Working with Answering Rules

Callicity PBX Answering Rules

1. When editing a user, go to the Answering Rules tab and click the Add Rule button.
   The Add an Answering Rule dialog appears. From this page, you can create rules to screen callers, forward calls, and ring multiple numbers simultaneously.
   
2. Complete the fields in the Add an Answering Rule dialog.
   • Time Frame — Select the time frame when this answering rule will apply.

     Caution: Once a Time Frame is deleted, it will not revert to default settings. Time Frames must be set to function. Please remember to add a Time Frame after one is deleted.

   • Enabled — Enable (check) or disable (uncheck) this time frame for this user.

   • Do Not Disturb — If checked, no phone rings, goes straight to voicemail if available.

   • Call Screening — If checked, the system prompts the caller to say their name, lets you screen the call before accepting.
   • Call Forwarding Always — Immediately forwards to the number specified. See “Call Forward Drop-down Options” below.
   • Call Forward on Active — Forward calls to the number specified when you have one or more calls active. See “Call Forward Drop-down Options” below.
   • Call Forward when Busy —  Forwards calls to the number specified when the terminating device returns a 486 SIP response code. See “Call Forward Drop-down Options” below. 
   • Call Forwarding when Unanswered — Forwards calls to the number specified if the call is not answered after the specified ring timeout. See “Call Forward Drop-down Options” below.
   • Call Forwarding when Offline — Automatically forwards if your desk phone loses communication (such as during a power outage).  See “Call Forward Drop-down Options” below.
   • Simultaneous Ring — Rings many phones at once. Check box options allow you to:
     • Include the user's extension
     • Ring all your user's phones.
     • Use the option: Answer confirmation for off net numbers" to ensure that a person (not a voicemail) answers simrings to a cell/ landline by prompting the answering party to press 1 to accept the call. An icon to the right of this option allows you to specify a ring delay.
     • NOTE: A simring rings handsets, not users. So, for example, if 111 is listed, the simring will ring handset 111. If user 111 has a call forward set to their cell, however, the simring will not occur at the cell since simring rings handsets, not users.
   • Just Ring User's Extension — Rings just your phone.
3. Click Save.

Call Forward Drop-down Options

When entering an extension as a call forward option, a drop-down list allows you to forward the call to specific resources associated with that extension. Table 2‑4 describes the options. Some options may not appear, depending on the features associated with the extension.

• Handset —  Bypasses the user answering rules and forwards to the handset associated with the specified user.
• User —  Forwards to the user at that extension and follows the user’s answering rules.
• Voicemail — Forwards to voicemail at the specified extension.
• Queue — Forwards to the queue associated with that user.
• Auto Attendant - Forwards to the auto attendant associated with that user.
• Conference — Forwards to a Conference bridge

Ring Timeout

At the top of the page is the ring timeout selection. This option specifies the number of seconds that your phone will ring or forwarding rule before going to voicemail (when available).

Note: When forwarding calls off-net, we recommend the 'ring for' timer to be extended to 45-60 seconds to allow the other party enough time to answer, or go to voicemail. Please also be aware that some cell phone carriers do not answer for 35 seconds beyond the default 20-second user configurations.