Learn about the BC voicemail system for faculty, staff, and students.
Ways to Access Voicemail
Voicemail Setup
- Dial 2-4006 (on-campus) or 617-552-4006 (off-campus).
- Log in using your 5-digit extension (or 6-digits for shared box) and the voicemail password/PIN given to you by the Help Center—617-552-HELP (4357).
- Change your voicemail password/PIN. It cannot include sequential, identical, or adjacent numbers (e.g., 12345, 11111, or 14725).
- Record your name.
- Record and activate any custom greetings.
Online Voicemail Services
- Go to vmail.bc.edu or log in to Agora Portal and click Voicemail.
- For mailbox number, enter the last 5-digits of your phone number (or 6-digits for shared boxes).
- For password, enter your voicemail password/PIN (Personal Identification Number) & click Login.
The web interface provides many options to manage your voicemail. After logging in, access these options by selecting the tabs in the menu across the right of your screen.
Click the Inbox tab to access these options.
The voice messages that are currently in your Inbox are listed with the most recently received at the top. If there are any urgent messages then these are listed separately, above the non-urgent messages.
- New Messages: Messages that have not been listened to are listed using a bold type.
- Saved Messages: Messages that have previously been listened to are listed in plain type.
Working With Your Messages
To update the message list: Click "check for new messages."
To delete messages: Check the box to the left of the message you want to delete, then click delete above (or below) the column of checkboxes.
Listen to a Voicemail
From your Inbox, click Voice Message in the Subject column for the message you want to hear. A message details screen displays. Select Voice Message to hear the message.
Forward a Message by Email
From the message details screen, select forward in the lower right corner. An email forwarding screen displays, and the message is an attached WAV file. Enter the email address(es) you want to send it to, customize the message (if desired), and then click Send in the lower right corner.
Save a Message
From the play screen, select the download button. You are prompted to save the message, and can rename it.
Select Save. Your message is saved to your computer, and, like any other file, will remain on your device until you delete it.
Click the Greetings tab to access these options.
Use the drop-down list to select which of your recorded greetings you want callers to hear. Make sure you have already recorded the greeting you select, otherwise the system default will be played instead. Note: Your greetings can only be recorded via phone.
Click the Personal tab to access these options:
- To be notified by email that you have a new voicemail message, enter your email address.
- To receive an email every time you get a new voicemail, select on next to email notification.
- To get text transcriptions of voicemail messages via email, select on next to email transcription.
Be sure to select save (in the upper right corner) after making any changes.
You can also change your voicemail password (PIN) on this page.
Click the Telephone interface settings tab to choose how you listen to and send messages. Using the default Telephone menu settings is recommended.
Listening Options
- message retrieval - first in, first out means you will hear your earliest messages first.
- message headers - choose whether or not you want to hear a summary of the time, caller, etc. before the message is played.
- new message deletion - choose whether or not you have to listen to an entire message before deleting it. Note: If you choose can't delete messages without listening you will not be able to delete a message until you listen to it in its entirety.
- automatic saving - choosing autosave after listening will keep every message as new until you delete it.
Sending Options
For voice messages you want to send, choose if you want to record the message first, then choose to whom you are sending, or vice versa.
Click the Notification tab to access options to be sent a text message whenever you have a new voicemail.
- To create a schedule for when you want to be notified, next to notification, select "activate schedules below."
- To activate the schedule you are creating, click "on" next to "schedule status."
- Select the notification level. Selecting Urgent means you will receive messages marked as urgent first.
- In primary device, select the service provider for the device you want your messages sent to (Verizion, AT&T, etc.)
- In primary number, enter the device's phone number.
- Repeat the process if you want to add a second backup device.
- Enter the day(s) and start/end times for the notifications. Enter the time using a 24:00 clock (for example, enter 17:00 for 5:00 p.m.).
- Click save.
Click the Alternative numbers tab to access options to allow you to give callers other options to reach you, including:
- call forwarding number: Any calls received are forwarded to this number (for off-campus numbers, enter the 10-digit number). Note: Be sure to test the setup by calling your BC phone to make sure it works as expected.
- assistant number: Callers have the option to connect to an assistant (when they press 5).
- reach-me number: Callers have the option to connect to another number (when they press 3) - another extension or cell phone number, for example.
- operator number: Callers have the option to connect to an operator (when they press 0) - a main departmental number, for example.
- caller id: Determines how the incoming call is seen at the number it's being forwarded to. If you set up a call forwarding number, set this at Original calling party to view the number of the caller.
Click the Remote message settings tab to choose how you will receive your voicemails - by phone, email, or both.
- save messages in mailbox only: your messages are saved in your mailbox and can be accessed by phone or using the web interface.
- send all messages via email, do not save in mailbox: your messages are sent to you as email transcript with audio attachments (WAV files) and are not accessible in your phone mail box nor the web interface.
- save messages in the mailbox and send via email: your messages will be accessible by phone, using the web interface, via email text transcript, and a WAV audio file will be emailed to you.
Creating Distribution Lists
To create distribution lists to send the same voice message to everyone on the list:
- Click the Distribution Lists tab.
- Enter a number for your list. Use any number you want, as long as you do not already have a list with that number.
- Select Create new distribution list.
- Enter the 5-digit phone numbers of the people you want to add to the list and select add after adding each number.
The person's extension and name will display in the list below. - When you have added everyone, click close.
Sending Voicemail to a Group (Distribution List)
- Dial 2-4006 to access your voicemail.
- Press 2 to record the message.
- When prompted to send, press 1 ("Enter the number of the recipient").
- Enter your distribution list number, then press #.
- You have the option to listen to the message (press 1), send to the list (press 2), or re-record (press 4).
Mobile App
In addition to listening to your messages on the phone, you can also listen to and manage your messages using a mobile app.
Installing the App
- iPhones: Search for ThinkRite Voice Client in the AppStore
- Androids: Search for ThinkRite Voice Client in Google Play Store
Using the App
Before setting up the app, set up your voicemail via phone.
The first time you open the app on your device, you are prompted to log in. Use this information to log in:
- Your BC email address in this format: username@bc.edu
- You mailbox is the last 5-digits of your BC phone number (or 6-digits for shared boxes)
- Your voicemail password/PIN
FAQ
The last 5 digits of your phone number. Example: If your phone number is 617-655-1234, your extension is 5-1234.
For shared mailboxes: For your extension number, type in your full phone number and then your assigned box number. For example, if your number is 552-4357 and your assigned box number is 2, then type: 55243572.
Your voicemail password is your PIN. Your initial voicemail password/PIN will be given to you by the Help Center (617-552-4357). You will be required to change it at first login. Your PIN cannot include sequential, identical, or adjacent numbers (ex. 12345, 11111, or 14725).
If you forget your voicemail password/PIN, you can have it reset at vmail.bc.edu or by calling the Help Center at 617-552-HELP (4357).
To change your voicemail password/PIN:
- Via phone: Log in to your voicemail via phone. Call 2-4006 (on-campus) or 617-552-4006 (off-campus) and press 4 from the main menu; then press 3 and follow the prompts.
- Via the web: Log in to vmail.bc.edu and click the Personal tab. You can change your voicemail password/PIN at the bottom of the page.
All voicemail messages will be retained for an unlimited amount of time (until you delete them). You have to delete them to remove them from your voicemail box.
Are you getting voicemail via email?
Voicemails will remain in your voicemail box until you delete them (unless you have opted to not have messages saved in your mailbox). If you do not delete the voicemail, your phone will indicate that you have a new voicemail, even after you get the email transcript of the message.
Need to save a message for legal reasons?
You can save voicemail via the web at vmail.bc.edu. With any issues of this type, you should contact the Boston College Police Department.
You can have 200 voicemail messages (new & saved). There is no limit on the length of each message.
If you deleted a voicemail message, you can undelete it by phone until midnight that night.
To undelete a message: Log in to your voicemail via phone; call 2-4006 (on-campus) or 617-552-4006 (off-campus) and press 5 from the main menu, then press 8 and follow the prompts.
For your extension number, type in your full phone number and then your assigned box number. For example, if your number is 552-4357 and your assigned box number is 2, then type: 55243572.
Assistant Number
The Assistant number is the number your caller will be transferred to when they press 5 when listening to your greeting. This number can be set up to be the phone number of someone who could be of help to the majority of your callers (an assistant, co-worker, boss, etc).
To setup the Assistant number, press 5 on the Main menu, then press 2 and follow the prompts. Or setup the Assistant number on the Alternative numbers tab on Voicemail via the web (vmail.bc.edu).
Operator Number
The Operator number is the number your caller will be transferred to when they press 0 when listening to your greeting. This would typically be set to a main departmental number, for example.
To setup the Operator number, press 9 on the Main menu, then press 8 and follow the prompts. Or setup the Operator number on the Alternative numbers tab on Voicemail via the web (vmail.bc.edu).
ReachMe Number
The ReachMe number is the number your caller will be transferred to when they press 3 when listening to your greeting. This number can be any number in the continental US.
To setup the ReachMe number, press 5 on the Main menu, then press 1 and follow the prompts. Or setup the ReachMe number on the Alternative numbers tab on Voicemail via the web (vmail.bc.edu).