Speed Dials (Admin Center Voice Feature)

• Usage and Distinction from Extensions
• Access and Existing Speed Dials
• Adding New Speed Dials
• Speed Dial Settings

Usage and Distinction from Extensions

Speed Dials make it quicker for users to dial frequently called contacts with the press of one or few number buttons. For example, pressing 10 to reach tech support instead of dialing the full line number. 

While this can also be achieved using extensions, the advantage of speed dials is that users can initiate a call without having to press a dial button. They can simply press the speed dial number(s) while the phone is idle. 

Another advantage over extensions is that a caller name can be applied to inbound calls from the same frequent contacts allowing users to better recognize these contacts.

Access and Existing Speed Dials

The Speed Dials page is accessed at Admin Center Menu>Voice Features>Speed Dials, listing the existing speed dials by number, description, and destination. You can delete speed dials by checking them and clicking   , but be aware that this cannot be undone.

The speed dials configured here are global to the account and are available to all users. Speed dials for specific users or phone lines is a feature that will be added to the Admin Center in the future.

Adding New Speed Dials

To be able to add or modify speed dials, a user needs to have an Account Owner role or a role with speed dial view permission. Roles are further explained here.

To create a new speed dial select ADD SPEED DIAL from the Speed Dials page or the Voice Features Quick menu.

Speed Dial Settings

Selecting an existing speed dial or creating a new one shows its settings:

• Speed dial number: The number dialed by the user to call the frequent contact. The shorter the number, the quicker it is to use it so ideally this should be kept to 1-3 digits.
  
  
• Description (optional): A description of the function of the speed dial.
  
  
• Destination: The number dialed by the speed dial. Both internal lines and external phone numbers are acceptable.
  
  
• Button on telephones: This drop-down menu lets you determine what phone function button is to be provisioned and used for performing the speed dialing.
  
  Select a button based on your company's phone brand(s). The menu provides two options if your company has a mix of phone brands by Poly, Yealink, and Astra. For other models or a different mix of models select None and the speed dial will be carried out as a regular call without the functionality of any button.
  
  The selection also depends on the type of destination –
  
  
  • For dialing internal lines or extensions, you should select a BLF button option since BLF buttons can indicate if a recipient's line is busy or free.
    
    
  • For external numbers, you should select a Speed Dial button option.
    
    
  • For Astra phone models, you can use the speed dial with additional function buttons like Intercom, Line, Transfer, etc.
    
    
• Force caller name on calls from this destination (optional): A caller name that displays when users receive a call from the number provided in the Destination field. This will override the actual caller ID name (if the destination number has one), allowing users to better recognize the destination with a custom name.

Select SAVE to finish creating or modifying the speed dial. Users may need to restart their phones to use the speed dial.