Student Local Phone Service
Each dorm room has a permanently assigned telephone number. Students are responsible for supplying a phone. See current rates for local telephone service.
NOTE: When you arrive in your dorm room, your telephone outlet is active. This is only temporary. One of the residents of the room must sign up to avoid having the service disconnected. You'll need your NetID and password to manage your account online.
Standard service features
Voice mail
Duke includes voice mail with your basic telephone service. Voice mail answers your calls after approximately five rings and plays an automated greeting that prompts callers to press 1, 2, or 3 (depending on the number of roommates) to leave a private message. Each roommate has a separate voice mailbox and security code, which keeps messages confidential. Each voice mailbox holds a maximum of 10 messages.
Learn how to use voice mail.
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Call waiting/call waiting deny
Call waiting is active when your telephone service is established. If you choose to ignore a call waiting tone and have initialized your voice mailbox, voice mail will answer the call. You can also deny call waiting on your line.
To answer a call waiting tone
- Press Flash (or depress the switchhook) briefly. You'll be connected to the caller.
To return to the original call
- Press Flash (or depress the switchhook) again.
To deny (deactivate) call waiting
- Listen for dial tone.
- Call *86. Listen for stutter confirmation tone.
- Hang up.
To reactivate call waiting
- Listen for dial tone.
- Call *85. Listen for stutter confirmation tone.
- Hang up.
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Three-way calling
Three-way calling is active when telephone service is established.
To create a three-way call
- While on a call, press Flash (or depress the switchhook) briefly. Listen for stutter dial tone.
- Dial the desired third party. Wait for the party to answer.
- Press Flash (or depress the switchhook) briefly. All three parties are connected.
Tip: If the desired third party does not answer or the line is busy, press Flash (or depress the switchhook briefly) twice to return to the original party.
Important! When you disconnect from a call,
wait at least 5 seconds before you place your next call. Otherwise, you may inadvertently create a three-way call. If you're placing long distance calls, this can result in your being billed for two simultaneous calls. If you haven't completely disconnected from your first call and try to place another one too soon, you'll hear a stutter dial tone, indicating you're creating a three-way call. If this happens, hang up again and wait at least 5 seconds (until you hear a smooth dial tone) before placing your next call. When you sign your OIT service contract, you agree not to dispute charges for any simultaneous calls resulting from improper disconnection.
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Optional features
"Big Three" calling features
You can upgrade your basic telephone service with Big Three calling features:
- Caller ID: Displays the telephone number of an incoming call on your caller ID-enabled telephone or caller ID unit.
- Recall busy: When you hear a busy signal, dial *66 and hang up. Your phone will alert you with a special ring when the line is no longer busy.
- Last number call return: When you miss a call, dial *69 to call the number of the last person who called you. If the call was from a long distance number, you'll need your SAC to complete the call.
Optional private line service
Occupants of a room share one telephone line and number. Voice mail answers the line and allows callers to leave a private message for each occupant who has initialized his/her voice mailbox.
If you'd prefer to have a separate telephone line, OIT can install one for you. A one-time installation fee will apply.
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