By request via the Digital IT Service Desk, traditional hunt-group, pickup-group and Manager-Assistant features can be enabled for groups of extensions. Note that these features are based on groups of extensions, rather than physical phones or locations (see above Extension Mobility/Logging In to an IP Phone). So, for example, if your extension is in a pickup group within a school office and you relocate to a different school, even though you retain your original extension, you will remain in your former school office’s pickup group until you request removal.

• For details of how to use the Pickup Group and Hunt Group features, see the relevant Telephone System Quick Start Guide in the Telephony User Guide Library.

• For detailed information about using Manager-Assistant features, see the ‘Manager/Secretary setup’ guide in the Telephony User Guide Library.  

Pickup Groups

When certain extensions are placed in a specific pickup group and someone calls one of those extensions, the call can be picked up from any phone that is tied to any of the extensions in the group.

Hunt Groups

Every hunt group has a ‘virtual’ extension number. If an internal or external call is routed to that number, the call is presented to one or more of the extensions in the hunt group, based on a specific distribution method. The available distribution methods are as follows:

• Top-down: With this method, the extensions in the group are effectively placed in a fixed, ordered ‘list’ within the telephone system. When a call is routed to the group, it is always presented to the first available extension in the list.  
• Circular: Again, extensions are effectively placed in a fixed, ordered list. The first call that is routed to the group is presented to the first available extension on the list; the next call to the second (even if the first on the list has become free meanwhile), etc. When all extensions have had a call presented, the sequence continues once again with the first extension on the list.  
• Longest Idle: Each call routed to the group is presented to the extension within the group, which has been idle the longest.  
• Broadcast: Each call routed to the group is presented, simultaneously, to all available extensions within the group (the call is connected only to the first extension that is answered).  

Manager-Assistant configuration

This configuration allows managers and their assistants (or groups of managers and assistants) to handle calls in ways that work best in terms of overall productivity—for example, incoming calls to managers’ extensions can be routed to assistants in the first instance, who can then decide whether or not the call should be put through to the relevant manager. 

With the manager-assistant configuration, there are too many options to describe here: when a possible new manager-assistant requirement is identified within the University, a telephony specialist will normally work with the requester to identify the most effective configuration for their personal preferences.

Please contact the Digital IT Service Desk if you have any questions regarding the above Telephony Service features.