Dial one extension and have it automatically answered on multiple phones simultaneously?

[tonetl]

Hi All,

Is anyone aware of a way to set up Zoom Phone so that our users can dial to an extension and their call will automatically be answered by multiple devices simultaneously?  Think of a scenario where the head of security needs to announce something to 3 guards located at desks throughout the facility.  The guards only need to hear the message but don't need to respond.  The new push-to-talk feature would work great if we were using the Zoom smartphone app in this scenario.  However, we're using Polycom VVX 311 and VVX 411 handsets.  In general, is this possible?  If our Polycom phones are the limiting factor, is there a handset where this would definitely work?

[Vinnie · Accepted solution]

Hello @tonetl 

I think you are looking for the feature Zoom Phone Paging. 

Look on below links how to configured and also the list of compatible Desktop Phones; the description says Cloud Paging, but it should be virtually the same for the Desktop Phone destination as Paging.

How to configure: 

https://support.zoom.com/hc/en/article?id=zm_kb&sysparm_article=KB0058016

Compatible devices:

https://support.zoom.com/hc/en/article?id=zm_kb&sysparm_article=KB0061373#h_01GWPRN88PKCAGHSPVPHAJ1H...

It doesn't look your Desktop Phones are compatible, but it is so easy to configure it that I think you should try it anyway. Below what the document says are compatible devices.

• AudioCodes: C450HD, 450HD, 445HD
• Poly: Edge E series
• Yealink: T53W, T54W, T57W, T58W, T43U, T44U, T44W, T46U, T48U, T31P, T31G, T33G

I hope this helps. If it answers your question, mas it as (Accept as Solution).

Vinnie

[Vinnie · Accepted solution]

Hello @tonetl 

I think you are looking for the feature Zoom Phone Paging. 

Look on below links how to configured and also the list of compatible Desktop Phones; the description says Cloud Paging, but it should be virtually the same for the Desktop Phone destination as Paging.

How to configure: 

https://support.zoom.com/hc/en/article?id=zm_kb&sysparm_article=KB0058016

Compatible devices:

https://support.zoom.com/hc/en/article?id=zm_kb&sysparm_article=KB0061373#h_01GWPRN88PKCAGHSPVPHAJ1H...

It doesn't look your Desktop Phones are compatible, but it is so easy to configure it that I think you should try it anyway. Below what the document says are compatible devices.

• AudioCodes: C450HD, 450HD, 445HD
• Poly: Edge E series
• Yealink: T53W, T54W, T57W, T58W, T43U, T44U, T44W, T46U, T48U, T31P, T31G, T33G

I hope this helps. If it answers your question, mas it as (Accept as Solution).

Vinnie

[tonetl]

Thank you!  This looks very straightforward and is logical as being the solution!  I configured the settings but am not currently on campus to test whether it works.  TBD!

[Eliot · Accepted solution]

hi @tonetl

based on zoom documentaion, i agree with @Vinnie that zoom cloud paging will meet your requirements. 

another approach is to use native poly vvx paging.  poly vvx desk phones have a way of paging other vvx phones that are set up to do poly paging.  a few years ago, i tested this and it works.  please see youtube video below showing how to set up using advanced admin settings.  you can also use a desk phone template to enable this type of paging.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z51gTlEAjiw

Did my response answer your question? If so, please don't forget to mark the reply as an accepted solution.

thanks,  eliot

please see:

How to set up your cloud paging system

https://support.zoom.com/hc/en/article?id=zm_kb&sysparm_article=KB0058016

Cloud Paging
Cloud paging is supported on the following devices:

AudioCodes: C450HD, 450HD, 445HD
Poly: Edge E series
Yealink: T53W, T54W, T57W, T58W, T43U, T44U, T44W, T46U, T48U, T31P, T31G, T33G

Did my response answer your question? If so, please don't forget to mark the reply as an accepted solution.

thanks,  eliot

[tonetl]

Thank you!  I do think that Vinnie's reply is spot-on as being the solution I was hoping for.  However, I'll also dig into what you sent because it's viable as a backup solution.

[Vinnie]

We are happy to Help. @tonetl  I think @Eliot are proposing the same using your desktop phones as the Paging Loudspeaker destination; the VVX phone models are not mentioned in the documentation, but as @Eliot says, give it a try because long time ago I tested it on a VVX250,  back when they were branded Polycom 🙂  and it worked beautifully so why not trying with your VVX 311.

[Eliot]

hi @tonetl 

i tried with two poly vvx411 and one vvx 450 and the native poly vvx paging works.

the easiest way to test is to create a desk phone template and then bind the template to poly phones you want with paging.  as soon as you bind the template to a poly vvx phone, you will see the poly paging option.

Text used for template – all lower case except M, no spaces and double quotes around 1.

ptt.pageMode.enable="1"

Binding template to poly vvx 411.

Screen shots of poly vvx 411

When you press Paging, you get a screen to select which group to page. If you select Emergency, the page will override any existing calls.

When you press Page, you page the selected group.

Thanks,  eliot

[tonetl]

Hey Eliot,

I tested this out and got the "Paging" option to appear.  It looks like this will work!  Where do you define the "Default: Group 1" members?  When I select that option, my handset does a little beep noise but I don't hear or see anything on my other two test phones who should receive the page.  All three phones have had the provisioning template assigned to them that includes ptt.pageMode.enable="1".

[Eliot]

hi @tonetl 

on my test telephones, all three phones (vvx450 and two vvx 411) with the paging template assigned to them display the paging option at rest.  when paging button is pressed, they display options default group 1, priority, and emergency.  all three phones can select paging options default group 1, priority and emergency and send pages and receive pages. 

when one phone is paging, the other phones show (as an example) ptt from eliot, group 1 receiving page or priority or emergency.  

screen shot of demo28 (vvx 411, firmware 6.4.7.4477)) receiving a page from eliot (vvx450, firmware 6.4.7.4513)

on your two phones that do not receive the page, do they show a paging option?  if not, you might try re-booting them.  the poly paging template only works for poly phones.  other brands have there own templates.

in each phone's settings, you can set membership in groups, send, receive, subscribe, etc.  there may be a way to add to desk phone template, but i think (not sure) the group default is group1, priority and emergency, send enabled and receive enabled.

thanks,  eliot