FreePBX Features
- FreePBX User Panel
- Call Waiting
- Caller ID
- Call Transfer
- Call Parking
- Call Forwarding
- Call Recording
- Call Reporting
- Voicemail
- Voicemail to Email
- Follow Me
- VMX Locater
- Auto-Attendant/IVR
- Do Not Disturb
- Call Queues
- Music On Hold
- Office Hours
- Call Screening
- Instant Call Control
- Ring Groups
- Conference Rooms
- Phone Directory
- Intercom & Paging
- Busy Lamp Field (BLF)
- Call Spy
- Direct Inward System Access (DISA)
- Application/Browser
- Dictation
- Remote Users
- Multiple Offices
FreePBX User Panel
The FreePBX User Panel allows users to login in addition to modify telephone settings relating to a exceptional extension. Depending on how your FreePBX is setup, it tin go accessed inwards unlike ways. Typically, the FreePBX User Panel tin go accessed past times typing "http://FreePBXServer/" into whatever spider web browser.
The FreePBX User Panel allows users to:
- Review telephone telephone logs
- Listen to call recordings and voicemail messages (Quicktime must go installed)
- Configure Follow-Me and VMX Locater settings
- Configure voicemail settings
- Enable/Disable telephone features such as call waiting, DND, ringtimer, in addition to more...
Call Waiting
Call waiting is a basic FreePBX characteristic which allows for an additional telephone telephone to go answered past times a telephone user who is already involved inwards a call. The user is notified past times a distinct beeping sound, in addition to tin either bring the additional call, or decline it (thus sending it to the busy voicemail message).
An instance of this inwards usage would go when a user is on the phone, in addition to receives an additional call. The additional telephone telephone tin either go answered or declined, based on the user's preference at the time.
[top]Caller ID
Caller ID is a measure FreePBX characteristic which enables incoming calls to go identified past times their Caller ID. An incoming caller's ID is displayed on the users telephone screen.
Similarly, all FreePBX extensions tin go laid to display a certainly Caller ID when making outgoing calls. This is useful if a exceptional telephone belongs to a exceptional subdivision or if an private wishes to display his/her direct number when placing outgoing calls.
[top]Call Transfer
This essential telephone characteristic allows users to transfer calls from their phone. Calls tin go transferred to closed to other user, voicemail, an external number, in addition to other destinations.
Call transfers tin go done inwards 2 distinct ways. The start method is called a Blind Transfer and it volition connect 2 calls immediately. The 2d is called an Attended Transfer, in addition to this method connects the individual making the transfer amongst the intended recipient first. This gives the transferring user a gamble to inform the recipient who is on the draw earlier the actual transfer is made.
[top]Call Parking
Call parking enables a telephone telephone to go placed inwards a telephone telephone parking lot amongst an assigned number. This parked telephone telephone tin go picked upwards past times whatever user amongst whatever phone. The caller who is placed inwards the telephone telephone parking lot volition have on-hold music played to them spell they are awaiting a pick-up. Calls are assigned specific parking lot numbers upon transfer. The parking lot number is essential to this system, so it is imperative that the individual transferring the telephone telephone notes which parking lot number the telephone telephone is placed in - the number is read to the transferring user after dialling the extension for the parking lot. Calls tin go answered only past times dialling the parking lot number.
This organization is extremely useful when in that location are phones located where in that location may go to a greater extent than than 1 user (e.g. manufactory floor, newsroom, coming together room, etc...). Calls tin go placed inwards a parking lot, in addition to the receptionist tin only contact who the intended recipient is in addition to tell them the code to access the telephone telephone (e.g. "Jill your married adult man is on draw 76" - Jill only dials 76 on whatever telephone in addition to is connected to her husband).
[top]Call Forwarding
This characteristic allows calls which would unremarkably originate at a given location to go forwarded to another. Once telephone telephone forwarding is activated, all calls are redirected to the intended finish immediately. Calls tin go forwarded to closed to other extension, telephone number (such equally a jail cellular telephone phone), an IVR, in addition to more.
An instance of this characteristic would go if a exceptional user had to leave of absence the business office for a given amount of fourth dimension in addition to wanted to have their telephone calls at closed to other location.
[top]Call Recording
Call recording is a useful characteristic which enables a calling or called political party to tape a conversation using their phone. Call recording tin go laid to ever record, never record, or tape strictly on an on-demand basis.
Call recording tin go useful for grooming and/or character assurance. Some jurisdictions/countries exercise non allow a telephone telephone to go recorded without prior consent, delight banking venture check your local laws earlier recording a telephone call.
[top]Call Reporting
PirayaTel gives yous the mightiness to persuasion all telephone calls inwards a graphical interface. FreePBX allows yous to filter past times date, extension, user, duration, in addition to more. Totals are calculated based on the filter settings, in addition to are displayed graphically inwards a number of ways.
This is useful for businesses who demand to hold tabs on telephone calls in addition to certainly individuals/extensions who cannot go straight observed or monitored constantly.
[top]Voicemail
Voicemail is perchance 1 of the most known in addition to used characteristic of a telephone system. Voicemail allows callers to leave of absence a vocalism message which tin go played dorsum at a later date/time. By default, voicemails conduct hold 2 split upwards conditions/messages which tin go played.
- 'unavailable calls' - when calls are un-answered
- 'busy calls' - when a user sets their telephone to Do Not Disturb mode (click for to a greater extent than info)
When a telephone telephone reaches a users voicemail, the caller is prompted to leave of absence a message after a pre-recorded (or automated) message. Additional options tin go laid to road calls should they accomplish a users voicemail (see VMX Locater for to a greater extent than information).
FreePBX's are capable of supporting hundreds of split upwards voicemail boxes. FreePBX's also have voicemail to email functionality, which allows voicemail messages to go delivered straight to a users electronic mail address where they tin go listened to without the usage of their desk phone.
[top]Voicemail to Email
The voicemail to electronic mail FreePBX characteristic is a subscribed characteristic which when enabled, sends a re-create of a user's voicemail message to their specified electronic mail address. This characteristic allows users to hear to their voicemail messages via electronic mail or smart-phone device without having to physically usage their desk-phone.
This characteristic has many inherent advantages, even so due to requirements which require the usage of an external electronic mail server, subscription to our voicemail to electronic mail service may go mandatory inwards social club for this characteristic to function.
[top]Follow Me
This characteristic is controlled inwards the FreePBX User Panel.
Once enabled, the follow me characteristic volition direct calls to alternate extensions/external destinations (such equally mobile or landline) should a telephone telephone persist (ring) longer than the defined number of seconds. At first, the organization volition band the initial extension for the defined number of seconds (we recommend xv seconds). Once the defined duration expires, the organization directs the telephone telephone to band the extension(s) and/or external destinations listed equally follow me numbers. The telephone telephone tin go accepted or rejected past times an external device (such equally a mobile phone) without the caller having noesis of this. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 rejection volition ultimately shipping the telephone telephone to the start (original) extension's busy voicemail*.
This characteristic ensures that a caller volition never accomplish an external device's voicemail system. This is extremely beneficial because this ensures that follow me destination voicemails(such equally a mobile user's personal voicemail) is never reached. Keep inwards heed that in 1 lawsuit a telephone telephone is answered on an external device, it cannot go transferred dorsum into the organization (e.g. to an extension, ring group, call queue, etc...).
* The telephone organization is capable of routing the finally (unanswered) telephone telephone to many unlike destinations (such as voicemails, other extensions, IVR's, call queues, in addition to more). This is an advanced characteristic of follow me in addition to requires additional configuration. Contact a PirayaTel representative for to a greater extent than details.
[top]VMX Locater
This characteristic is controlled inwards the FreePBX User Panel.
The VMX (Virtual Machine eXtension) locator allows for advanced command of a user's voicemail system. It is somewhat similar to the Follow Me feature; even so it gives callers to a greater extent than control. In essence, the VMX locater is a mini-IVR (interactive vocalism response) for voicemail.
When a caller reaches a user's VMX Locater, they are presented amongst a recorded message. This message would dot to them that in that location are options inwards add-on to only leaving a message. Typically, VMX Locater voicemails would give callers the alternative of leaving a message OR attempting to contact the intended party. VMX Locater tin go configured to piece of job amongst 'unavailable' and/or 'busy' voicemails.
For example, a caller reaches your voicemail, in addition to is given the alternative to: press 1 to telephone telephone your mobile, press 2 to accomplish the Vancouver office, press 0 to accomplish reception, or leave of absence a message. This ensures that the caller is able to contact an appropriate political party should they desire to, or only leave of absence a message.
[top]Auto-Attendant/IVR
An Interactive Voice Response(IVR)/Auto-attendant characteristic is perchance 1 of the most desirable features for a concern PBX. An IVR plays an automated message to all incoming callers. This message plays to the caller, specifies the options which are available to them, in addition to later prompts them to brand their choice based on the nature of the call. Once the caller chooses the appropriate option, the telephone telephone tin go routed to the intended party, extension, department, etc. IVR's are really robust in addition to efficient tools inwards whatever concern environment, in addition to piece of job to decrease the amount of fourth dimension spent needlessly on the telephone amongst a caller. Since the entire organization is fully automated, calls are routed amongst to a greater extent than efficiency, in addition to employees are able to maximize their productivity.
[top]Do Not Disturb
The exercise non disturb characteristic allows users to laid a status on their handset phones which would automatically decline a call. This is somewhat similar to call forwarding, except that whatever incoming telephone telephone volition terminate to the users 'busy' voicemail (regular unanswered calls terminate to the 'unavailable' voicemail). This characteristic is useful when a user is occupied amongst an of import chore in addition to cannot afford to bring a telephone telephone (e.g. of import meeting, of import task, eating lunch, etc...).
[top]Call Queues
A Call Queue is a characteristic which places callers into a regulated on-hold organization of priority such that the caller amongst the highest priority (usually the caller on concur the longest) is answered earlier a caller amongst a lower one. Call Queues are extremely useful when treatment a large number of incoming callers at the same time. Callers tin go placed inwards a queue to go answered past times the start available representative (support representative), or placed inwards a queue which tin go answered past times a specific agent (sales rep.). While a caller is waiting inwards a queue, special music on hold and/or messages tin go played to them. Users are also able to log inwards in addition to out of certainly queues. This tin go useful for users who wishing to bring dejeuner in addition to non conduct hold their telephone ring, or for situations where additional agents tin go of use.
Queued calls conduct hold numerous options in addition to configurations associated amongst them. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 few of them equally follows:
- Call recording
- Agent band options
- Ring all agents
- Ring available agents only
- Ring certainly agents only
- Alert agent how long a caller has been belongings prior to answering call
- Call queue 'weight' to apply priority to calls from unlike queues which would go answered past times 1 grouping of agents (i.e. back upwards calls are higher priority than sales)
- Fully customizable timing in addition to messaging options (how long a caller waits on hold, how oft to play a message, automated message which estimates on-hold time, in addition to more...)
Music On Hold
Music on concur is a characteristic which plays music to callers who conduct hold been placed on hold or are currently inwards a call queue. The music tin go customized to play music pertaining to the demographic base of operations of the callers, or only introduce the callers amongst a number of custom recorded messages relating to the potential nature of the call.
An instance of this would go to tape a message which tin in addition to so play every X seconds indicating that the telephone telephone is "important to us in addition to volition go answered inwards priority sequence".
Another alternative is to tape a message which tin go played to callers to inform them of a potential number which has been made aware (e.g. "we are currently aware of the escaped monkeys in addition to are working to apprehend them. If this telephone telephone is non concerning the ravenous monkeys, in addition to so delight go out along holding").
[top]Office Hours
The Office Hours characteristic makes it possible to road a telephone telephone based on the time, solar daytime of the week, or month. This characteristic tin go useful for routing calls differently after concern hours, during weekends, holidays, etc. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 proficient instance of this characteristic inwards usage would go to play to callers a message indicating that the concern is currently closed. The message tin in addition to so inform the caller of the regular concern hours in addition to prompt them to leave of absence a message or only telephone telephone dorsum during concern hours.
[top]Call Screening
The Call Screening feature, when enabled, prevents a number from calling into the telephone system. This is useful to forestall unwanted calling/solicitation, forestall harassment and/or abuse, halt telemarketing companies who exactly won't give up, in addition to more.
[top]Instant Call Control
The Call Flow Control characteristic is a unique characteristic which gives command over the routing of incoming calls amongst the usage of characteristic codes. This characteristic is useful inwards a province of affairs where an incoming number/route would demand to go changed on-the-fly.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 proficient instance of this characteristic inwards usage would go when an business office closes for the day. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 receptionist (or user) only dials the code (or presses the BLF button assigned to it) to enable or disable the Call Flow Control. For example:
- When the Call Flow Control is enabled (green BLF), all incoming calls volition go directed to the measure IVR (or extension 200 if no IVR is present).
- When Call Flow Control is disabled (red BLF), all incoming calls volition go directed to an IVR which alerts the caller that the business office is closed.
Ring Groups
Your FreePBX is capable of grouping together many extensions into a unmarried dialled extension. For example, if in that location are sales agents amongst extensions 220, 221, 222, in addition to 223, in addition to so it is possible to assign a 'Sales' band grouping which when dialled, volition telephone telephone all of the phones simultaneously.
Additional options tin go configured such as: the band strategy (ring all, band sequentially, band start available, in addition to more), max band time, proclamation (to go played to the caller prior to dialling the group), whether to band or play music, in addition to more.
This characteristic is useful for IVR's and call queues as incoming calls tin go directed to an entire subdivision amongst ease. This tin also go useful if yous wishing to contact a grouping of phones internally (technical back upwards agents). It is equally unproblematic equally assigning those phones to a band grouping (such equally 601), in addition to dialling it from whatever organization phone.
[top]Conference Rooms
The conference room characteristic of your FreePBX plant to create a coming together room whereby users (both internally in addition to externally) tin telephone telephone inwards in addition to verbalize to 1 another. Conference rooms tin go moderated past times an admin user, in addition to equally good tin go password protected to forestall unwanted callers from accessing it. The conference room tin go accessed past times users internally past times dialling the conference room access number. The conference room tin go accessed past times external users past times entering a numerical code after dialling a number.
For example, your conference room tin go linked to your IVR message without anyone ever knowing. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 caller would dial your regular concern number, in addition to in 1 lawsuit they reached the IVR message, they would go inwards the access code (#XXX) followed past times the password, in addition to they would go connected to the conference room.
Conference's tin easily go setup past times contacting 1 or to a greater extent than parties via extension dialling. This conference, however, has restricted functionality, in addition to may non piece of job amongst exterior parties.
[top]Phone Directory
This is a characteristic which tin go accessed both externally in addition to internally. When the directory is called, the caller is prompted to go inwards the start 3 letters of a user's start or finally name. The directory volition in addition to so search in addition to agree the input to the most belike user in addition to play dorsum that user's get upwards for verification.
[top]Intercom & Paging
An intercom is a groovy characteristic to conduct hold inwards an environs where messages demand to speedily go relayed to users across distances or offices. Paging/Intercom allows users to contact each other straight in addition to straight off through the speakerphone (intercom in addition to paging are automatically answered).
Intercom allows 1 user to contact closed to other user (or users inwards a band group) instantly. All parties are able to speak in addition to hear to each other.
Paging allows 1 user to contact a grouping of users simultaneously. This differs from the intercom characteristic due to the fact that it is a one-way sound signal, pregnant that those existence paged cannot speak dorsum to the pager.
These 2 features conduct hold many advantageous uses. One such usage would go efficient inwards a large piece of job environs such equally a warehouse or large office. If a user had an of import message to relay to the entire office, they would only dial the page code which contacted all departments/offices, in addition to speak the message. Everyone (save for those on the phone) would instantly go notified.
Note: Intercom in addition to paging may non piece of job on certainly phones. Intercom in addition to paging are non available on the FreePBX Hosted telephone system.
[top]Busy Lamp Field (BLF)
Busy Lamp Field (BLF) is a lighted (green or red) indicator on your telephone (or expansion module) which tin go configured to dot the status of certainly conditions/features of FreePBX. Examples of BLF which tin dot status are:
- Whether an extension is inwards usage (whether a user is on the telephone or not)
- Speed-dial when key is pressed
- Whether or non in that location is a call parked (awaiting retrieval past times someone)
- Whether Call Flow Control has been enabled/disabled (useful for turning on/off open/closed IVR - amongst a unproblematic push press)
Call Spy
The Call Spy characteristic enables certainly privileged users to hear inwards on whatever telephone call. This characteristic does non allow the user using telephone telephone spy to interact amongst whatever fellow member of the telephone telephone existence spied on. This characteristic also does non warning the political party existence spied on that someone else is listening.
This characteristic tin go useful if an executive wishes to hear to an active telephone telephone alive without the telephone telephone political party knowing.
[top]Direct Inward System Access (DISA)
Direct Inward System Access (DISA) is a organization characteristic which allows a user to access the telephone organization from external sources. This characteristic allows users (for example, on a mobile device) to connect into the telephone organization inwards social club to check voicemail, identify calls, dial extensions, in addition to more. This characteristic plant past times prompting users to start dial an applicable number (this tin go your regular concern number or a special number specifically for this purpose), in addition to so (this is strongly recommended) dial a special characteristic code which volition in addition to so prompt the user to go inwards a special PIN code. After entering the credentials, the user has access to your organization almost equally if they were at their desk.
An instance of this would go if an employee needed to contact a customer when they are non currently inwards the office. The employee could dial the special number, go inwards the characteristic code (#XXXXX), go inwards the PIN (XXXXX), in addition to proceed to identify a call. This is beneficial if the employee (or employer) exclusively wanted clients to consider the work caller ID number, in addition to non the employee's personal or piece of job mobile caller ID. Another unique exercise goodness to this characteristic is that the caller tin usage the telephone system's long distance service without worrying almost paying ridiculous mobile long distance per-minute fees. In effect, DISA tin piece of job to go a calling bill of fare for employees.
[top]Application/Browser
The browser application of certainly phones allows for extreme IP telephone functionality in addition to flexibility. In essence, the browser application concealment on your telephone plant similar a web-browser, amongst closed to limitations. These browsers connect to the Internet to render users amongst data such equally weather, traffic, finance, globe news, in addition to more. These browsers are fully customizable, in addition to go configured to display a vast array of data to users.
An instance of this would go if a move agent wished to render forecast data to a exceptional destination. The user could only select their browser spell on the telephone amongst a client, in addition to read dorsum the data inwards real-time without having to usage a computer. There are many distinct advantages of the browser feature; however, it is exclusively accessible on certainly phones.
[top]Dictation
Dictation is a useful characteristic which allows a user to tape sound from their phone. The recording tin in addition to so go sent to whatever electronic mail address specified to go listened to later. This tin go useful for many scenarios such as:
- Meetings
- Legal Proceedings
- Dictation to go typed out at a later date
- And more
Remote Users
FreePBX's back upwards the mightiness to add together Remote Users. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Remote User is a telephone organization user who is non located inwards the office, yet soundless connects in addition to has the same functionality of an business office user. The Remote User must conduct hold their remote telephone configured to connect to the FreePBX located at the key office.
Remote Users allow an private to piece of job from anywhere inwards the world, in addition to calls tin go placed in addition to received exactly equally if they were sitting at a desk inwards the office. This is an extremely useful characteristic which tin go taken wages of inwards a multitude of situations in addition to scenarios (e.g. employees working from home, employees who are oft travelling, employees inwards closed to other city, country, in addition to more).
[top]Multiple Offices
Many businesses conduct hold multiple offices. Whether separated past times large geographical areas, or past times several floors, in addition to depending on whether in that location are numerous employees at each office, it tin go necessary to render a FreePBX to each office. Multiple FreePBX's inwards multiple offices are able to piece of job inwards tandem, in addition to is recommended inwards situations where in that location is a large employee base of operations (usually 15-20+) inwards each private office. This is highly recommended if offices are separated past times large geographical margins (e.g. 3 offices amongst 20+ personnel located inwards Toronto, Los Angeles, in addition to Miami - it is highly recommended that in that location go 3 split upwards FreePBX's).
The beauty of multiple FreePBX's, is that they tin go configured to piece of job together flawlessly. Almost every FreePBX characteristic tin piece of job betwixt offices (e.g. conferences tin go held betwixt offices, calls tin go transferred from 1 business office to another, employees tin telephone telephone each other free of charge, in addition to more).
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