Help: User Guide
Getting Started
About the AOLbyPhone™ Service
You can use the AOLbyPhone™ service anywhere you have access to a telephone in the United States by calling 1-800-AOL-1234. It's an automated service that's available 24/7 to help you check and manage e-mail, get a 411 listing, find a phone number in your Address Book and more! The AOLbyPhone™ service's friendly prompts will lead you through your options. You can use the AOLbyPhone™ service hands-free by speaking commands or by entering digits on your keypad.
The AOLbyPhone™ service is a premium service available for a monthly fee. Your subscription fee provides access for all seven screen names on your AOL account.
Logging into the AOLbyPhone™ service
Call the AOLbyPhone™ service from any phone. When you call from your registered phone number, the service should recognize the number and not prompt you to enter it. Your registered phone number is the one you used when you set up your account. It's listed on the main page of your Dashboard.
From your registered phone number:
- Call 1-800-AOL-1234.
- Enter your PIN.
From another phone:
- Call 1-800-AOL-1234.
- Enter your PIN.
- Enter your registered phone number.
Tip: add 1-800-AOL-1234 to your speed dial so you can get to your e-mail even faster. Note: your registered number can't be changed, it's permanently tied to your account. However, you can add up to two additional numbers to your account as Quick Login Numbers.
Manage your PIN
To set your PIN, go to the Settings page of your Dashboard. If you ever forget it, no problem, you can reset it there anytime!
You should set up a PIN for each screen name you may want to check e-mail for using the AOLbyPhone™ service. Simply switch to another Screen name on your account and set the PIN for it. Repeat this process for each.
Features of your AOLbyPhone™ service
The AOLbyPhone™ service isn't just for hearing e-mail, check out these other features and try them all!
Manage your e-mail anywhere
- Listen and reply to your AOL® e-mail in your own voice.
- Get alerts to your cellphone when you get e-mail from a person you choose. Call the AOLbyPhone™ service to listen and reply to that e-mail immediately*.
- Record an e-mail and send to anyone in your AOL® Address Book.
Get 411 listings
- Save money on service provider charges by using the AOLbyPhone™ service to look up business, residential and government listings for no extra charge. Say "Directory Assistance" or press 3 at the Main Menu.
- If you're looking for a number in your AOL Address Book, choose "Other" for Other Commands at the Main Menu. You can also see your Contacts List on your Dashboard for easy referral. Your contacts list is automatically filled in with the information from your AOL Address Book. When you're looking for a contact, search by the letter of the last name. Or choose to view "all", "phone only" or "important contacts". To designate a listing "important", check the "important number" box when you're updating the information for that listing.
Schedule a Wake Up call
- Schedule reminders for you or anyone else, up to a year in advance, with Wake Up call. Just say "Other" at the Main Menu to get to Wake Up call.
Express yourself with Journals
- Add your voice to your AOL® Member Profile so others hear the real you.
- Add an audio memo or commentary to your online AOL® Journal.
*This feature is for web- or text-enabled cell phones and service plans - additional charges from your wireless provider may apply.
Your privacy and the AOLbyPhone™ service
Using the AOLbyPhone™ service is just as private as using your regular telephone. To protect your privacy, the AOLbyPhone™ service uses a computer rather than a person to read your e-mail messages and play your voice messages. The AOLbyPhone™ service fully adheres to AOL's Privacy Policy.