Can I add a new #, route only that to voice mail?

Posts: 276 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Feb 09, 2006 Posts: 276

Well, I might be able to achieve what I want with a simple little change to my answering machine. On my home answering machine, the general greeting says something like, "You've reached (630) 555-1212. I can't come...". A caller in the virtual # area might possible wonder what the heck was going on if they called that virtual # but heard my machine say a different area code and #. So, I can just change my outgoing machine message and not include the #, giving a more generic and less specific message.

I can live with that, even though mentioning the # they reached was done for a certain reason.

Posts: 4777 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 4777

Or, for $10 extra, you can get another main number and have everything that you want.

Posts: 276 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Feb 09, 2006 Posts: 276

I don't think it's worth the extra $15/month and another adapter.

Posts: 4777 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 4777

It's your choice, of course, but since the virtual number costs $5, you could go with another basic plan for only $10 more, not $15. Also, if you currently have the $25 plan because you need more than 500 minutes a month, you might be able to downgrade that one to basic, since you would have the new line as well. Lots of options.

Posts: 328 · Vonage Forum Evangelist Joined: Dec 13, 2005 Posts: 328

You could also add a soft phone account for a total of $10/month - which comes with its own mailbox and number.

Posts: 276 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Feb 09, 2006 Posts: 276

Considering I'm trying to keep costs to a bare minimum, I don't think I'll go a route that means $10 or $15 per month more.

Posts: 328 · Vonage Forum Evangelist Joined: Dec 13, 2005 Posts: 328

Then you can go back to the option of signing up for a "free" account from someone like voicestick.com - that will give you a local number where ever you want and send incoming voice mail calls to your PC.

Posts: 276 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Feb 09, 2006 Posts: 276

Maybe this should be a sticky, because it looks like I have the answer to my original question and because this might be helpful for others inquiring about virtual numbers.

I added a virtual # to my account so a potential educational employer in a different state can reach me "locally." It's tied to my primary home number, of course, which has its own answering machine. The virtual number, even though it's tied to the same voice mail to which my primary number is connected, can be routed to this voice mail on its own schedule.

So, while my answering machine at home is set to answer after 5 rings, or roughly 30 seconds or so, the virtual number goes to voice mail if I don't answer it (via my home phone) within 15 seconds. I could change this to any time I want at 1-second increments.

Pretty cool. This is what I was looking for.

Posts: 1327 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: Nov 08, 2006 Posts: 1327

I am glad you got it going, looks like customer service rep knew what they were talking about.

I looked at that voicestick service, no numbers for Canada, too bad.

Posts: 249 · Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 10:31 am Post subject: Virtual number

I have a virtual number in another state I have family in to allow them to call me without long distance charges. As everyone says it just rings through the main number. The only choice you have regarding voice mail is turning the virtual number off or on voicemail. I'd guess with some ingenuity with your on-line answering machine you could make the virtual number go to voice mail and the answering machine guard the main number as long as the virtual number was set to trip before the answering machine did.

If your trying to spoof anyone with that virtual number though, be aware that you cannot call out on it! If you get voicemail from the virtual number and return the call, the number that the other sees in the caller ID is your main number. To fix that you need a second line. In your case a third line.