*NOTE: Sometimes the emergency number 911 is dialed accidentally when trying to reach a number off campus. If you dial 9-1-1 by mistake, please stay on the line and explain to the dispatcher that no emergency exists.
*NOTE: INFONXX charges a $1.00 fee for local and domestic long distance directory assistance calls.
**NOTE: You must have an unrestricted campus phone to call the AT&T operator. AT&T charges a fee (approx. $6.95) for directory/operator assistance, which must be paid with a personal credit or calling card.
Calling an Operator (Campus, Local and Long Distance)
Campus Operators
Dial ------------------------------------------- 2-6446 or 0
TDD for Hearing Impaired Dial ---------------- 2-0422
Local Columbus Operator (Time Warner)** ---------------------- 9 + 0
**NOTE: You must have an unrestricted campus phone to call an AT&T or Time Warner operator. AT&T and Time Warner may charge a fee for operator assistance, which must be paid with a personal credit or calling card.
Campus Telephone Number Prefixes
University-owned telephone prefixes for the Columbus Campus are 292-xxxx, 293-xxxx, 247-xxxx and 688-xxxx. These prefixes are Direct Inward Dial (DID) numbers, which means they can be dialed directly from off campus telephones. Additionally, campus telephone numbers that begin with 514-xxxx (new April 1, 2005) are internal campus extensions only and cannot be called directly from an off campus phone. These internal extension numbers can only be dialed directly from other campus telephones using five-digit dialing (4-xxxx).
Five-digit Dialing
The university utilizes five-digit dialing when placing calls from one university telephone to another. For example, when calling a residence hall room with the prefix of “688” from an office phone, you would dial “8” plus the last four digits of the telephone number. Five-digit dialing is also used when calling OSU Regional Campuses. There is no charge for placing “campus to campus” calls (five-digit dialing). However, charges may apply when placing other types of calls from campus telephones. These charges are denoted in the appropriate sections.
Distinctive Ringing and Other Audible Tones
Distinctive Ringing– Indicates whether an incoming call is coming from a campus or off campus telephone. “One long ring” indicates the incoming call is coming from another campus phone. “One long and one short ring” indicates the incoming call is coming from an off campus phone.*
Dial Tone – Is a continuous tone indicating dialing may begin.
Busy Signal – Is a repeated buzz tone indicating the number you called is in use or “busy.”
Fast Busy – Is a repeated buzz tone, about twice as fast as a normal busy signal, indicating one of the following scenarios: all circuits are busy, a restricted operation was attempted, or improper use of your telephone.
Activation Tones – Hearing “three beeps followed by a steady dial tone” indicates you can proceed with activating a feature or entering your Authorization Code when placing a long distance call.
Completion Tones – Hearing “beeps followed by silence” confirms that you successfully activated or deactivated a telephone feature.
Ring Again Notification – A cycle of “one long and two short rings” indicates a busy line is now free.*
*NOTE: Distinctive Ringing is a standard feature on all UNITS business telephones unless otherwise requested. Distinctive Ringing and Ring Again may cause interference with proper use of fax machines, answering machines and modems and may need to be removed from these type of lines.
