One of the features of the Mitel phone is availability states, which allow you to do things like send a call straight to voicemail when you are on vacation. This feature gives you even more functionality than the extended absence greeting that was available on the Intecomm phones.

From the Mitel Connect IP485g User Guide (which most people on campus are using):

You can set six distinct availability states for your extension. These availability states can be configured with various options to forward incoming calls to another number or send them to voicemail. Using the voicemail system, you can also record a different personal greeting for each availability state.

By using your phone’s interface, you can configure options for each availability state, such as call forwarding destinations, number of rings, and simultaneous ring.

The availability states are as follows: 

Soft key: Our directions refer routinely to soft keys. These are the 5 thin black buttons under your phone's screen. Their function changes depending on the state of your phone (if you're making a call, checking your voicemail, etc).


To Configure Availability States on Your Phone

The default for all of the Availability States is to forward to voicemail (7101 for forwarding; note that you would call 4933 if trying to retrieve voicemail from off-campus). If you wish to change that default behavior for a particular state, follow these steps.

  1. Press the Options soft key.
  2. Enter your voicemail password, and press the OK soft key. The Options menu opens, and the Availability option is highlighted.
  3. With the Availability option highlighted, press the Edit soft key.
  4. Use the navigation key to scroll to the availability state for which you want to specify options, and then press the Edit soft key.
  5. Specify when to forward calls by using the Next value or Prev value soft keys or the or keys on the navigation key pad to highlight one of the following values:
    1. Always means that calls received when this availability state is active are always forwarded to the specified destination number. When you select Always, you can also specify the Alwaysdestination, which is the number that you want calls forwarded to, or you can accept the default.
    2. No answer means that calls received when this availability state is active will be forwarded to the specified destination number only when you do not answer your phone or when your phone is unable to accept additional calls. You can also configure the following options or accept the defaults:
      1. No answer destination Specify the number you want calls forwarded to when you do not answer them.
      2. Number of rings Specify the number of times the phone rings before the call is forwarded.
      3. Busy destination Specify the number to forward the call to if your extension is busy.
    3. Never means that calls received when this availability state is active will never be forwarded.
  6. After setting options, press the Back soft key. The changes are saved.
  7. Do one of the following:
    • To set the selected availability state as the active availability state, press the OK soft key.
    • To continue without changing the availability state, press the Cancel soft key.
  8. Press the Exit soft key.


Example: Going on Vacation for a Week

Let's say you're going on vacation for a week. Here are the steps you can take. Note that we are assuming you have not changed the default behavior for your Vacation state and that it is set to Always forward to voicemail (7101).

If you wish to set a different voicemail greeting for the vacation state, please follow these steps:

  1. Call 973-408-4933.
  2. Enter your extension.
  3. Enter your password followed by #.
  4. Press 7 to change mailbox options.
  5. Press 2 to set your availability state.
  6. Press 4 to choose Vacation.
  7. Press 1 to record a personal greeting.
  8. Record your greeting. Press # to finish, and # again to accept.
  9. Hang up to disconnect from voicemail.

If you do not need to change your voicemail greeting, you can follow steps 1-5 above from any phone or these steps below from your desk phone.

  1. Press the State soft key. The availability states are displayed, and the active state is indicated with a check mark. 
  2. To select the Vacation availability state, do one of the following: 
    • On the key pad, press the number 4.
    • Use the navigation key to scroll to the Vacation availability state, and press the OK soft key.
  3. The availability state for your phone changes to Vacation.



To Change Current Availability State

From your desk phone

  1. Press the State soft key. The availability states are displayed, and the active state is indicated with a check mark. 
  2. To select a different availability state, do one of the following: 
    • On the key pad, press the number of the desired availability state. 
    • Use the  or navigation keys to scroll to the desired availability state, and press the OK soft key.
  3. The availability state for your phone changes to the selected state.

From another phone

  1. Call 973-408-4933.
  2. Enter your extension.
  3. Enter your password followed by #.
  4. Press 7 to change mailbox options.
  5. Press 2 to set your availability state.
  6. Press the number that corresponds to the state you wish to enable (these will be read to you).
    • 1 Available
    • 2 In a meeting
    • 3 Out of office
    • 4 Vacation
    • 5 Custom
    • 6 Do Not Disturb
    • * Cancel
  7. The availability state for your phone changes to the selected state.
  8. Hang up to disconnect from voicemail.