Calling Features
Southwest Texas Communications offers many enhanced features that will allow you to use your telephone more effectively. We have divided these features into five categories including: Caller Identification, Call Forwarding, Miscellaneous Items, Privacy Services, and Voice Mail Options. The specifics of Call Forwarding including details, operation, and price are discussed on this page. Select one of the feature categories from the menu above to see information for feature. Contact our business office to request any of these features. Our customer service representatives are ready to assist you. No additional service charges apply if a feature is included in the initial service installation. A $5.00 service charge will be applied if a feature is added or changed at a later time.
- Fixed. The receiving number is is designated by the subscriber when the service is ordered and the service is always active.
- Variable. The receiving number may be changed by the subscriber as desired and the service may be turned on and off.
- Activate:
- Press * 9 0
- Enter the Receiving Number
- Deactivate:
- Press * 9 1
- Wait for the Confirmation Tone
- Activate:
- Press * 6 8
- Deactivate:
- Press * 8 8
- Fixed. The receiving number is is designated by the subscriber when the service is ordered and the service is always active.
- Variable. The receiving number may be changed by the subscriber as desired and the service may be turned on and off.
- Activate:
- Press * 9 2
- Enter the Receiving Number
- Deactivate:
- Press * 9 3
- Wait for the Confirmation Tone
- Press * 6 3
- Follow the Instructions to:
- Turn Forwarding On or Off
- Change the Forwarding List
- Enter the Receiving Number
- Confirm the Receiving Number
- Change the Receiving Number
- 0 – Repeat the Instructions
- 1 – Review the Forwarding List
- 3 – Turn Forwarding On or Off
- # – Add a Number to the Forwarding List
- (dial 12 on rotary phones)
- * – Delete a Number from the Forwarding List
- (dial 11 on rotary phones)
- 8 – Delete all Numbers from the Forwarding List
- Change or Deactivate:
- Press Your 3-digit Exchange Prefix + 1 9 8 8
- Follow the Instructions to:
- You may activate or deactive your Call Forwarding by following steps for Call Forward.
- Activate:
- Press * 7 2
- Wait for a Dial Tone
- Enter the Receiving Number
- Wait for the Confirmation Tone
- Deactivate:
- Press * 7 3
- Wait for the second full ring when you are called.
- The name and telephone number of the calling party will appear on your display.
- Refer to the instructions for your Caller ID display device for more information.
- Press * 6 9
- The Last Calling Number is Announced
- Press 1 to Return the Call
- Hang Up to Not Return the Call
- An Announcement May Say the Line is Busy
- Hang Up
- A Short-Short-Long Ring Shows the Line is Free
- Lift the Handset to Initiate the Call
- Press the flash button or depress and release the switch hook to put the original party on hold when you are notified of the incoming call by a Call Waiting alert tone. You are then connected to the calling party.
- Press the flash button or depress and release the switch hook once for each transfer to alternate between parties.
- Simply hang up if you wish to end the original conversation when you hear the Call Waiting alert tone. Your telephone then rings and you are connected to the new calling party.
- Press * 7 0
- Wait for a New Dial Tone
- Dial the Telephone Number
The name and telephone number of the calling party on a Call Waiting call will be shown on your Caller ID display in addition to hearing the normal Call Waiting tone. Available at no charge.
Distinctive Ring allows you to have a second telephone number without adding a second line. The original telephone number and the Distinctive Ring number are published as separate numbers, but both ring on your existing telephone line. The Distinctive Ring number will ring with a unique pattern so that you know someone is calling the second number. This unique ring is also recognized by most facsimile machines. You can publish a separate number for your fax machine and leave it connected to your main telephone line without interfering with normal voice calls. Only one call can be made or received at a time, even if you have more than one telephone on the line. $2.00 per month, discounted to $1.00 per month if combined with any other feature.
- Press * 6 1
- Follow the Instructions to:
- Turn Priority Ringing On or Off
- Change the Priority Ringing List
- 0 – Repeat Instructions
- 1 – Review the Priority Ringing List
- 3 – Turn Priority Ringing On or Off
- # – Add a Number to the Priority Ringing List
- * – Delete a Number from the Priority Ringing List
- 8 – Delete all Numbers from the Priority Ringing List
You will hear a short-long-short ring or call waiting tone when Priority Ringing is turned on and you are called by one of the specified numbers. Calls from all other numbers will have a normal ring.
- Hang Up On a Busy Signal
- Lift the Receiver
- Wait for a Dial Tone
- Press * 6 6
- Wait for an Announcement or Three Beeps
- Hang Up
- Listen for a Short-Short-Long Ring
- Lift the Handset to Initiate the Call
- 8 Number. The speed dialing codes are the single digits 2–9. You can initiate and change the codes from your telephone.$1.50 per month.
- 30 Number. The speed dialing codes are the double digits 20–49. You provide a list of numbers to us and we program the codes for you. $2.50 per month.
- Add a Number to the Speed Dial 8 List:
- Press * 7 5
- Enter the Speed Dial Code Number
- Dial the Telephone Number to be Stored
- Wait 4 Seconds for 2 Confirmation Tones
- Hang Up
- Initiate a call to the first party.
- Depress the switch hook or flash button, then listen for three beeps and a steady dial tone. The present call is placed on hold.
- Dial the third party’s telephone number. Depress the switch hook or flash button twice to reconnect the first call if the new line is busy or doesn’t answer.
- Depress the switch hook or flash button once to initiate the three-way call after the third party answers. You may privately converse with the third party as long as you wish before establishing the three-way call.
This feature allows you to control long distance calls being placed from your telephone. Long distance calls can be made only with the use of a Personal Identification Number (PIN). $1.50 per month.
- To Use:
- Dial number desired (1-830-xxx-xxxx)
- The message “this call is not permitted” will be heard.
- Enter Passcode.
- Change Your PIN:
- Press * 1 2
- Wait 4 Seconds
- Enter Old PIN
- Wait for a Dial Tone
- Enter New PIN (3–7 digits)
- Wait for a Dial Tone
- Re-enter New PIN to Verify
The Inside Wiring Protection Plan covers wiring and jacks in one structure. We will determine if the trouble is with the wiring and jacks or with your customer provided equipment such as answering machines, fax machines, and telephones. The plan does not include repairing such customer provided equipment.
- Press * 6 4
- Follow the Instructions to:
- Turn Call Acceptance On or Off
- Change the Call Acceptance List
- 0 – Repeat Instructions
- 1 – Review the Call Acceptance List
- 3 – Turn Call Acceptance On or Off
- # – Add a Number to the Call Acceptance List
- * – Delete a Number from the Call Acceptance List
- 8 – Delete a Number from the Call Acceptance List
- Fixed. The ACR service is always active.
- Variable. The subscriber must manually activate or deactive ACR.
- Activate:
- Press * 7 7
- Deactivate:
- Press * 8 7
- Press * 6 0
- Follow the Instructions to:
- Turn Call Screening On or Off
- Change the Call Screening List
- 0 – Repeat Instructions
- 1 – Review the Call Screening List
- 3 – Turn Call Screening On or Off
- # – Add a Number to the Call Screening List
- * – Delete a Number from the Call Screening List
- 8 – Delete all Numbers from the Call Screening List
- Hang Up on the Annoying Call
- Lift the Receiver
- Wait for a Dial Tone
- Press * 6 0
- Wait for the Instructions
- Press # 0 1 #
- Hang Up on the Annoying Call
- Lift the Receiver
- Wait for a Dial Tone
- Press * 5 7
- Wait for the Tone or Announcement
Now you can choose when you wish to answer calls from telemarketers. You have the option to activate and deactivate the Telemarketing—Do Not Disturb feature. The calling party hears the message: You have called a number which does not accept calls from telemarketers. If you are not a telemarketer and wish to complete this call, please press 1, when you activate this feature. $0.00 per month.
- Press * 8 2
- Dial the Telephone Number You Are Calling
- Your Information Will Display on the Recipient’s Caller ID Device
- Press * 6 7
- Dial the Telephone Number You Are Calling
- The Recipient’s Caller ID Device Will Display a Message such as Private or Anonymous
Your information will be blocked only on those calls where you have entered * 6 7 prior to dialing the telephone number.
- Messages may be Left from Any Telephone
- Greeting may be Personalized from Any Touch Tone Telephone
- PIN may be Changed from Any Touch Tone Telephone
- Messages may be Retrieved from Any Touch Tone Telephone
- Messages are Notated with the Time, Date, and Caller’s Telephone Number
- Daily Notification is Given for New Messages (turn on/off)
- Confirmation is Provided before Message Deletion
- Forwarding to Voice Mail is Automatic on No Answer
- Stutter Dial Tone Alerts You to a New Message
- Messages may be Edited by the Caller
- Enter the Voice Mail Telephone Number
- Press * During the Greeting Message
- You are Prompted to Enter Your PIN
- Enter the PIN followed by the # Symbol
- Main Menu:
- 1 – Listen to New Messages
- 2 – Listen to Saved Messages
- 7 – Play Current Date and Time
- 9 – Setup Options (change greeting, PIN, etc.)
- * – Return to Main Menu
- 30 Second Greeting
- Storage for 10 One Minute Incoming Messages
- Old and New Messages Maintained for Seven Days
- 60 Second Greeting
- Storage for 20 One Minute Incoming Messages
- Old and New Messages Maintained for 14 Days
- Urgent Notification or Per Message Notification (turn on/off)
- Call Forward Busy or Call Waiting
One to five additional mailboxes may be added to the system. This allows multiple family members, employees, or business divisions to each have their own greeting and to receive their messages separately. An initial greeting explains each mailbox and asks the caller to make a selection. The specific message for the selected mailbox is then played and the caller leaves their message in that location. $1.00 per month for each additional mailbox plus a one-time $5.00 activation charge.
A greeting-only or Announcement mailbox delivers a greeting or informational message to the caller, but does not allow the caller to leave a message. Thirty seconds is allowed for the announcement with the option to add additional time. $0.00 per month.
Customized voice mail is available for customers with special needs. Contact our business office for help designing a plan with the features that will work best for you and your family or business. We will quote prices for Custom Voice Mail on a case-by-case basis.
Voice Mail is easy to set up, but many customers prefer to have us handle everything. Our business office will record a greeting and set up your notification options for you as an optional service. $10.00.