2 phones - 1 mailbox -> How to turn on/off the mailbox via code?

[patrick-53757]

Hi there,

I am quite new with 3cx, so my question might sound too easy but still, here we go:

I have one phone number with two phones. One is wireless the other one is a customizable phone (Yealink T48S). I would like to have two buttons on the T48S where I can turn on and off the voice mailbox manually - I know, that I can set up office hours, but in addition would like to easy switch on and off the mailbox by a simple click on the phone. Both phone are a ring group. Phone 1 is DECT phone 2 the T48s. The 3cx-mailbox from phone 1 is being used.

What I did so far is, I programmed "*641" and "*642" as mailbox on / off. But as I found out, this is wrong, 'cause by using these codes, I set the whole PBX in out of office / in office mode.

I very much appreciate your help.

Thanks.

Best Regards,
Patrick.

PS: V15 - DEBIAN 8

 

[leejor]

As far as I'm aware, there is no dial-code to enable, and disable, voicemail, for an extension.That would have to be done in the extension options. Most users leave it one way or the other, in fact it is not a "toggle" option I can recall seeing on other PBXs. You could forward the call off to "somewhere" so that the call would never reach the voicemail.

What is the purpose for disabling the VM at times? If both phones are members of a ring group, then calls to the ring group number, and NOT direct to the extension, will not go to voicemail.

 

[patrick-53757]

The reason to being able to enable/disable voicemail is to simply get some silence. Like at the moment, the girls at the front desk are getting too many calls at the same time. They simply can't handle all the calls (and write everything down). So we want to be able to switch on the VM with a simple click on the phone. (Like in the old days, simply turn on the answering machine and it takes care of the calls -> that's what they want).

Would it work, if I do change the status on one of the phones within the ring group via short dial? *31 available (VM disabled) and *32 away (VM active)?

THX

 

[AWS2P]

Would it work, if I do change the status on one of the phones within the ring group via short dial? *31 available (VM disabled) and *32 away (VM active)?

VM is not off by switching status extension or dial codes. Vm is on or off in extension settings

Are the calls coming from one DID or main trunk number ?

you wrote you are V15 debian 8 , both are obsolete, do you have plan to upgrade to latest?

 

[patrick-53757]

The calls are coming from the main trunk number.

Trunk Number: 0123456 -> Ring group -> Phone 1 (VM1) + Phone 2 (desktop phone, for which I am looking for a dial code or any other solution)

So I am not sure, how the PBX will act, if I change the status on phone 2 only. Then I have phone 1: available and phone 2: away which diverts calls to phone 1 VM.

 

[AWS2P]

try to use a dummy extension and set VM on , disable VM on RG members, on RG forward (no answer) calls go to vm dummy extension.
If you change status to away or DND on RG members, then set to forward to VM on dummy extension

 

[AWS2P]

your goal is not to have the 2 phones ringing on incoming calls as you have only one agent available for now , is that your problem ?

 

[patrick-53757]

Thanks for your help.

We have 2 secretaries working at the same time. 2 phones are ringing on the same number - whoever is first takes the call. What I am looking for is a way to easily activate the VM on one phone. This VM is for one number (which rings on two phones).

So I am not quite sure, how the PBX will handle a change of status on phone 2 only. 'cause then phone 1 is available and phone 2 is on away status.

We have the PRO edition - if that is any help?...

 

[patrick-53757]

your goal is not to have the 2 phones ringing on incoming calls as you have only one agent available for now , is that your problem ?

--> in a way yes. It doesn't really matter how many secretaries are in the office. There are 2 phones with one telco - number at the front desk. The phones are ext1 (11) and ext2 (12).

 

[AWS2P]

VM is not by 3cx design switchable by anyway other than editing settings in console

 

[AWS2P]

as you have a Pro license , why not using a Q instead of RG, set your extensions as agent of Q and set Q in ring all mode.

In that case if one agent is not there , logoff Q her phone. interest customers stay waiting in Q with MOH until one agent is available, secretaries stay Zen as they never got more than one call at a time.

in Q you can set a wrap up time between 2 calls , let the time to do something before the next call ring.

You can use also QCB to ask callers don't want to wait on MOH to automaticly be called back , they keep Q position

 

[leejor]

I agree that using a queue is the best solution, as enabling VM, only when needed (busy), is not an option. It would only come into play if all agents were busy, but would do it automatically, and then ring an agent when one becomes available. It also means that people are not forced to leave a message, then wait for a return call.

As mentioned earlier, you can send a ring group caller to an unanswered destination which, rather than a dummy extension voicemail, could be the voicemail of one of the receptionist extensions.