to enter new password.
8. Press # to confirm.
9. Press * to re-enter.

To record a personal greeting or modify the standard greeting:
First access your mailbox:
1. Press 4 on the main menu for personal options.
2. Press 3 for greeting/name options.
3. Press 1 to select/modify greeting.
4. Press 1 to record a personal greeting or Press 4 to record your name.
5. Press 2 to record.
6. Press # to end the recording.
7. Press # to accept the greeting.

How do I know if I have messages?
When you pick up your telephone handset, you will hear a distinctive interrupted dial tone indicating you have a new voice mail message. Some sets have a 'message waiting' indicator light.

Note: You can still make a call over an interrupted dial tone before collecting your messages.

How do I collect my messages from home?
1. To collect your messages from home Press *99.

How do I collect my messages from a remote location?
1. Enter your area code, then your Eastlink 3 digit exchange-MAIL (6245).
2. Press # and you will then be prompted to enter your mailbox number (your 10-digit home number) and your password; OR
1. Dial your home telephone number, then Press * as your message greets you.
2. You will then be prompted to enter your password so you can retrieve your messages.