3.6. Group service

Definition Group service

A group is for example a certain number of persons who should be achievable at one (or several) specific telephone number(s). Usually this is used for teams of employees, or departments of a company. In addition, you can configure a pick-up group in the group dialog. The function of a pick-up group is to determine which persons are authorized to put each other on the freely programmable function keys (BLF) on their desk phones (snom, AASTRA) and mutually accept, to monitor and possibly pick up a call from a colleague.

Furthermore, the group dialogue allows you to specify a pick-up group. For example, all members within a pick-up group can answer (pick-up) a call of a co-worker, who is currently unavailable, from their own telephone using a function key (BFL). If a co-worker is not part of a pick-up group, he/she can still add all co-workers to the function keys (BFL) and see when phones are ringing, redirect calls to them or call them with the function key (BFL).The only function, which is not available, is picking up a call**.**

How to edit a Group?

Example:
You want to create a group that is internally accessible at the extension 100. There should be also 2 employees (employee 1 and 2) in this group. If none of the two is available within 60 seconds, the caller will be forwarded to the voicemail of the team leader. Furthermore, this group is the target for the time control 2 (main time).

Instructions:

  • Give your group a short name. Then allocate your group the extension number 100, so it is accessible internally. If you have only one trunk line, then a direct dial (external number) is created automatically. If you have multiple trunks, and the group should be accessible for external calls, insert +49 123 456789-100 in the dialog box "Inbound Numbers" to ensure that your extension is also externally accessible at this number.
  • Please select finally the members of the group. In this example the extensions are "employee 1" and "employee 2". You also define a timeout of 60 seconds and choose as "Destination if unavailable", the voicemail of the team leader.

Configuration:
In the serviceportal under "Targets" you click on the ADD-button and select a new group service. You can also edit an existing group service by double-click.

A new window with "New group service" with several sections is shown:

SectionsPictures
Name and extension 
Referenced by
Inbound numbers
Members
Customer options