Here’s a question I get asked quite often, “how do I forward a voicemail to someone by extension instead of by name?”
As it turns out, most people would rather have their fingernails pulled out one by one with a set of rusty pliers than to have to type in the first and/or last name of a user into a phone keypad.
Unity Connection does make a provision for extension dialing instead of named dialing when addressing/forwarding messages, but it is a global setting, so everyone will need be onboard*. I highly doubt this will be an issue…
Just mosey on over to System Settings > Advanced > Conversations and look for Disable Spelled Name Searches**. Should look something like this:
Just check the box and you’re done!*** Yay you!
*See the comments section, Mike was kind enough to point out how to do this on an individual basis. I’ve never been asked to do this for a single person, but it’s good to know it can be done.
**I desperately wish they would have called it something like Forward Voicemails by Extension (I know, clever, right?) to make it easier to find, but alas, now you know…
***Note this is not a feature you get to use with voice recognition, see documentation here: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/voice_ip_comm/connection/8x/gui_reference/guide/8xcucgrg110.html#wp1168437
Published 4/10/2013
Amy Engineer 
Handy! I know in older versions of Unity you could press ## when forwarding the message to switch from Name to Number forwarding. Does UC have the same option?
I *think* so, but I’ll check it out and let you know…
Unity Connection 8.x+ (possibly versions before, but I’m not positive) you can press ## to toggle addressing mode. You can also set this for an individual user (and thereby using user templates) under user>edit>send message settings>enter a recipient by:
Of course that setting still doesn’t apply if you have voice recognition turned on.
Awesome, Mike! I updated the post to refer to your comments! I have never looked for a way to do this individually but it’s good to know that it can be done! I’ve never been able to sell users on the ## “feature”
Nice post. I remember always having to change that feature in CME/Unity Express. I prefer names just for the size of the company…I can’t keep up with everyone’s extension. Love IVR.