How to Interact with your Virtual Assistant on the Phone
Your virtual assistant sessions start as soon as you login by phone. Your assistant welcomes you and starts interacting with you in the language and dialog mode defined in your user profile. It speaks English and French and understands English and French speech commands. It can also interpret touchtone (DTMF) commands. During your sessions, you will be able to issue speech or touchtone commands to get what you want. As soon as you complete a command or sentence, the assistant interprets what you said using a pre-defined vocabulary. The Quick Reference Card available to you on your Web portal lists the speech and touchtone commands. Review the techniques and tips provided in this page to get the most out of your speech assistant.
When is the Assistant Ready to Take my Commands?
"What can I do for you?"If you have set your phone session preference to automatically download your mail after login, the assistant will first tell you how many new messages and appointments you have that day, before prompting you for a command. For example, you may hear: "You have 5 voice messages, 21 e-mails, 2 faxes and 4 appointments today. What can I do for you?". The assistant is then ready to take commands for the services in your subscription packages.
As an example, at the main menu level, you can say or enter any command from the Main Menu & Special Commands to have your assistant perform the following tasks for you:
- Read and send e-mails, voice mail & faxes
- Review & schedule calendar events
- Call contacts or send them voice e-mails
- Set your status and call forwarding for people to reach you
- Review your call logs and call back people
- Manage your account settings such as PIN number, call forwarding, etc.
***Click on Quick Ref Card link for a list of the main speech and touchtone commands.
How to Use the Virtual Assistant Speech Commands?
Wait for Silence Before Saying your Command
Use Speech Commands in their Context
Simple Speech Commands (Directed Dialog)
Complex Speech Commands (Mixed Initiative)
Select Contacts using Speech
Speak at Anytime (BARGE-IN)
Speech Navigation Tips
- Speak during silence/pauses between voice prompts for a better barge-in. Your assistant may not be able to understand your commands if it is already reading text or playing audio prompts.
- Speak at a natural pace (not too fast and not too slow).
- You don't have to speak loudly. You may achieve better results if you speak normally (not too loud and not too low).
- Repeat your command if the assistant does not understand you the first time.
- Switch to DTMF mode if you need privacy or if you are in a noisy environment.
How to Use the Virtual Assistant DTMF Commands
Why Offer both Speech and DTMF Commands?
DTMF Commands for Navigation
Enter your Contact Names using DTMF Keys
Press 2 for A, B or C
Press 3 for D, E or F
Press 4 for G, H or I
Press 5 for J, K or L
Press 6 for M, N or O
Press 7 for P, Q, R or S
Press 8 for T, U or V
Press 9 for W, X, Y or Z
Here are some guidelines about the spelling of contact names using DTMF keys:
- Do not enter any special characters such as the space between the last and first name or dashes (-) in composed names;
- Do not enter any middle name or initial;
- Use English-equivalents to any foreign language letters. For example, use Efor