[Asterisk-Users] Possible to display which extensions are in use on the phone's display?

[Noah Miller]

> We're considering using Asterisk in our small (8 user)
> office.  There is one feature that we have on our
> current phone system that I haven't seen in the
> documentation that I've read that I'd like to be able
> to replicate with Asterisk.
>  
> On our current phones (Iwatsu) we have a button on the
> phones for each extension that lights up when that
> extension is ringing or is in a call, so I can see at
> a glance if one of my coworkers is on the phone before
> I go barging into his office.  Also, if I am in a
> coworker's office and my phone rings, I can hit my
> extension button on his phone and answer the call. 
>  
> Can this functionality be reproduced by Asterisk, and
> if so, which SIP handsets would you suggest using to
> do something like this?  Right now, I'm looking at the
> Cisco 7960, but I'm open to other options.

This seems to be a popular request these days.  Most places I've seen  
call this "shared lines" I thought this was impossible with Asterisk,  
but somebody kindly pointed me toward the hint() priority as outlined  
in this older post to this mailing list:

http://www.mail-archive.com/asterisk-users@lists.digium.com/ 
msg49781.html

I understand that this only works with the Snom phones (190/200/220).

I Hope that helps.

Thanks,
Noah