Second Phone Line

[DanielAbrams]

I need a second phone line with its own Voice Mail. I currently have Smart Ring, but it shares Voice Mail with home number. No good. So. I'm guessing IO require a second phone line. Yes? If so, what are the steps and costs?

[NFtoBC]

Some answering machines can detect distinctive ring. Not as neat a solution as voicemail, but a possibility. Else you will need to call Telus to set up a second line, or look to a VoIP solution. 

[DanielAbrams]

Great idea, thanks! No luck unfortunately finding an answering machine that has that capability.

[NFtoBC]

Search for "Distinctive Ring Router" or Distinctive Ring Switch". Might be cheaper and simpler to look to a VoIP service, though.

[DanielAbrams]

Yeah, decided to go for MagicJack and inexpensive dedicated phone/answering machine to plugin to MagicJack. Be about $80 total for both at London Drugs. MagicJack free for first year on equipment purchase, and only $3 a month after that. Quite reasonable.

[NFtoBC]

Did you get to keep your number?

[DanielAbrams]

I now have three numbers: original home # and smart #. I use smart # for dedicated FAX line. New (MagicJack #) I'm using for business # that I wanted to use smart # for. I wanted to have dedicated FAX # for home and business anyways. Getting complicated 🙂