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Q.I know how to use a phone... why do I need to read this?
A.OK, smartass... try to check your messages. What? Can't find the "check messages button?" Thought so.
Q.What the hell kind of phone is this?
A.It's an IBM Rolm phone. They're pretty popular on college campuses because they're naturally condusive to large networks of users, and all the information can be stored on a single machine.
Q.How do I get an outside line?
A.If you just want to dial a local number (Like for pizza or something), just dial "78". It will beep, then you can go ahead and dial.
Q.What about when I have to call home?
A.If you're using a calling card, just dial "78", then the 1-800 number. If you're using the foxnet card (which is actually quite a deal) dial "8", wait for the beep, then dial your super-secret number, given to you on your little card. It will beep a couple more times. Now go ahead and call. Don't forget the 1 and the area code...
Q.Holy crap... the light is blinking.
A.Uh oh... you broke it. Just kidding. You have a message. If it's the first week of school, it's probably a message from the RA. Hell, it's probably 30 messages from your RA. By the end of your freshman year, you'll be able to delete messages from your RA without even thinking about it.
Q.How do I check those messages?
A.With the amount of work that it takes just to check your phone mail, you'd think you'd be getting only messages from the President, but alas, it's just the kid down the hall asking for his playstation back. Anyway, you have to dial into your voicemail account.
Depending on what dorm you're in, it'll be something around 3000. It will say what number to dial in the phone book that they gave you. Dial this number, and the nice lady will ask you where you're calling from. If you're on your own phone, just press the pound key (#). If you're at another phone, you have to identify yourself by entering in your phone number (the 4 number version). Once you enter that, it will ask you for your password. The default password is 111, which it will make you change the first time around. Once you get past the password part, you're in. To check messages, press "3". It will say how many messages you have, and let you listen to them. If you don't want to hear the lady talk, just press the "shut up" button... also known as star (*). Pressing "4" saves the message, "6" deletes it. There are more, but you don't care right now... and the book has better instructions anyway.
Q.Is there a way to fix that lady's damn voice?
A.Not really.. I've always wanted to have Danny DeVito telling me I have 3 messages, but so far, no dice. The best you can do is romp on the star button to skip whatever she's saying. If you really want to be a nerd, you can program the phone to give abbreviated prompts (explained on the ROLM reference page)
Q.How do I fix it so that it says my name and not just my phone number when I leave a message?
A.You have to log in to the phonemail service again (described a few lines above) Then press "8" and then "1" This gets you to the "change your greetings" page. There are three things you'll want to change. First, you'll want to record your name (well, your name and your roommate's name) This is so that when you leave a message on somebody else's machine, they will know who you are, rather than just "extension 5678". You'll also want to change your internal greeting and your external greeting. Save your "yo G, whassup, leave a muthaf*cking message" for the internal, and something along the lines of "we're out studying..." for the external one (for when the parents call).
Q.My girlfriend is supposed to call me, but I'm going to be down the hallway watching porn in a friend's room. Help!
A.She's got you wrapped around her little finger, eh? Not to worry... Hit pound-9 and the number where you're going to be. When you put the reciever down, it will blink like it's on crack. Now when your girlfriend calls, the phone in your friend's room will ring. To set it back to normal, do it again, but just put in your phone number. Just remember to have the mute button handy.
Q.Anything else?
A.If you knew everything there was to know about these damn phones, you wouldn't have enough room left to remember your own name. The stuff here will be enough to get you around with some proficiency. But if you really want to get to know your ne ROLM phone, we suggest you check out When in ROLM a very informative and amusing article written by the fine folks at Decweb. With a little practice, you'll be able to do it blindfolded and drunk. Concentrate, grasshopper.

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ROLM Quick Reference

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	Q.I know how to use a phone... why do I need to read this? A.OK, smartass... try to check your messages. What? Can't find the "check messages button?" Thought so. Q.What the hell kind of phone is this? A.It's an IBM Rolm phone. They're pretty popular on college campuses because they're naturally condusive to large networks of users, and all the information can be stored on a single machine. Q.How do I get an outside line? A.If you just want to dial a local number (Like for pizza or something), just dial "78". It will beep, then you can go ahead and dial. Q.What about when I have to call home? A.If you're using a calling card, just dial "78", then the 1-800 number. If you're using the foxnet card (which is actually quite a deal) dial "8", wait for the beep, then dial your super-secret number, given to you on your little card. It will beep a couple more times. Now go ahead and call. Don't forget the 1 and the area code... Q.Holy crap... the light is blinking. A.Uh oh... you broke it. Just kidding. You have a message. If it's the first week of school, it's probably a message from the RA. Hell, it's probably 30 messages from your RA. By the end of your freshman year, you'll be able to delete messages from your RA without even thinking about it. Q.How do I check those messages? A.With the amount of work that it takes just to check your phone mail, you'd think you'd be getting only messages from the President, but alas, it's just the kid down the hall asking for his playstation back. Anyway, you have to dial into your voicemail account. Depending on what dorm you're in, it'll be something around 3000. It will say what number to dial in the phone book that they gave you. Dial this number, and the nice lady will ask you where you're calling from. If you're on your own phone, just press the pound key (#). If you're at another phone, you have to identify yourself by entering in your phone number (the 4 number version). Once you enter that, it will ask you for your password. The default password is 111, which it will make you change the first time around. Once you get past the password part, you're in. To check messages, press "3". It will say how many messages you have, and let you listen to them. If you don't want to hear the lady talk, just press the "shut up" button... also known as star (). Pressing "4" saves the message, "6" deletes it. There are more, but you don't care right now... and the book has better instructions anyway. Q.Is there a way to fix that lady's damn voice? A.Not really.. I've always wanted to have Danny DeVito telling me I have 3 messages, but so far, no dice. The best you can do is romp on the star button to skip whatever she's saying. If you really want to be a nerd, you can program the phone to give abbreviated prompts (explained on the ROLM reference page) Q.How do I fix it so that it says my name and not just my phone number when I leave a message? A.You have to log in to the phonemail service again (described a few lines above) Then press "8" and then "1" This gets you to the "change your greetings" page. There are three things you'll want to change. First, you'll want to record your name (well, your name and your roommate's name) This is so that when you leave a message on somebody else's machine, they will know who you are, rather than just "extension 5678". You'll also want to change your internal greeting and your external greeting. Save your "yo G, whassup, leave a muthafcking message" for the internal, and something along the lines of "we're out studying..." for the external one (for when the parents call). Q.My girlfriend is supposed to call me, but I'm going to be down the hallway watching porn in a friend's room. Help! A.She's got you wrapped around her little finger, eh? Not to worry... Hit pound-9 and the number where you're going to be. When you put the reciever down, it will blink like it's on crack. Now when your girlfriend calls, the phone in your friend's room will ring. To set it back to normal, do it again, but just put in your phone number. Just remember to have the mute button handy. Q.Anything else? A.If you knew everything there was to know about these damn phones, you wouldn't have enough room left to remember your own name. The stuff here will be enough to get you around with some proficiency. But if you really want to get to know your ne ROLM phone, we suggest you check out When in ROLM a very informative and amusing article written by the fine folks at Decweb. With a little practice, you'll be able to do it blindfolded and drunk. Concentrate, grasshopper.
ROLM Quick Reference