- Usage and Distinction from Extensions
- Access and Existing Speed Dials
- Adding New Speed Dials
- Speed Dial Settings
Usage and Distinction from Extensions
The Speed Dials feature makes it quicker for users to dial frequently called contacts with just one or few digits. For example, a speed dial to reach the company's tech support department by dialing 10 instead of the full line or phone number.
While this can also be achieved using extensions, the speed dial feature is simpler to configure and just provides a forwarding function for outbound calls from a user's line. Extensions, on the other hand, work for both inbound and outbound calling.
You should, of course, give extensions and speed dials different numbers. If you give the same number to both, speed dials will get priority.
While users cannot receive inbound calls on speed dial numbers, speed dials have an option for a caller name to be applied to inbound calls, 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 can be configured in a user's Lines & Devices page under Line Speed Dials options. The settings are identical to the global settings discussed below. See more details here.
Adding New Speed Dials
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 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 for a mix of brands by Poly, Yealink, and Astra.
For other models, a different mix of models, or if the line is not used with a physical phone 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. (Telebroad does not sell or support Astra phones).
- 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.
- Force caller name on calls from this destination (optional): A name that is displayed 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.