Answering machines were introduced to help people avoid missing important calls.
Answering machines used to be the only way to record calls made to your phone, but now voicemail is included as an optional service on land lines and cell phones. Decide which option you want. Answering machines, which vary in price, are useful if you want to keep a hard copy of messages. Voicemail is included as a small additional fee on your monthly phone bill and has the advantage of being accessible from any phone.
Instructions
Answering Machines
1. Purchase an answering phone at an electronics or phone store. Different models have more storage space and some use removable tapes. Compare the different models and select the one that's best for you.
2. Unpack and connect your answering machine. Plug your phone into the answering machine, and your answering machine into a wall socket.
3. Insert a cassette if your model of answering machine uses tape.
4. Record your answering machine message--the message people will hear when they call your phone.
5. Access the menu and set the number of rings before your phone switches over to the answering machine. The default is usually four rings.
Voicemail
6. Contact your service provider and ask for voicemail service. Many providers offer different kinds of voicemail, such as video voicemail or text-to-voicemail service, which records text messages to your land line and reads them back to you in an automated voice.
7. Access your voicemail and set a passcode for your phone, which will allow you to access your voicemail from any phone.
8. Select the option to record the message you want people to hear when they call you. If you don't record your own message, callers will likely be greeted by a default message informing them to leave a message.
9. Set the number of rings it takes for your phone to go to voicemail. This option is available from the same automated menu you accessed to record your voicemail message.
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