Appearance

Last Updated : May 25, 2023 |

Creates a call appearance button. This can be used to answer and make calls. Users with multiple call appearance buttons can handle multiple calls. For details, see Call Appearance Buttons.

Call appearance functions, assigned to buttons that do not have status lamps or icons, are automatically disabled until the user logs in at a phone with suitable buttons.

Appearance buttons can be set with a ring delay if required or to not ring. This does not affect the visual alerting displayed next to the button. The delay uses the user's Ring Delay (User > Telephony > Multi-line Options) setting.

Details

  • Action: Appearance | Appearance.

  • Action Data: Optional text label.

  • Default Label: a=.

  • Toggles: No.

  • Status Indication: Yes, required.

  • User Admin: No.

  • Phone Support: Note that support for particular phone models is also dependent on the system software level.

    • 9400 Series, 9500 Series, 9600 Series, and J100 Series.

    • 1400 Series and 1600 Series.

    • M-Series and T-Series.

Virtual Call Appearances

T7000, T7100, M7100 and M7100N phones support virtual call appearance button operation. Virtual call appearance operation is similar to an analog phone with call waiting enabled. However, it does not use the call waiting on/off settings, instead it uses call appearance buttons.

The number of virtual call appearances is set by the call appearance buttons programmed in the user's settings. These must be programmed as a single block start from button 1. It is recommended that only a maximum of 3 call appearances are used, however the user must have at least 1 call appearance programmed in order to make and receive calls.

Virtual Call Appearance Usability

If the user goes off-hook, they are connected to the alerting call if any, else to dial tone in order to make an outgoing call. This uses one of their virtual call appearance buttons.

With a call connected:

  • If another call arrives on another virtual call appearance, the user will hear a call waiting tone on the set. The display, if the phone has one, will switch between details of the current and the waiting caller.

  • If the user presses Hold, the connected call is placed on hold and:

If there are any available virtual call appearances, dial tone is heard. This allows the user to make a call or to use short codes that may affect the held or waiting calls. The following are some of the default short codes that can be used:

  • *26: Clear CW Drop the previous call and answer the waiting call.

  • *52: Clear Call Drop the previous call.

  • *47: Conference Add Start a conference between the user and any held calls.

  • Else, if there is a call waiting, that call is answered.

  • Else, if there is a call on hold, that call is reconnected.

If the user presses Release or Drop or goes on-hook during a call, the current call is ended and the user's phone returns to idle. If there is a waiting call, it starts ringing. The user can answer the call by going off hook or pressing Hold.

With the phone idle:

If the user goes off hook:

  • The first alerting call appearance is answered if any.

  • Else, the first idle call appearance is seized and the user hears dial tone.

  • The user can press Holdto switch between virtual call appearances. This will answer or retrieve any call on next virtual call appearance or else hear dial tone to make a call.

With the phone idle but a call alerting:

Going off-hook or pressing Hold will answer the call.

When all the users virtual call appearances are in use, they are busy to any further calls. Calls will follow forward on busy if set, else go to voicemail is available or else get busy indication.

The only other appearance button controls applied and supported are

Reserve Last CA This setting can be enabled for the extension user. When selected, the last available call appearance is reserved for outgoing calls only. For example, for a user with 3 call appearances, they return busy to any further calls when 2 virtual appearances are in use. The extension user can press hold to get dial tone on the reserved call appearance. An available call appearance is also required when using Feature 70 to initiate a call transfer.

Coverage Appearances Other users can have Coverage Appearance buttons set to provided coverage to the virtual call appearance user. The virtual appearance users Individual Coverage Time setting is applied.