Always Answering an Extension
From Etel
Contents |
Title
Always Answering an Extension
Problem
Receptionist(s) needs to blind transfer calls and someone at all times needs to answer the call. Client does not want employees to have voicemail. Employees rarely look at the caller ID to see where a call was originating from.
Solution
The first thing is to change the ring of a transferred call. So much so that a user can never change it to something else on their phone. The new ring distinguishes an external call being transferred to them, from an internal call coming to them. The end user can never change this ring.
The second step is to change the caller ID to "Transferred Call". Initially there was only a different ring being sent, but at a client's request, the caller ID was also changed.
Lastly, if the end user whom the call is transferred to is unavailable, the caller ID changes to "Username UA" and goes right back to the main auto-attendant. This let's the receptionists know that the incoming call is one they just transferred and the user was unavailable.
This is an example of extension 1001 in extensions.conf
[main-aa]
exten => s,1,GotoIfTime(17:00-7:00|mon-fri|*|*|*?main-night-aa,s,1)
exten => s,2,GotoIfTime(*|sat-sun|*|*|*?main-night-aa,s,1)
exten => s,3,Dial(SIP/1000&SIP/1001|24|tr)
[main-night-aa]
exten => s,1,Voicemail(u2000@SamplePBX)
exten => s,2,NoOp(Goto(main-aa,s,1))
exten => s,3,Hangup
[extended]
exten => 1001,1,SIPAddHeader("Alert-Info: 127.0.0.1/ringer.wav>")
exten => 1001,2,Set(CALLERID(name)="Transferred Call")
exten => 1001,3,Dial(SIP/1001,15,tr)
exten => 1001,hint,SIP/1001
exten => 1001,4,SayDigits(1001,f)
exten => 1001,5,Playback(vm-isunavail)
exten => 1001,6,Set(CALLERID(name)="John UA")
exten => 1001,7,Goto(main-aa,s,1)
exten => 1001,8,Hangup
NOTES:
1) 127.0.0.1 will obviously be the server name or address where the new ringtone will reside
2) John UA will be the user's name with the UA short for Unavailable
Discussion
This context is used for a business and it is based on the time of day and day of the week. There is one general mailbox for after hours calls. The Dial statement can be modified to make any phone ring, or perhaps even get a group of phones to ring. Tested on Asterisk 1.2.13 using Snom 320's, 360's and Aastra 480i CT
