Standard features

The following sections will break down the list of available features by category. While the codes listed are the default settings, they can be modified in the PBX Configuration tool using the Feature Codes module. These features are invoked by dialing the code from a registered SIP or IAX endpoint, or via an analog extension plugged into an FXS port. Some of the following features require the appropriate PBX Configuration tool module to be installed.

Call forwarding

The call forwarding mechanism is both powerful and flexible. With the different options, you can perform a number of different functions or even create a basic find-me/follow-me setup when using a feature like call forward on no answer, or send callers to your assistant if you are on a call using call forward on busy.

Call waiting

The call waiting setting determines whether a call will be put through to your phone if you are already on a call. This can be useful in some call center environments where you don't want agents to be disturbed by other calls when they are working with clients.

Core features

The core features control basic functions such as transfers and testing inbound calls. Simulating an inbound call is useful for testing a system without having to call into it. If you don't have any trunks hooked up, it is the easiest way to check your call flow. Once you have telephone circuits connected, you can still use the function to test your call flow without having to take up any of your circuits.

Active call codes

These codes are active during a call for features like transferring and recording calls. While some phones have some of these features built into the device itself, others are only available via feature codes. For example, you can easily do call transfers using most modern SIP phones, like Aastra's or Polycom's, by hitting the transfer button during a call.

Agent features

The agent features are used most often in a Call Center environment to monitor different calls and for agents to log in and log out of queues.

Blacklisting

If you have the PBX Configuration tool Blacklist module installed, then you have the ability to blacklist callers from being able to call into the system. This is great for blocking telemarketers, bill collectors, ex-girl/boyfriends, and your mother-in-law.

Day / Night mode

If you have the PBX Configuration tool Day/Night mode module installed, then you can use a simple key command to switch between day and night IVR recordings. This is great for companies that don't work off a set schedule everyday but want to manually turn on and off an off-hours greeting.

Do not disturb

Usually, do-not-disturb functions are handled at the phone level. If you do not have phones with a DND button on them, then you can install this module to enable key commands to toggle Do Not Disturb on and off.

Info services

The info services are some basic functions that provide information back to you without changing any settings. These are most often used for testing and debugging purposes.

Intercom

If you have a supported model of phone then you can install the PBX Configuration tool module to enable paging and intercom via the telephone's speakerphones.

Voicemail

If you want to access your voicemail from any extension then you need to choose 'Dial Voicemail System', otherwise using 'Dial My Voicemail' will use the extension number you are calling from and only prompt for the password.

Adding new features

The ability to add new features is built into the system. One common thing to do is to redirect 411 calls to a free service like Google's free service. The following steps will walk you through how to add a custom feature like this to your system.

Begin by going to the Misc Destination module and enter a Description of the destination you want to create.

Next, go to Misc Application to create the application. Here we will enter anotherDescription and the number we want to use to dial the application, make sure the feature is enabled, and then point to the destination that we created in the previous step.

As you can see, any code can be assigned to any destination and a custom destination can consist of anything you can dial. This allows you to create many different types of custom features within your system.

Voicemail features

trixbox CE comes with the Asterisk Mail voicemail system. Asterisk mail is a fairly robust and useful voicemail system. The Asterisk Mail voicemail system can be accessed by any internal extension or by dialing into the main IVR system.

As we saw earlier in this article, there are two ways of accessing the voicemail system, 'Dial Voicemail' and 'Dial My Voicemail'. To access the main voicemail system, we can dial *98 from any extension; we will then be prompted for our extension and our voicemail password.

If we dial *97 for the 'My Voicemail' feature, the system will use the extension number you dialed in from and only prompt you for your voicemail password.

The following tables will show you the basic structure of the voicemail menu system:

Voicemail main menu options

Press:

• 1 to Listen to (New) Messages
• 2 to Change Folders
• 0 for Mailbox Options
• * for Help
• # to Exit

Listen to messages

Press:

• 5 to Repeat Message
• 6 to Play Next Message
• 7 to Delete Message
• 8 to Forward to another user
  Enter Extension and press #
  • 1 to Prepend a Message to forwarded message
  • 2 to Forward without prepending
• 9 to Save Message
• 0 for New Messages
• 1 for Old Messages
• 2 for Work Messages
• 3 for Family Messages
• 4 for Friends Messages
• * for Help
• # to Cancel/Exit to Main Menu

Change folders

Press:

• 0 for New Messages
• 1 for Old Messages
• 2 for Work Messages
• 3 for Family Messages
• 4 for Friends' Messages
• # to Cancel/Exit to Main Menu

Mailbox options

Press:

• 1 to Record your Un-Available Message
• 2 to Record your Busy message
• 3 to Record your Name
• 4 to Change your Password
• # to Cancel/Exit to Main Menu