So, we spoke about how the system distinguishes between different types of phone buttons on the Avaya Phones. We'll try to present in this module some of the most useful buttons that one can program into the system. Again, we'll be tackling the 9640 as this is one of the advanced models and will give us more flexibility. I’ll explain some of them and for some I’ll just give you the description that Avaya does.
Call-Appr | Call Appearance. This button adds another line on the system. For each call-appr that you add on a station, that station can have another conversation at the same time. If for example your station is 1005 and you add 5 buttons of type call-appr you will find 5 buttons with 1005 programmed on the phone and be able to handle 5 different calls on the same number at the same time (with 4 of them on hold of course). |
Brdg-Appr | Bridge Appearance. If you want to tap into someone's line you would add a bridge appearance type of button. As options you will have the original position that you want to tap into, the extension and the ring behavior.
Why would one needdifferent configs though? Why not add all? Or just the first? Those are some questions that depend on the usage of the lines. Let's take some examples.
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Aut-msg-wt | Auto-message indicator. By default the system will lit up the message indicator for any new messages that arrive on mailbox with the extension defined on page 1 under Message Lamp Extension. What is however, you are part of a team and the team has a voicemail group? How would you know when a voicemail is waiting? This is the button that you need. Just add the button on the system and as soon as you will get a voicemail in there this button would light up. |
Auto-cback | Automatic Call Back: when activated, allows inside user who placed a call to a busy or unanswered telephone to be called back automatically when the called telephone becomes available to receive a call. |
Auto-dial | This is the way you would program a speed dial. Can be used together with abrv-prog( see below) or with Program Access Code from the feature-access-table. Just remember… if you have to dial 9 to get an outside line the number that you program in here should have that as well. |
Abrv-Prog | Allows the user to program its own auto-dial buttons. Once you give them this option they can change the numbers that you have defined for their auto-dial buttons. |
btn-ring | Station User Button Ring Control: allows users to toggle between audible and silent call alerting. |
busy-ind | Busy Indicator. Unlike the brdg-appr that needs the specific line, the busy indicator works on a station basis and signals the fact that the user is on a call regardless of the line thye are on. When the user is on a call the button would light up. Very useful for admin assists and managers behind closed doors. Also, a busy indicator will act as a speed dial for that extension if pressed. |
Call-fwd | Activates or deactivates the call forwarding for the extension that you will program in this field |
Call-park | Puts the call in a “parked” state. This is useful when you have to take a private call and you don’t want the call to be dropped. How it works ? You would press the button, then go into a meeting room for example and press park-retrieval (or the code associated with it – see display features-access-code) and then enter the extension that put the call on call-park initially. |
Call-pkup | See above. This is the button to pickup a call. If you go into a meeting room that does not have a display you can also use the features codes for these 2 options. |
Directory | By pressing this button the user is able to search the directory. Please note that in order to have a working directory search, the name programming has to be done in the format last_name, first_name in the first screen of the change station command. If you want to hide a user from being searched (might not want your CEO number to be dialed by someone on the hallway), just add ~~ in front of the name. The name will still be presented when making a call but won't be shown on directory searched. To use it, a user would press the button then start typing the name pressing only once on the keys. Eg: for Smith, the user would press 76484. You don't have to press 7 three times to get to the letter S. Also please note that Display CharacterSet on the System Parameters Country-Options screen is set to Roman for the directory ~~ feature to work. |
Next | This button along with the next one, make the holy trinity of directory search. Reading above the user pressed 76474 to get to Smith. What if the user was trying to get to Smithsonian instead ? Pressing the Next button would get the next closest name match for those digits. Play with the option, you will understand it better than I can explain I’m sure |
Call-Disp | Last button of the directory search function. Once the user finds the name in the directory they will see the name on the top of the screen along with the extension. At this point the user can get a dialtone and dial the number. However, if you add the Call-Disp button on his or hers avaya phone, then the user would just press this button and voila the call is made. So remember for a nice functionality of the directory you need all three
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conf-dsp | Allows a user to display information about each party of a conference call. This button can be assigned to stations and attendant consoles. |
cpn-blk | This is useful if you wish to hide your phone number when calling. It does the exact thing like pressing the code “Per code CPN blocking Access Code” from the feature-access-list table. After pressing this button the next call won’t display the number that’s calling. That means that the person receiving the call will see an Unknown Number calling. |
cpn-unblk | Reverse for the unblock. See the blocking option above. |
Ec500 | Extension to cellular. We will discuss this closely in a separate article and also will cover it in the OneX Mobile portion. What it does it “forwards” the call to a third number (usually a cell phone) but without dropping the call. So basically the phone is on 2 calls at the same time. One call is the incoming call and the other call is the call to the cell. The office phone would “merge” those 2 lines allowing the user to pickup the call back and forth between the office phone and the cell phone. Note that this is an on/off feature. |
Exclusion | Remember when we were discussing about the bridge-appearances ? Well, if someone has your bridge appearance configured on their phone, they will see when you’re on a call (the button will turn red). Also, they can jump on the line with you at the same time by pressing the button. Kind of annoying if you’re on a private call. So, what you can do? Add this button and press it once you’re on a call. This way nobody can “tap” into that line anymore. |
extnd-call | This feature will make the phone initiate a call to your EC500 number and connect the current call with that line without dropping the line. More info on the EC500 article (patience, I know J ) |
Fe-mute | Very useful in the case of conference calls. Now, maybe you did not know but the 9640 can be used as a conference bridge (no codes, don’t push your luck) where you can add participants one at a time. While on a call you can see the conf button. Press it, a second line will pick up and give you dialtone. Make the call and when the second party answers press Join. That’s it. Now, what happens when one of your participants puts their phone on hold and you start hearing music on hold ? Press the fe-mute and your noisy person is off. There is a downsize to this though. Once that participant comes back, you won’t know as they are muted J |
Major-alrm | When you have a major alarm, this button will lit. Very useful for the admins |
Mj/mn-alarm | Major/minor alarm. As soon as you have an alarm on the system this button will lit up. There is no button for minor alarms only. However, what I like to do is to put both Major-Alrm and Mj/mn-alarm on my station. If there is a major alarm in the system both buttons lit up. If there is a minor alarm, only the second button will lit up. |
Ring-stat | Users can display the ringer status for a line or bridged appearance by pressing the ringstat button followed by a call-appr, or the bridge appearance button. Depending on the ringer status, the display shows• Ringer On• Ringer Off• Ringer Delayed• Ringer Abbreviated |
send-calls | Useful as a do not disturb feature. Press the button and all the calls will go to their designated coverage-path (I know we have not spoken about it yet – think of going to voicemail for now) without ringing. |
Sta-lock. | Station lock. This feature does not “lock” the station but it rather restricts the station from making international call for example. You can specify what types of calls are allowed when a station is in a locked state. |
whisp-act | We spoke about the trinity of directory. There is another one. Whisper. Very useful feature when you’re on a call and someone wants to leave you an important message. How does it work? You’re on a call and speaking with a third party. Your assistant got a very important call that your baby is on the way and she wants to tell you that without barging into your office. What they would do, they would press the whisper button then the line they are whispering in (needs a bridge appearance) and tell you the message. Even though you’re on a call, only you can hear them. CAUTION! If at this point you’ll say “What? My baby is due now?!!!” the second party on the line would think you’re crazy as they did not hear your admin assist speaking in the first place. What you’ll have to do is to use the Whisper Page Answer Back button (next one) |
whisp-anbk | Just press the button when somebody whispers and you can reply without having the other party hearing you. |
is there anyway of creating a 2nd phone number on a phone without actually creating that number as the main or prime number?
I’m programming up a 9608 phone (phone 1). the customer has the 3 appearances of their main number on their phone and would like a separate “personal” line on key 4. I can’t figure out how to do it without actually creating a separate voip phone (phone 2 and never registering it and always having that alarm as an unregistered phone) then creating a bridge appearance of it on phone 1.
What is the difference between abrdge-appr vs. brdge-appr in Avaya Communications Manager?
What is the difference between brdge-appr and abrdge-appr in Avaya Communication Manager station settings?