Landline
Small office
You've reached [business name] on [street name]. We're away from the phone right now. Your name and number after the tone will get a call back the same business day.
Standard messages only
Telstra Home Messages 101 and your own greeting
Telstra describes Home Messages 101 as a basic answering service with two standard recorded messages: one for when you are away and one for when the line is busy. A personal greeting with your business name needs MessageBank instead.
The two services side by side
Home Messages 101
Free to turn on and use. Plays Telstra’s standard messages. According to Telstra’s guide, it is not available on home phone services over the nbn or 4G fixed.
MessageBank
Telstra calls it a fully featured answering service. You record your own greeting and check messages from other phones. Telstra’s guide says it is included at no cost on some plans and on nbn and 4G fixed services.
Why it matters for a business line
A standard message does not say your business name. Callers cannot tell whether they reached the right number. If your line is still on Home Messages 101, ask Telstra about switching it to MessageBank.
Once MessageBank is active, call 101 from that line. The first call guides you through recording your personal greeting and choosing a PIN.
A first greeting for a small office
Home office
Business run from home
Hello, this is [business name]. I'm with a client at the moment. Leave a message after the tone, and I'll call you back as soon as the appointment finishes.
Questions
Can I upload a file to Home Messages 101?
Telstra’s guide only mentions the two standard messages. Uploading or recording your own greeting is not described for this service.