ame time as long as there are a sufficient number of ports (one caller ties up one port until the call is answered at the extension, freeing up the port for the next call.) Most Automated Attendant systems can respond only if the caller is using a touch-tone telephone, although a few respond to rotary dial signals. Some systems also recognize the spoken word such as yes, no or saying a number, a name or a phrase. This is called voice recognition. Since voice recognition does not work 100% of the time, the system can be set up to transfer the caller to a live person if the system does not under- stand the words spoken. The Telecom Handbook - 95 VOICE MAIL & AUTOMATED ATTENDANT Voice recognition is proving to be particularly useful in large corporations, especially when callers don't know the spelling of the name of the person they're calling and do not want to listen to a long list of options. When trying to use the voice mail directory, saying the name can be easier. The system can be set up to look for all possible spellings based upon the way the name is pronounced. Simultaneous answering of calls by an Automated Attendant requires the capability to provide multiple announcement record- ings SO that more than one caller can hear the announcement at the same time. When you use the Automated Attendant to dial an extension and that extension is not answered, after a few rings you will hear the person's Voice Mail: "This is Harry Newton. I'm not in my office. Please leave a message at the tone, or dial 0 to reach our switch- board attendant." You wait for the tone and leave a personal message for Harry Newton that only he can retrieve (by using a password). While you're leaving the message, you are using a port. When Harry retrieves the message, he is using a port. That's Voice Mail. Most larger organizations use Voice Mail to answer a direct telephone number belonging to an individual (also called a Di- rect Inward Dial number or DID). When that person it on the telephone or away from his desk, his Voice Mail gree