Call Screening

Last Updated : Feb 10, 2025 |
This function is used to enable or disable call screening. While enabled, when a caller is presented to the user's voicemail mailbox, if the user's phone is idle they will hear through the phone's handsfree speaker the caller leaving the message and can select to answer or ignore the call.
This feature can be used with both Embedded Voicemail and Voicemail Pro. Call screening is only applied as follows:
  • It is only applied to calls that have audible alerted at the user's extension before going to voicemail. This requires the user to have both voicemail coverage and call screening enabled and the phone's ringer not set to silent. However it is not applied if the user transfers the call to voicemail.
  • It is only applied if the user's phone is idle. That is, not on a call or with a call held pending transfer or conference.
  • Calls that ring the user, are then rerouted (for example follow a forward on busy setting) and then return to the user's mailbox are screened.
While a call is being screened, the phone can be used to either answer or ignore the screened call. Auto answer options are ignored.

Answering a screened call

A screened call can be answered by pressing the Answer soft key (if displayed) or lifting the handset. Pressing the call appearance or line button on which the call is indicated will also answer the call.
When answered:
  • The phone's microphone is unmuted and a normal call between the user and caller now exists.
  • The voicemail recording stops but that portion of the call already recorded is left as a new message in the user's mailbox.

Ignoring a screened call

A screened call can be ignored by pressing the Ignore soft key if displayed. On 1400, 1600, 9400, 9500, and 9600 Series phones, pressing the SPEAKER button will ignore the call. On M-Series and T-Series phones, pressing the Release key will ignore the call.
When ignored:
  • The call continues to be recorded until the caller hangs up or transfers out of the mailbox.
  • The user's phone returns to idle with call screening still enabled. However any other call that has already gone to voicemail is not screened.

Screened call operation

While a call is being screened:
  • The mailbox greeting played and the caller can be heard on the phone's speakerphone. The caller cannot hear the user.
  • The user is regarded as being active on a call. They will not be presented with hunt group calls and additional personal calls use abbreviated ringing.
  • 1400/1600/9400/9500/9600 Series phones: If the phone's default audio path is set to headset or the phone is idle on headset, then the screened call is heard through the headset.
  • Any additional calls that go to the user's mailbox when they are already screening a call, remain at the mailbox and are not screened even if the existing call being screened is ended.
  • Making or answering another call while listening to a screened call is treated as ignoring the screened call. For users with Answer Pre-Select enabled (User | Telephony | Multi-line Options), pressing an appearance button to display details of a call is also treated as ignoring the screened call.
  • Other users cannot access a call that is being screened. For example they cannot use call pickup, bridged appearance or line appearance buttons, call intrude or call acquire functions.
  • Phone based administration cannot be accessed and the hold, transfer and conference buttons are ignored.
  • The screened caller using DTMF breakout ends the call screening.
Enabling do not disturb overrides call screening except for calls from numbers in the user's do not disturb exceptions list.
Locking the phone overrides call screening.
Manual call recording cannot be applied to a call being screened.
While a call is being screened, it uses one of the available voicemail channels. If no voicemail channels are available, call screening does not occur.
Other:
The use of features to listen to a call without the other call parties being aware of that monitoring may be subject to local laws and regulations. Before enabling the feature, you must ensure that you have complied with all applicable local laws and regulations. Failure to do so may result in severe penalties.

Details

  • Action: Advanced | Call | Call Screening.
  • Action Data: None.
  • Default Label: CallScreen or Call Screening.
  • Toggles: Yes.
  • Status Indication: Yes.
    Status
    1400, 1600, 9400, 9500
    9608, 9611, J100
    9621, 9641
    T-Series,
    On
    Green on
    Green on
    Green
    On
    Off
    Off
    Off
    Grey
    Off
  • 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.
      1. Not T7406E.