How to Dial an Internal Phone Number

Internal phone numbers allow large companies to connect callers to various departments and staff members. There are many ways to save time when dialing internal numbers within a company. Thanks to advanced operating systems, you can even program your smartphone to automatically dial internal numbers for you.

Dial the desired number. Open the dialer app and enter the number you wish to call.

Add a "pause" if you need to input the internal number right when the call connects. If the number you're calling allows you to input the internal number immediately after the connection, the "pause" feature will automatically insert the internal number after a brief wait:

• Press and hold the * key to add a comma (,) at the end of the number. This will add a 2-second pause before the internal number is dialed. If you can’t hold the * key, tap the (⋮) icon next to the phone number and choose "Add pause". If this doesn’t work, tap the phone number field to open the on-screen keyboard and type the comma manually.
• You can add multiple commas for a longer wait. This method is especially useful for phone systems with a delay before dialing the internal number.
• On Windows phones, you will need to input the comma in another app, copy it, and then paste it at the end of the phone number.

Add a "wait" time if the internal number can only be dialed after the entire menu plays. Some internal numbers can’t be entered until the entire automated menu has played or until a specific option is selected. The "wait" feature will display the internal number on the screen, and you can specify when to dial it.

• Press and hold the # key to add a semicolon (;) at the end of the phone number. This symbol adds the "wait" feature, and the internal number won’t be dialed until you request it.
• On Windows phones, you need to use "w" instead of the semicolon (;). You will need to copy this from another app and paste it into the dialer.

Enter the internal number after the symbol. After adding the pause or wait symbol, you need to enter the internal number so the phone can automatically dial it.

Dial the internal number. The phone will dial the number. Depending on the symbol used, the phone will either dial the internal number entered (,) or prompt you to specify when the internal number should be dialed (;).

• If you select the wait option (;), you’ll be able to navigate to the menu that allows the caller to enter the internal number. Once at the appropriate menu, press the "Send" button to dial the internal number.

Add the internal number to your contacts. If you frequently dial this internal number, you can add it to your contacts. The internal number and the phone number, along with all symbols, will be saved together.

Dial normally. With a landline phone, you don’t need to dial any pause options, so just proceed as usual.

Try entering the internal number as soon as the line connects. Many menu systems allow you to start entering the internal number immediately after the call connects. Try entering the internal number right away and see if the call goes through.

Listen to the menu options if the internal number you entered doesn’t work. If you can’t dial the internal number right away, listen to the menu options. You may need to select a specific option to be allowed to enter the internal number.

Add a pause and the internal number for speed dialing (if possible). Some phone systems support speed dialing and also have a Pause key. Use this when programming a speed dial number. The availability and location of this key depend on the phone model. If you can add a pause, enter the main phone number, two pauses, followed by the internal number. Save this entire sequence in the speed dial list. If the number you’re dialing supports entering the internal number immediately, you’ll be able to use this speed dial to directly call the internal number.

Try replacing the last digits of the main number with the internal number. If the internal number has four digits, you can directly dial it by replacing the last four digits of the main phone number with the internal number. For example, if the company’s phone number is 1-800-555-2222 and the internal number is 1234, try dialing 1-800-555-1234.

• You can also dial the internal number when using online calling services, such as Skype. Try calling the company, click the dial pad with the square icon containing several dots, and enter the internal number when prompted.