Updating to Switchvox 7.3

This article describes Switchvox version 7.3 (101569).

Recent Release Notes: 6.7.1.3, 7.0, 7.1, 7.2, 7.2.1, 7.3, 7.3.1, 7.4, 7.5, 7.5.0.1.

This version requires version 7.0 (94939). See the article Updating to Switchvox 7.0 for instructions on migrating to version 7.0.  Please note that after you update the PBX, you need to clear your web browser cache after you update, to ensure the new features display correctly.

There are new features that do not have corresponding sounds in the 7.0 language sound packs. In versions 7.0 and later, if you are using a language sound pack and a new feature, you will need to record custom sounds for use with the new feature (e.g., Virtual Queues in version 7.3).

New Features

Tools > Call Queues

A new menu item, Tools > Call Queues, is the new place to manage your queues. Queues have mostly been removed from the Manage Extensions area, however queue extensions are still included when the View menu shows All Extensions. The option to show only queues is removed from the View menu, because the new Tools > Call Queues area is now available.

In the update to 7.3, each sub-admin’s permission for Manage Extensions was applied to the new Tools > Call Queues permission.

See the How do I use Switchvox Call Queues article for details about the new Call Queues page and Advanced Queue settings.

Advanced Queues

Each queue can be set to Standard or Advanced. Queues can only be Advanced if the Switchvox Subscriptions are active, and if Subscriptions are expired then all queues will be set to Standard and the advanced features will not be used until the queue can be set back to Advanced.

Virtual Callers

Let callers leave a phone number, and automatically receive a call back when it’s their turn in the queue. Queue reporting includes a call-type of Failed Callback (separate from Abandoned), and shows the caller ID from the incoming call, and the callback number used.

Priority-Groups

Create one or many priority-groups of queues. A member of multiple queues receives the caller from the queue in the highest priority-group, with the earliest arrival time across the queues in that group. Only an Advanced queue can be put in higher-priority groups.

Secondary Members

Define a secondary set of queue members who will be considered (or added) into the queue ring strategy when the circumstances of inclusion are met. Circumstances can be: no primary members are logged in and there are no permanent members, callers have been waiting for too long (defined in seconds), or there are too many callers waiting. Secondary members can be selected for reporting in a queue. 
Please see the Switchboard Changes and important information sections for more information about the expected behavior. 

Global Arrival Time

A caller’s earliest arrival time in any queue can be used instead of their arrival time in each specific queue. That way, if a caller is passed between queues, they don't have to wait as long. 

Switchboard  Changes

• Queue Calls waiting:

  • Virtual callers (callers who are not waiting on hold) are displayed in italics.

  • Secondary members are included in the list of members for call assignment and displayed in italics.

• Queue Overview and Wallboard: secondary members are included in the list of members, and displayed in italics.

• Queue member activity widget: if a secondary member is on a call for this queue, it is displayed here in italics. Otherwise, secondary members aren't included here, even if they are logged in.

• My Queues: there’s a new All Queues item at the top of my queues list, and that item can be used to log in/out/pause for all queues.

Alerts Manager: Security Emails 

A new Security category in the Alerts Manager includes various info and warning emails related to security. For example, a security alert email is generated when admin or a sub-admin successfully logs in from an external IP address. 

Voicemail

In Tools > Voicemail, the 0 out of voicemail setting is removed. That extension can now be set on each SIP extension. In the update to 7.3, if an extension is indicated here on the voicemail page, that extension is assigned to every SIP Phone extension.

Tools > Voicemail, the External Voicemail feature is removed. This feature is no longer available.

Integrations

The new Expansion Module EXP150M can be configured and used with the Digium IP Phone model D65. The expansion module provides additional rapid dial keys, with up to 6 expansion modules offering 240 rapid dial keys. For details, see How do I setup an Expansion Module EXP150M for use with a D65 and Switchvox.

Sangoma Wireless DECT phones can be configured and used with Switchvox phone extensions. For details, see Configuring the DECT wireless handset with Switchvox 7.3 or later .

SIPStation service can be easily configured in Switchvox. Using your SIPStation key, you can automatically create a VOIP Provider, set all outgoing call rules to that provider, and create incoming DID routes. For details, see How do I Set up SIPStation in Switchvox.

General

• You can no longer put more than 30 members into a queue if the ring strategy is set to Ring All. Ringing that many extensions at once causes performance problems that can then cause the queue to fail.

• You can now duplicate an extension template.

• A new Refresh button on the Updates page will refresh your product licenses.

Known Issues 

• A phone extension should only be in one position of a queue. The way the UI enforces this can be a bit confusing, particularly when using extension groups. There's no need for an extension to be in the primary list and in the secondary list, or in the primary list multiple times.

• If an admin moves a secondary member into the primary list while that member is on a queue call, the Switchboard's Queue Overview may still show the member as secondary, in italics. In this case, reload the Switchboard browser window.

Issues Resolved

• Queues with a Ring All strategy are no longer over-reporting calls as was introduced in versions 7.2.x.

• Scheduled Reports queue settings now correctly let you select multiple queues to report on.

• In Queues, the extension group All Extensions is no longer allowed to be added as a queue member.

• User-created sounds in different languages are now playing correctly, after the update to 7.x.

• In the Desktop Softphone app, numbers can now be pasted (from the clipboard) into the keypad.

• In an Outgoing Call Rule, the plus sign (+) can now be used in the option to prepend digits to the number. 

• External Contacts are now displayed correctly in the settings for the Switchboard's Quick Dial widget.

• Voicemail usage is now sorted correctly by the count of voicemail, instead of the first digit in the count.

• A call that is blind-transferred from one queue to another is now correctly shown on the Current Calls list.

• A call no longer remains in the Conference app when it arrived in the conference via an assisted transfer. 

• Disk space is now posted the same way on the admin suite's landing page and on Disk Usage page.

• Calls are no longer failing when an event trigger https URL times out. 

• Digium IP Phones firmware updates: 2.9.1 for D6X, and 1.11.4 for D80.

Affected Version(s)

7.3