Home Phone Calling Features

Star (*) Codes 

Use our Star (*) Codes Quick Guide to find out how to use and activate additional features with Home Phone, including Caller ID Block, Speed Dial, Call Waiting, Repeat Dialing, Call Return and more.

Three-Way Calling 

Three-way calling allows you to add a third caller to an on-going conversation. Three-way calling is available with our Home Phone service at no additional cost.

Current Home Phone Customers: To request Three-way calling for your Home Phone service, please contact Customer Care.

How to use Three-way Calling:

1. While on an existing call, press the Flash button or switch hook. This will place the first party on hold.
2. After you hear the special tones (three short tones, then regular dial tone), dial the phone number of the third party you would like to add to the call.
3. Press the Flash button or switch hook again. All three parties will be joined on the call.

• Three-way calling FAQs.

Caller ID 

See who's calling before you answer the phone. When you receive a call, the name and telephone number of the person calling is shown on your Caller ID display screen.

How to use Caller ID: 

1. When you receive a call, wait until your telephone completes the first ring.
2. The telephone number and the name associated with that number automatically appears on your Caller ID screen.

Notes: 

• Caller ID requires the lease or purchase of a display telephone or an add-on display unit.
• If a letter "P" or "Private" appears on your display after the first ring, the caller may have blocked the display of their name and number by pressing *67 (or dialing 1167 on a rotary) before placing the call.
• If "unknown name," "unknown number," "out of area," or "O" appears, the caller is in an area that does not support Calling Number services.

Call Waiting 

You'll know when another caller is trying to reach you while you are on the phone.

How Call Waiting works: 

You can use your telephone without missing other calls. A special tone alerts you to a waiting call; the person calling you hears normal ringing.

To answer a waiting call: 

When you're on the phone, a special tone tells you a second call is waiting. Simply press and quickly release the "switchhook" or "flash" button on your phone. While you talk with one caller, the other caller will automatically be placed on hold. Each conversation remains private.

To alternate between callers: 

Press and quickly release the "switchhook" or "flash" button on your phone. While you talk with one caller, the other will automatically be placed on hold. Each conversation remains private.

To end either call: 

Hang up the phone.

Your phone will ring.

When you answer, you'll be connected with the remaining caller.

Call Waiting ID 

Combines Caller ID and Call Waiting

Use your telephone without missing important calls. A special tone alerts you to a waiting call and you also receive a visual display of the name and number of the person calling on your Caller ID display. It's another way Bright House Networks puts you in control. With Call Waiting ID, answer only the calls that you want.

Call Forwarding 

Call Forwarding allows you to forward or re-direct your phone calls to an alternate telephone number. You can forward your calls to a cell phone, vacation house or any phone number in our calling area for as long a period of time as you desire, and not have to miss a call.

1. To use Call Forwarding, simply pickup the phone and Dial *72.
2. Listen for three short beeps and then a dial tone.
3. Enter the 7 or 10 digit phone number where you want the calls to be forwarded and wait for the confirmation tone.
4. After the confirmation tone, the system will automatically place a courtesy call to the forward-to phone number.
5. If the forwarded-to party answers the courtesy call, the feature is activated.
6. If the forward-to line is busy or there is no answer to the courtesy call, the feature will not be activated. It is important that someone or their Voice Mail picks up on the other side.
7. Once forwarded, calls will continue to forward to the chosen phone number until deactivated by pressing *73 on the Home Phone.

Note: 

• If you have Voice Mail, your calls and calls that would normally transfer into Voice Mail will continue to go to the forward-to phone number thereby bypassing your own Voice Mail.

Anonymous Call Reject 

Block unidentified calls for as long as you choose by activating Anonymous Call Reject. When Anonymous Call Reject is activated, incoming calls from unidentified callers, including those identified as "Anonymous" or "Unavailable", are automatically rejected. Unidentified callers will hear an announcement telling them to hang up, release their caller ID information and then redial the desired customer's number.

• To turn Anonymous Call Reject on, Press *77 and wait for the confirmation tone.

• To turn Anonymous Call Reject off, Press *87 to deactivate. Anonymous Call Reject will remain activated unless deactivated.

Speed Dial 8 

Need quick access to your most frequently dialed numbers? With Speed Dial 8, you can program and store up to 8 telephone numbers and dial those numbers by using just one digit.

How to use Speed Dial 8: 

• To set up your Speed Dial 8 numbers: Press *74; listen for stutter-tone and choose a digit from 2 to 9. Enter the 10 digit number (dialing 1 first whenever it applies) that will be speed dialed and wait for the confirmation tone. Repeat this step for each number you would like to include in your Speed Dial 8 list.
• To dial a number using Speed Dial 8: Press the chosen digit (from 2-9) followed by the
  # (pound) sign and the system will speed dial the telephone number that correlates to the chosen digit.

Second Line 

For an additional per-month charge, you can add an additional phone line to your Home Phone service for a total of two lines per account. Each line will have a separate phone number and Voice Mail box. Second line is great for roommate situations and households with teenagers. Second Line FAQs.

Other Calling Features 

Voice Mail 

Never miss a call again. Voice Mail records messages from people who call when you are not available. You can access Voice Mail by calling from any phone in your home and away from home by calling your Home Phone number, plus online with visual Voice Mail in Home Phone Online Tools and with easy gadget. Spanish Voice Mail is also available. Voice Mail is available at an additional rate of only $1.95 per month with the Unlimited Nationwide plan and $3.95 per month with the Unlimited Alabama plan. Call (205) 591-6880 to order now!

Learn how to set-up and check Voice Mail.

Enhanced Directory Assistance 

With Enhanced Directory Assistance you can get movie listings, reverse number lookup, category (Yellow Page) search, horoscopes, lottery results, time, weather, sports scores, driving directions and more. Simply dial 411. Enhanced Directory Assistance is only $1.20 per call.

Unlimited Directory Assistance 

Don't worry about how much you and your family call 411. For one low monthly rate of $4.95, you can dial 411 as much as you like. There will be no per-use charge for both Enhanced Directory Assistance and Standard Local and National Directory listings. Unlimited Directory Assistance is available to Unlimited Nationwide calling plan customers only.