XCLN: Contact Fax Number May Fail with +1 Prefix (181690)

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to send a fax to a contact created through the Outlook client, sending to a Business Fax address may fail.

CAUSE

The failure of the fax may occur because the Outlook client has appended a +1 to the beginning of the Business Fax number. Certain phone systems such as PBX systems may not be able to process the +1 prefix.

MORE INFORMATION

Outlook is responsible for generating a telephone number in canonical format

[+<country code>(area code) number]

to TAPI, and TAPI is responsible for selecting the digits to be dialed based on factors and variables specified by the Dialing Properties dialog box. If a number is specified in non-canonical format, TAPI ignores the dialing properties and dials only the digits entered.

Because most PBX systems require a "1" to be dialed as a prefix for long distance, TAPI adds this prefix to a number entered if the "To access an outside line" option is selected.

WORKAROUND

To bypass this behavior for systems that do not require a "1" prefix for a number, select Dialing Properties for the modem, create a new calling card, and enter FG into the field for Long Distance dialing prefix rather than 1FG. This will allow the number to be dialed "as is" without a prefix.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Outlook Windows 95 client, versions 8.00, 8.01, 8.02, 8.03; and Outlook Windows NT client, versions 8.00, 8.01, 8.02, 8.03. Microsoft is researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.