[Asterisk-Users] Receptionist

[canuck15]

Why not just use a Snome 360.  If you have more than 12 extension+incoming
get the 42 programmable button expansion module.  I think it would make a
great Receptionist phone.  Assign each extension to a button with BLF
activated so receptionist can see who is on the phone.  It should only take
3 buttons to blind transfer, 'xfer'+ programmable extension button + 'xfer'.

I don't own one but was thinking of getting one for just such a scenario.

-----Original Message-----
From: Joseph [mailto:syscon at interbaun.com] 
Sent: Friday, September 02, 2005 11:30 AM
To: Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion
Subject: Re: [Asterisk-Users] Receptionist

> Quick question.  With an old phone system a receptionist receiving a 
> call has 1 button to push to transfer calls to a specific extension, 
> with Asterisk, a receptionist would actually put the caller on hold, 
> pick up another line, call the extension, ask if the person is 
> available, hang up pick up the caller again and transfer.  To me it's 
> seems a long way to simply do a receptionist job.  Is there a way we 
> can program the system, or make an application, that would provide the 
> same functionality ?

Asterisk does what you are looking for.
The process described above is a bit of redundant.  "...pick up another
line, call the extension, ask if the person is available, ...", just
transfer the call, if that person is available he/she will pickup the line
if not it the call will go to the mailbox, there is no need to check if the
person is available.

If you meant, to check if the person is willing to take that call is another
story, and asterisk does that as well. Here is the scenario:
You receive a call,
press flash (puts the customer on hold)
call the person's extension if he/she is willing to take the call if yes,
you hang up and the call has been transfered, or if not, you press flash
again and tell the customer that the person at extension "x"
is not available etc.

if you want to do it in a formal way with "ring".  The person you called and
he/she is willing to take the call, hangs up the call with you.  You press
"flash", again and tell that person to stay on line as you are transferring
the call. Press flash again (to put the customer on hold) dial the extension
of the person you are transferring the call to and hang up.  The phone of
the person you transfered the call to will ring.
Is this what you are looking for?

--
#Joseph