Extension numbers allow large companies to connect callers to different departments and employees. There are several short routes to saving time when calling company extension numbers. Thanks to the advanced operating system, you can even program your smartphone to suppress its own extensions.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Using a Smartphone
Step 1. Dial the number you want to call
Open the dial pad and enter the number you want to call.
Step 2. Add a “pause” if you are going to enter the extension as soon as the phone is picked up
If you can enter the extension immediately after picking up the phone, the “pause” function will automatically enter the extension number after waiting a while:
- Press and hold the * key to add a comma (,) at the end of the number. This symbol represents a two second pause before the extension is pressed. If you can't press and hold the * button, tap the (⋮) button after the phone number and select Add pause. If this doesn't work either, tap the number field to open your on-screen keyboard, then type in a comma.
- You can add some commas to wait longer. This method may be useful for phone systems that require a pause before you can enter an extension number.
- On Windows phones, you have to type a comma in another app, copy it, and then paste it at the end of the phone number.
Step 3. Add a “pause” if the extension can only be pressed after the entire menu has been played
Some extensions cannot be entered until the entire menu service is autoplayed or before certain options are selected. The “pause” function will display the extension on your screen and you will specify when the extension should be entered.
- Press and hold the # key to add a semicolon (;) to the end of the phone number. This symbol represents a pause and the next extension will not be pressed until you command it.
- If you are using a Windows phone, you must add "w" instead of ";". These letters must be copied and pasted from other applications that can be used for typing.
Step 4. Type the extension number after your symbol
After adding the pause symbol, type in the number of the extension that you want your smartphone to automatically dial.
Step 5. Call the number
Your phone will call the number. After dialing the number, depending on the symbol you used, your smartphone will either press the extension you entered (,) or you will be prompted to specify which extension to press (;).
If you select the pause button (;), you will be able to select the part of the menu that will allow you to enter the extension number first. Once you are in the right part of the menu, tap on Send in your phone window to hit the extension
Step 6. Add numbers with extensions to your contacts
If you press this extension frequently, you can add the number to your phone contacts. All extension symbols and numbers will be saved at once.
Method 2 of 2: Using a Landline
Step 1. Dial the number as usual
You do not have the option to pause calls when using a landline. So you just need to dial the number as usual.
Step 2. Try dialing the extension number as soon as the phone is picked up
In many menu systems, you can start entering the extension number as soon as the phone is picked up. Try entering the extension number to see if the extension number is already usable.
Step 3. Listen to the menu options if the extension number cannot be used
If you can't hit the extension right away, listen to its menu options. You can select one of the available options to enter the extension number.
Step 4. Add pause and extension numbers to your speed dial (if possible)
Some phones that have a speed dial function also have a pause button that can be used when entering speed dial numbers. The presence or absence of this button and its location vary depending on the phone model. If you can add a pause, enter the initial phone number, two pauses, and then the extension number. Save them all to your speed dial entries. If you can enter the extension number directly into the number you are dialing, you can use this speed dial entry to dial the extension number directly.
Step 5. Try replacing the last digits of the original phone number with an extension number
If the extension is 4 digits long, you can dial the extension number directly by replacing the last four digits of the phone number. For example, if your company's phone number is 1-800-555-2222 and the extension number is 1234, try dialing 1-800-555-1234.
