An automated attendant system allows the caller to be automatically be transferred to a user's extension without the intervention of a receptionist. A receptionist can be reached by pressing 0 on most systems. There is a dial-by-name directory like 411 to find user on a system. The dial-by-name directory is usually set up last name followed by first name. Once the user ID is announced you can press # or it will automatically ring the extension. Express messaging is used when you don't want to disturb the user or are calling a guest mailbox without a phone.

A phone can be set to "Do Not Disturb" to forward all calls directly to voicemail without ringing the extension.

On some systems there is a message-only information so that a company can give directions to their office, job offerings etc. Theese mailboxes are forwarded to the receptionist after each message plays or the user can return to the main menu.

Some colleges have telephone registratrion where the user uses the key pad or voice response to register for courses, check for grades, etc.

Other features of automated attendant systems include transferring to another outside line, connecting two companies via wide area networking, incorporating Outlook Express to have Unified Messaging.