Hmm, interesting. Is the answering machine able to answer two lines simultaniously at the very same time? What kind of answering machine do you have?



>My AT&T 2 liner has an input jack for line1, line2, and line1&2... i just put an answering machine inline for each incoming line and plug the output from the answering machine into the proper line input on the phone. Works like a charm...
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>>>I am wondering if I am mistaken in expecting something unreasonable from a small business telephone with 2 (or 4) lines and answering machine. I bought this phone a couple of days ago (AT&T Small Business System). But what I am finding is that when I am on line 2 and a call comes in on line 1 (or the other way around), the answering machine does not pick up. That is, the answering machine only picks up calls when the telephone is idle on all lines. To me it lack an important functionality, as I am maybe on the phone with an important customer and don't want to answer another call, yet I want the caller to be able to leave a message.
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>>>I called AT&T support and the guy from AT&T sounded like I am asking a very unreasonable question.
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>>>Is this a typical "feature" of all multi-line phones with answering machine or just AT&T?
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>>I do not know exactly whether it is a "typical feature", but it have never worked for me as you would need. Actually I cannot imagine how to implement this; as it works now, the phone (or any other receiving device) should be switched over lines.
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>>If, say, you are on the phone on one line, then you can hear that somebody is trying to reach you on the second line: then it is up to you to decide whether to interrupt and go to the second call or not. But how the answering mashine could do it?
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>>Another situation: the answering machine is answering the first line call. How it would simultaniously answer the call on the second line?
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>>Hope it made it a little bit clearer for you.