Interposed Lines; Other Connections - AT&T Merlin 206 Manual

Interposed Lines:

Even though Classic Mail Telephone Emulation operates just as a person does when answering calls coming in on
outside lines, it can't answer a call from someone calling on a Merlin intercom line. The reason is simple: The
Classic Mail interacts with a caller, offering a menu of choices and taking action on the caller's selections. A caller
may indicate which menu choices they would like to select by pressing the touch tone key that corresponds with
the desired selection. The Classic Mail detects and decodes this touch tone key press and takes the appropriate
action. Without the tones, the Classic Mail can't interact with callers and, unfortunately, the Merlin does not
generate touch tone on the intercom lines.
So how can a mailbox owner interact with the Classic Mail to send and receive messages? One way is to call in on
an outside line. This is exactly what mailbox owners do when they call the Classic Mail from outside the office.
But how can they use a Merlin telephone to get their messages? The Classic Mail can be connected to vacant
Tel.Co. ports to provide voice mail access. Since Merlin telephones can generate touch tone when connected to a
Merlin Tel.Co. line connection, a mailbox owner may access voice mail by selecting any one of up to four Tel.Co.
lines that have been dedicated to the Classic Mail., If vacant ports are not available to provide dedicated voice
mail access, the Classic Mail can be interposed with existing telephone lines to provide voice mail access. By
interposing the incoming telephone lines with the Classic Mail, the user can time-share inbound and outbound
calls with voice mail access calls. Instead of making a call, the user may select an interposed voice mail access line
and signal the Classic Mail that they wish to open a mailbox. Mailbox owners do this by pressing the star button
on a Merlin telephone after selecting a voice mail access line. The Classic Mail will recognize this signal and ask
the caller for a mailbox number and password before allowing entry into any mailbox. As long as the user is
connected to the Classic Mail via the Merlin outside line connection, they can navigate the Classic Mail menus to
send and receive messages. Of course, while the mailbox owner is using a time-shared line to interact with the
Classic Mail, that line is busy, just as it would be if an outside call was being made. All incoming calls to that line
will receive a busy signal. For this reason, dedicated voice mail access is recommended for installations that have
vacant Tel.Co. ports available. A combination of dedicated and time-share access may also be used as well.

Other Connections:

Power Plug - connects an external wall-mounted power supply.
Message Light Panel - connects the optional panel that provides message waiting notification.
Diagnostic Button - used for manufacturing testing only.
Expansion Key Connector - used to upgrade to 4 port and 10/30 operation.
RS-232 - used for manufacturing testing only.
Classic Mail Installation Package - Page 24