[Asterisk-Users] Possible to display which extensions are in

[Joe Greco]

> On Wed, 17 Nov 2004, Jason Becker wrote:
> 
> > > 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.  
> > >  
> [snip]
> > 
> > This question was dealt with in a recent thread. What it comes down to 
> > is a paradigm shift from a key system unit (which is what you describe) 
> > to a PBX.
> 
> I don't think this is really a key system. AFAIK a traditional key system 
> has a one-to-one mapping between lines and the buttons. Some pbx:es offer 
> a mode where each *extension* is / can be represented by a button. This is 
> called a Busy Light Field (BLF) for the status indications and also allows 
> Directed Call Pickup. 
> 
> These systems exist on scale between a pure key systems and pure pbx. It 
> is actually a very nice feature to have.

It is, but it seems to me it's also a bit more complex to determine what 
constitutes "busy" on something like a 7960, where you've got multiple
extensions each capable of more than one call appearing on the phone.

Not saying it can't be done, but there's some sense to the "large PBX"
mentality of just not bothering.

... JG
-- 
Joe Greco - sol.net Network Services - Milwaukee, WI - http://www.sol.net
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