Disambiguation

There are multiple call paging options available in Agilico Connect.  This article covers the standard page implementation on Yealink handsets that is named Page Groups on the Agilico Connect customer administration portal.

Overview

Paging is a feature that allows a caller to initiate a one-way call to several users simultaneously.  The handsets belonging to each group member will automatically answer a page group call and play audio through their built in speaker.  The caller can then speak to all members of the group.  Members of the group are muted.  They cannot speak back to the caller.

Page groups can only call ten users simultaneously but they can be setup in layers for up to one hundred members in total.

Page groups can be configured in announcement mode where instead of the caller speaking to members, a pre-recorded sound file is played.  We recommend this is used whenever possible if the group contains more than ten members.  It allows the announcement to be triggered quickly and left to play automatically to each member leaving the caller free to deal with other activities.

Dialling a Page Group

There are two ways to make a call to a page group.

Option A - Star Code

The star code and group number can be dialled from any telephone handset or app.

Example:

You want to make a call to page group 22.

From a Yealink handset dial *3322.

Option B - Line Key

The other option is to assign a line key on a handset to the page group.  In this option, dialling simply involves pressing the key.

Talking vs Announcement

If the group is setup without an announcement, after dialling it will play instructions and then a short tone.  Speak after the tone to talk to the members of the group.  The talk time is limited to 2 minutes per layer.

If the group is setup with an announcement, the caller can end the call once the tone is played.  The announcement will continue to play for all members in the group.

Multiple Layer Page Groups

If the group has more than ten members they will be split into layers.  Each layer can contain up to ten members.

When using a layered page group with an announcement the layers are handled automatically by the Connect platform.  The first layer will be called first and the announcement will be played.  The call to these members will then end and the second layer will be called and the announcement will play.  This continues until all members have been played the announcement.

When using a layered page group without an announcement the caller uses the hash key to move to the next layer.  The first layer will be called immediately after dialling the group and a tone will play to indicate the call is ready.  After speaking to the first layer, press hash.  After dialling the members in the second layer the tone will be played again and the caller can speak.  This continues until all layers have been called.

Device Support

Page groups are supported on Yealink handsets only.  The handset model must have a built in speaker and support the paging features.  Make sure to test the paging functionality before use.  Paging is not supported in apps.

Paging Volume

The volume of the speaker when using group page cannot be controlled by Agilico Connect.  The volume is set on each device individually.  This means that a page can be missed if the user has set the volume on their handset to a low level.  Yealink handsets can be provisioned to reset the speaker volume to a fixed level at the end of each call.  If you would like us to do so, please contact the support team.

Busy and Do not Disturb

If a user is busy on another call when they are paged, they will not receive the page.  They will get a missed call on the handset.

Similarly if Do not Disturb is turned on for the user, it will block the page call.

Improving Coverage & Noisy Areas

The Agilico Connect platform supports loud speaker units and integration into analogue paging systems.  These can be used to improve coverage and reach noisy areas that may not be able to hear the sound from the built in speaker on a phone.  If you would like information about these, please get in contact with us.