What is PrivatePhone?

PrivatePhone is a completely free voicemail service to JoyNet members. After signing up as a member you get a unique phone number and space to store up to 10,000 voicemails which you can access from either a computer or a phone.

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Is PrivatePhone really free?

Yes, the basic PrivatePhone service is absolutely free to JoyNet members. There is a cost for membership with JoyNet but no extra charge for your Private Phone number.  You will not need to provide any credit card or billing information to sign up, and there is no charge to obtain your PrivatePhone number or retrieve voicemail messages.

In the future, we will be launching some cool new features that might require payment, such as expanded voicemail capacity, call forwarding, and call screening. These services will be totally optional.

PrivatePhone is an inbound calling and voicemail service, and does not provide either Internet access nor telephone service.

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Can I change my PrivatePhone number?

No, once you get your PrivatePhone number you can't change it. However, if you want a new number, you can always set up a new account.

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Can I answer or forward calls made to my PrivatePhone number?

No, PrivatePhone only allows you to store voicemails. To listen to your voicemails.

If you would like to answer or forward calls, you may purchase premium services like NetZero Voice 100 or NetZero Voice Unlimited.

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Can I forward calls to my PrivatePhone to a different number?

The PrivatePhone service sends all calls directly to voicemail. If you wish to forward your calls you must upgrade your service to NetZero Voice 100 or NetZero Voice Unlimited.

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Can I keep my PrivatePhone if I cancel?

No, if you cancel your PrivatePhone service you'll lose your phone number. Also, your PrivatePhone number cannot be transferred to another carrier.

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How do I sign-up for PrivatePhone?
 

Go back to the top of this page and sign up to become a member of JoyNet. A personal email will be sent to you giving you your personal membership page. From there you can then set up your PrivatePhone account.

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Do I need to be a NetZero member to sign-up for PrivatePhone?

 You don't have to be a NetZero member to get your own PrivatePhone number.

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I can't find a local telephone number?

If you cannot find any local numbers for your area, you may purchase premium services like NetZero Voice 100 or NetZero Voice Unlimited. These plans have more telephone numbers and you may find a number that is local to you.

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I am receiving a "Member not Eligible" message.

The error "Member not eligible" is displayed for any one of the following reasons.

• You are already a PrivatePhone member and are trying to register for another phone number. Currently, only one free telephone number is allotted per member. If you would like more than one number, you can always sign-up for more than one PrivatePhone account.
• You are already a NetZero Voice Premium member. PrivatePhone service is available only to new or existing NetZero Voice Free members.

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How do I record my Voicemail greeting?

Recording a greeting for your voicemail is easy. Dial your PrivatePhone number and when the recorded announcement begins, press the * key and enter your PIN when asked. Once you do that, press 2 to manage your greetings. Here you can listen to your current greeting or change it if you wish. You can change your greeting at any time, as often as you like.

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How do I know if I have any voicemail messages?

Whenever you get a new voicemail, you'll get a notification on your Message Center. You can also have new messages alerts sent to your mobile phone by logging in to your Message Center at http://www.netzerovoice.com/features. Once there, click Voicemail Alerts to Mobile to set it up, and you'll be alerted on your mobile phone when you get a new message.

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How many voicemail messages can I store?

Your PrivatePhone account comes with space to store up to 10,000 voicemail messages. Once you reach this limit, you'll need to delete existing messages to allow new ones to be stored. Also, note that you can receive up to 500 voicemails in a day.

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Why does my PrivatePhone number ring before going to voicemail?

The voicemail feature of PrivatePhone is set by default to ring four times before the voicemail answers the call. These rings are audible only to the caller and not to the receiver, so you will not hear them. You can change the number of times the phone rings before it's sent to voicemail by logging into your Message Center. Click on Settings and select Voice Features, then click Voicemail Settings to change the number of rings..

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How do I listen to my voicemail?

One of the coolest things about PrivatePhone is how easy it is to listen to your voicemail. You just log in to the Voicemail Center at http://www.netzerovoice.com/voicemail to listen, save or delete your messages. You can also access your voicemail by calling in from any phone. Just dial your PrivatePhone number, and press the * key when your greeting begins. Then enter your PIN at the prompt and listen to your messages.

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What's the difference between a Password and a PIN?

You'll need either a Password or a PIN in order to listen to your messages. You use your Password when you login to the Message Center at http://www.netzerovoice.com/voicemail to listen to your messages online, change your settings, etc. However, you use your PIN when checking your messages by phone.

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What are the voicemail menu options?

The following menu options are available to PrivatePhone members after logging in from a phone:

Main Menu:

# Menu Option Description 1 Listen to messages This allows you to hear any voicemails you have received. 2 Change my voicemail greeting This option allows you to change the greeting others will hear when you are unable to answer an incoming call to your PrivatePhone number. 3 Change my PIN This choice lets you change the PIN you use to log in to your account from an outside phone. 9 Schedule a Gotta Go Call™ This option lets you schedule a future call back on your phone with an automated message. 0 Help Selecting this lets you get more information on PrivatePhone features.

Message Options:

# Menu Option Description 1 Replay This will replay the message you just heard. 2 Call this person back This choice will automatically call the person back who left you a voicemail. 7 Delete Deletes the voicemail message. 9 Save Saves the voicemail message. * Return to the main menu Returns you to the main menu options.

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How can I call back the person that left me a voicemail, and will they see my PrivatePhone number as the Caller ID?

To call back someone who left you a voicemail, simply press 2 when listening to the voicemail through your phone. The recipient will see your Private Phone number as the caller ID.

Ten calls of up to 10 minutes each are included for FREE each month with your PrivatePhone account. Free calls are limited to the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

Once you have reached the monthly call limit you will receive a message informing you that you have used all of your free calls this month. You will receive more free calls on the first day of the next month.

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What is a Gotta Go Call™?

Gotta Go Call™ is an exciting new feature that lets you schedule a future call back on your phone with an automated message. This can be used if you need to leave an uncomfortable social situation. We will call you back on the phone that you used to schedule the Gotta Go Call™. This way you don't have to ask your friends to call you, and you know for sure you'll get the call!

When the Gotta Go Call™ is placed as scheduled, the number 1-800-991-9984 will be displayed as the Caller ID on your phone so you know it's your Gotta Go Call™. Then just play along with automated message if you need an excuse to leave!

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How do I schedule a Gotta Go Call™?

PrivatePhone members have the option of setting up a Gotta Go Call™ to ring after a desired number of minutes. Simply call your Voicemail and press 9. Select the number of minutes before you'd like the Gotta Go Call™ to ring, between 5 and 999, then press the pound key (#) on your phone.

You can change when your Gotta Go Call™ is scheduled at any time before the call is made. Just follow the same steps to set up the call, choose a different time, and your previous Gotta Go Call™ will automatically be replaced.

You will not be able to schedule a Gotta Go Call™ if:

• Your Caller ID is not available: If your caller ID is blocked or unavailable and you are trying to schedule a Gotta Go Call™ you will receive a message informing you to hang up and call back by dialing star eighty-two (*82) and the number you are calling in order to schedule the call.
• You are calling from a location outside the U.S., Canada or Puerto Rico: If you are calling from a location outside the U.S., Canada or Puerto Rico, you will not be able to schedule a Gotta Go Call™.
• You may have been restricted by PrivatePhone Member Services: Please contact customer care for further information.

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How can I post my voicemails on a Web site? - NEW

You can post your voicemail to a Web site by pasting the embed code for the voicemail into the html for the site. To do this, open the voicemail and click on the Embed & Blog button on the Listen to Voicemail screen.

The Embed & Blog button creates a small piece of HTML code you can add to a web page or a blog allowing visitors to your page to listen to this voicemail. By adding this code to your page, you make this voicemail available to the public. Once you make a voicemail public, it will remain so until you choose to delete it.

Note: If you delete the voicemail that was posted to a Web site, users will no longer be able to access it.

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How much will it cost me to use these features?

All of the features available with your PrivatePhone service are absolutely FREE. Once you see how convenient and easy it is to use PrivatePhone, be sure to tell your friends!

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Do I need to use my PrivatePhone number to keep it active?

As a PrivatePhone member your account will remain active as long as you check your voicemail and receive incoming calls on a regular basis. Otherwise, your account will be deactivated. An inactive account:

• Will not accept new voicemail messages
• Will have all stored voicemail messages deleted
• Will be available for a new PrivatePhone member

Note: You will receive a notice on the alternate email address or mobile number you provided when signing up for PrivatePhone alerting you of the prolonged account inactivity before your phone number is deactivated.

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I received an email / SMS saying that my PrivatePhone number will be deactivated, what do I do?

If you received an email, SMS, or voicemail message notifying you that there has not been any activity on your PrivatePhone number, simply follow the instructions in the notice to keep your number active.

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How will I know if my account was deactivated?

If your PrivatePhone account is deactivated, you will receive a notice on the alternate email address or mobile number you provided when signing up for PrivatePhone. We will also send you a voicemail, and you will be notified if you have set up voicemail alerts.

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How do I get back my old PrivatePhone number?

If your PrivatePhone account has been deactivated, you will have 7 days after we send you notice to get back your old PrivatePhone number. After 7 days, you cannot get back your number. If you would like to see if your old PrivatePhone number is still available, please fill out a Personal Assistance Ticket by clicking here. Our customer support representatives, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week will be glad to assist you.

Note: You will be assigned your old PrivatePhone number based on its availability.

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I've upgraded to a premium account, do I still have to use my PrivatePhone number to keep it active?

No. If you have upgraded to a premium account you are no longer required to use your number to keep it active.

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What happens to my PrivatePhone Number if it is deactivated?

If your PrivatePhone number is deactivated from lack of use, it will be returned to the pool of available numbers and may be selected or assigned to a new member. You have 7 days after we send you notice to get back your old PrivatePhone number. After 7 days, we cannot guarantee you can get back your number. However, you can check to see if your old PrivatePhone number is still available. To do so, please fill out a Personal Assistance Ticket by clicking here.

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I've signed up for PrivatePhone, but can't remember my Member ID or Password.

If you signed up for PrivatePhone via cell phone, your Member ID would be a combination of the letters pp and your PrivatePhone number. So, if your PrivatePhone number is (123) 456-7890, your Member ID is pp1234567890. If you haven't changed it, your password is the PIN you selected when you signed up. You should have received a confirmation text message containing your Member ID and password at the phone you used to sign up.

If you know your Member ID but can't remember your password, click here to reset your password. Be sure to leave your zip code field blank when trying to retrieve your forgotten password.

However, if you signed up for PrivatePhone online you would have selected your Member ID and should have received a confirmation email message containing your account information at the email address you used when starting your account. Please check this message to confirm your Member ID.

If you can't find your confirmation message and can't remember your account information, you can always set up a new account.

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I've signed up for PrivatePhone, but can't remember my PrivatePhone number or PIN.

If you signed up for PrivatePhone via cell phone, your Member ID would a combination of the letters pp and your PrivatePhone number. So, if your PrivatePhone number is (123) 456-7890, your Member ID is pp1234567890. You should have received a confirmation text message containing your account information at the phone you used to sign up.

To reset your PIN, just login to the PIN management page at http://www.netzerovoice.com/PIN and type your new PIN to reset it.

However, if you signed up for PrivatePhone online you would have selected your phone number and should have received a confirmation email message containing your account information, including your PrivatePhone number, at the email address you used when starting your account. Please check this message to confirm your PrivatePhone number.

If you can't find your confirmation message and can't remember your account information, you can always set up a new account.

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Why do I hear a busy signal when calling my PrivatePhone number?

You will hear a busy signal when calling your PrivatePhone number if you have disabled your voicemail. To turn on your voicemail, go to Your membership page Log into your PrivatePhone account and select Voicemail – On/Off. Click the box next to On and then click Save.

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Why am I receiving a ''Voicemail box is full'' message? - NEW

Your PrivatePhone account comes with space to store up to 10,000 voicemail messages that includes both new and existing voicemail messages. You can receive up to 500 voicemails in a day. Once you reach this limit you will receive a ''Voicemail box is full'' message.

If you would like to receive more than 500 voicemails in a day, you may purchase premium services like NetZero Voice 100 or NetZero Voice Unlimited.

To purchase NetZero Voice 100 or NetZero Voice Unlimited, click here.

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Can I keep the same phone number after upgrading to NetZero Voice 100 or NetZero Voice Unlimited plans?

Yes, your telephone number will continue to remain the same even after you upgrade your NetZero Voice plan. To purchase another NetZero Voice Plan like NetZero Voice 100 or NetZero Voice Unlimited, please click here.

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Can I upgrade to 'NetZero Pay-As-You-Go' plan?

Yes, you can upgrade to the 'NetZero Pay-As-You-Go' plan.
However, the 'NetZero Pay-As-You-Go' plan does not offer the feature to receive incoming calls from regular telephone numbers. By choosing to upgrade to this plan, you will lose the telephone number assigned to your account.
NetZero Voice offers other plans like NetZero Voice 100 & NetZero Voice Unlimited which will allow you to both make outgoing and receive incoming calls from regular telephone numbers. Upgrading to these plans will allow you to continue using the phone number assigned to your account. To purchase NetZero Voice 100 or NetZero Voice Unlimited click here.

If you still prefer to upgrade to 'NetZero Pay-As-You-Go' plan, click here.

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