Vg7 Outdial Problems

[diabco]

We are using VG7 with the dialer to play outgoing messages to our patient database. Many of these calls are local phone numbers and do not require a '1' prefix or area code. Some of the local calls require a '1' prefix but no area code. When we prepare a phone number list we usually have a big mix of local and long distance numbers, usually hundreds in a batch. All of the phone numbers in the database have an area code. Is there any way to configure VG dialer to identify local calls that do not need a prefix or area code? We have seen this feature in a fax application (ZetaFax), and have been questioned on this issue by many of our VG users.

[SupportTeam]

Some of the local calls require a '1' prefix but no area code.

How would you determine if a number requires a "1" prefix but no area code? (as opposed to no "1" prefix an no area code).

 

Sounds like in other cases you can just have a rule that does this: "Add a prefix if a number is longer then X characters" with you being able to specify the X, right?

 

But you also say that:

All of the phone numbers in the database have an area code

I assume that if a local area code is specified you can still add a "1" in front of it, as dialing 1+ local area code + phone number is usually the same as dialing the local number directly, is this how it works on your telephone lines? Or are you not allowed to dial local numbers by using "1"+ "local area code" prefix?

 

If you are able to dial local numbers by specifying "1" + "local area code" + "phone number" then you'd be able to just add "1" to all the numbers, as you say that all numbers have the area code. And adding a prefix to all the numbers is already handled by the telephone number loader.

[allstatesmed]

For certain prefixes it is mandatory to dial a one. For example, the local area code could be 828. To make most local calls, we do not need to dial a 1 + area code. But in some regions, it IS mandatory to dial the area code (NOT the 1) depending on the prefix of the phone number. Usually you can find this on some internet database that will tell you which prefixes need to be dialed this way.

In programs like Microsoft fax service and Symantec's WinFax, you are able to input in the system which prefixes require you to dial the area code.

 

Contrary to your example, we cannot dial a 1 + area code for ALL numbers because if it's not required, the phone call will result in an error.

[SupportTeam]

To make most local calls, we do not need to dial a 1 + area code.

So in these cases if the local area's area code is dialed the outgoing call would not succeed. Does this apply to both Analog and Digital ISDN lines, or just to analog lines?

 

But in some regions, it IS mandatory to dial the area code (NOT the 1) depending on the prefix of the phone number.

By "prefix of the phone number" you mean the first 3 digits of the 7 digit phone number, yes?

 

Usually you can find this on some internet database that will tell you which prefixes need to be dialed this way.

Do you have a link to any of these sites? I assume that hey would list the area codes and the prefixes affected for each are code, yes?

 

So it sounds like a possible approach would be to ask user to specify the area code of the telephone number associated with the line plugged into the IVR, and then strip out any area codes or "1+area code" from any numbers dialed, with exception of those numbers whose first 3 digits (of the 7) are in a certain set. Is that basically right?

[allstatesmed]

So in these cases if the local area's area code is dialed the outgoing call would not succeed. Does this apply to both Analog and Digital ISDN lines, or just to analog lines?

I know Analog lines are this way, I'm not sure about Digital lines

 

By "prefix of the phone number" you mean the first 3 digits of the 7 digit phone number, yes?

Yes

 

Do you have a link to any of these sites? I assume that hey would list the area codes and the prefixes affected for each are code, yes?

Sorry, but can't find the site we've used in the past. A lot of times it was just trial and error in gathering these prefixes that needed the area code dialed.

 

So it sounds like a possible approach would be to ask user to specify the area code of the telephone number associated with the line plugged into the IVR, and then strip out any area codes or "1+area code" from any numbers dialed, with exception of those numbers whose first 3 digits (of the 7) are in a certain set. Is that basically right?

See attached screenshot of Windows' Area Code Rules that help with this issue when using the PC's modem. You basically instruct the modem how it should dial numbers with the included prefixes.

 

 

 

[SupportTeam]

We may add a "Dialing Rules" tab to the Telephone Number Loader application.

 

At this stage it looks like using the following rule template should cover all of requirements that people who use this page may have.

 

The proposed rule template a this stage is:

 

For numbers starting with "%prefix%" trim %X% leading digits and then add prefix "%addthis%"

 

eg a set of rules could be:

 

For numbers starting with "828" trim 3 leading digits and then add prefix ""

For numbers starting with "828123" trim 0 leading digits and then add prefix ""

 

With the longest prefix match taking precedence.

 

eg. if above two rules were used the number 8285551111 would be dialed as 5551111, and number 8281234444 would be dialed as 8281234444. The "Prefix to add" setting specified on the "Phone Numbers" page is ignored and the "%addthis% prefix setting from the matching rule is used.

 

If anyone has better suggestions of how to structure the rules or can provide an reason of why the above rules may be inadequate then please let us know.