AT&T Merlin Plus User Manual page 9

CALL HANDLING
1-4 The MERLIN Attendant
Three types of call handling are available with the MERLIN Attendant:
Immediate Call Handling (See Figure 1-1)
Immediate call handling can be set up so that the MERLIN Attendant
answers these kinds of calls:
All incoming calls on all lines. The receptionist is required to help
callers who have a rotary telephone, or who need assistance, and to
act as a backup for the MERLIN Attendant to answer calls if the
MERLIN Attendant is busy.
All incoming calls on specified lines.
Backup Call Handling (See Figure 1-1)
Calls are answered by the MERLIN Attendant only when the receptionist
is unable to answer within a specified number of rings (2 to 6). To set the
number of rings, see "Call Processing Options" in Section 2, "Changing
the Current Settings."
After-Hours Call Handling
You can set the clock on the MERLIN Attendant so that the night
announcement plays whenever you indicate that your business is closed.
After-hours callers can be given the option to dial a route number, an
extension number, or leave a message on an answering machine. If Call
Forwarding or Remote Line Access is activated but all lines are busy,
callers will be transferred to the MERLIN Attendant and will hear the
night announcement.
Another option is to have the night announcement simply provide your
company's normal operating hours and disconnect without giving callers
the opportunity to dial a route. Customers can dial an extension number
while this announcement is playing.