Switchvox - Release Notes Version 5.5

Overview

The main focus of the SMB 5.5 release is using Digium Phones with your Switchvox PBX. But there are some new features and enhancements that make this a great update even if you are not using Digium Phones.

For Administrators

Details

• Assign extensions to a Digium Phone MAC address.
  Setup > Digium Phones

• Maintain all of the configuration details for each Digium Phone.
  Setup > Extensions > Templates
  Setup > Extensions > Manage
  Server > Phone Networks

• Maintain a set of internal and external contacts that is put on each Digium Phone.
  Tools > Contacts

For Phone-users

Details

• Create sub-status options that can be used anywhere you can set your Status.
  Features > Status Options
  What used to be called Presence is now called Status, and can be used outside of the Switchboard and chat.

• Create Call Rules based on your Status.
  Features > Call Rules
  New Call Rule:  if your Status is Do Not Disturb, queue calls are declined, and direct calls go to your voicemail.

• Define the Rapid Dial Keys on your Digium Phone.
  Features > Phonebooks and Phonebook Options
  Digium Phones support up to 1,000 contacts, including admin-managed contacts, and your phonebook entries.

• Set your preferences for your Digium Phone.
  Features > Phone Features

• Use new options in Switchboard's Current Calls panel.
  Switchboard > Current Calls
  The current calls panel had a Send button that is now Send VM. That sends the call straight to your voicemail, ignoring your Call Rules. There is also a new button, Ignore. This makes your phone stop ringing, but still uses your Call Rules.

Download  a one-page "cheat sheet" for phone-users:  

Enhancements

• Digium Phones: Assignments and Configuration

• Digium Phones: Contacts

• Phone-Users: Status and status-based Call Rules

• Phone-Users: a new Call Rule for Status Do Not Disturb: queue calls are declined, and direct calls go to your voicemail

Issues Resolved

• Administrators:

  • When using the Upload Recorded Sound to a URL action in an IVR the sound is now correctly uploaded.

  • Outgoing Call Rules under a VOIP Provider's Peer Settings are now correctly saved under a certain series of events.

  • Special characters no longer cause trouble on the Incoming Caller ID Rules page.

  • Outgoing Caller ID Rules can now be correctly changed and saved where "Change caller ID to a number by adding () to the extension" is changed to zero (0).

  • Ranged outgoing caller ID rules now have corrected validation.

  • The Server > Connection Status > SIP Phones page now handles special characters in a useragent string. 

  • The UK English soundpack is no longer used incorrectly as the default language.

  • Email messages are no longer being sent to the administrator that refer to removing old login attempts.

  • Email messages are now sent using content-type UTF-8.

  • Saving an Event Trigger with special characters no longer duplicates the special characters.

  • Using an IVR to set a ring hint now maintains that ring hint correctly when the call rings a queue member.

  • Call Recordings Settings are now correctly allowing blank fields.

  • Call Recordings lists are now displaying correctly while mutliple calls are being recorded.

  • Call Recordings are now recording correctly for extensions that have a Ring All call rule that rings other internal extensions.

  • The default time frames can now be deleted and recreated exactly as named.

  • The system time can now be correctly updated when the admin account is using UK English.

  • Opening a Call Queue extension in extension management no longer breaks the Switchboard queue panel permissions.

  • Call Queues now correctly handle queue members who are already on a call on a converged phone.

  • Special characters stored in Blocked IPs no longer causes a problem in the display of Blocked IPs.

  • Call Reports for Incoming DID now accepts a 3-digit number. The minimum used to be 4 digits.

  • The Intermediate CA Certificate in PEM Format now saves correctly.

  • Creating an Extension Template now correctly saves the Extension Groups information.

  • The backup process using a meta file now refreshes correctly when you cancel and start again.

  • Call Logs now correctly reflect a parked call that was answered.

  • Call Logs now correctly reflect a hangup after a call is blind-transferred to a queue.

  • Call Logs now correctly reflect a call that dials an internal extension and then does a blind transfer.

  • Call Logs now correctly reflect the extension numbers when a call is blind transferred to a Send to Voicemail Feature Code extension.

  • The API method switchvox.extensions.callQueues.members.add now behaves correctly.

  • Tech Support VPN access can now be enabled from the console (in case the web suite is not accessible).

  • LEDs for 4-port analog cards now light up correctly.

• Phone Users:

  • A Ring All call rule that contains its own extension no longer fails to ring successfully under particular circumstances.

  • Call Rules with Ring All or Cascade actions are now better at preserving Caller ID. P-Asserted Identity is consistently passed in the invite.

  • A call now gets through to voicemail when it has been through a Ring All Call Rule and a Transfer.

  • For Converged Phones, Caller ID is now handled correctly when it includes an accent.

  • For external Converged Phones, calls are now shown and logged correctly as the main extension.

  • The InCall Menu now uses the extension's language correctly.

  • The Voicemail Greetings setting "Use unavailable greetings when busy" now saves correctly.

  • The number 1 is now being prepended correctly when dialing under certain circumstances.

  • Internal calls no longer go to voicemail incorrectly under a certain series of events.

  • Breadcrumb links in Minimalist Mode under certain sections of the web suite are now working correctly. (For example, "Back to Call Rules" can be used from call rule settings and call rule actions.)

• Switchboard:

  • Calls happening on a Converged Phone are no longer are missing from Current Calls under particular circumstances.

  • Incoming calls placed on hold are no longer stuck on hold if the other party hangs up the call.

  • Calls that are on hold, then dragged into the Parked Calls panel ,are now correctly removed from Current Calls.

  • Placing a call on Hold (from the Switchboard) correctly indicates that your phone-status is Busy.

  • Drag-and-drop transfer of a ringing incoming call now correctly stops your phone ringing.

  • Phonebook entry's names now display correctly with UTF8.

  • Phonebook panels now behave correctly after setting a large number of columns, and then removing them.

  • Dragging a call to a Phonebook entry's Additional Number now works correctly.

  • Status is now displayed correctly for Switchvox-peer extensions, in Phonebooks.

  • The Queue Panel log-in/log-out tools no longer lag under particular circumstances.

  • The Queue Panel no longer reports ringing calls incorrectly under particular circumstances.

  • The Salesforce panel now correctly handles contacts that were converted from leads.

  • The SugarCRM panel now correctly handles special characters during authentication

  • Panels now refresh correctly using Safari.

New Features and Changes for Administrators (/admin)

Bulk Import for SIP extensions now allows a Digium Phone MAC address in the CSV.

Setup > Extensions > Manage > Bulk Import

Now Bulk Import allows a Digium phone MAC address in the csv file. This creates a server-based Digium Phone Assignment for each SIP extension.

A new Phone Assignments page lets you assign extensions to a Digium Phone MAC address.

Setup > Digium Phones

Digium Phone Assignments define how SIP extensions are associated with a Digium Phone MAC address. For all other phone-configuration information, see the sections below about phone settings and phone networks.

The new Digium Phone Assignments page lets you view a list of extensions and MAC addresses that are already assigned, or lists of extensions or phones that are still unassigned.

Digium Phone Assignments also lets you create assignments. You can do this one at a time, or use the Quick-Create option to create multiple assignments at the same time.

Anywhere in the Digium Phone Assignments area with a Phone MAC Address field, you can use a barcode scanner to scan the barcode on the phone box and retrieve the MAC Address.

To assign additional extensions to a MAC address (Lines 2-6), first assign Line 1 to a Switchvox extension. Then, modify the assignment and add the additional lines. Lines 2-6 can be Switchvox extensions, or external extensions.

Setup > Digium Phones > Assignment Options

In general, you don't need to use the phone assignment options if you create server-based assignments. Meaning, assignments created from the Digium Phone Assignments area, Bulk Import, or the Extend API.

Phone Assignment Options are used for creating phone-based assignments using the phone's numeric keypad to select an extension from a list.

Phone Assignment Options control what password must be used to allow someone standing at the phone to choose that phone's extension. Or, you can specify that for a specific period of time, no password is required (called an Open Enrollment Period).

The Phone Settings tab for phone extensions now manages Digium Phones and Other Manufacturers(Phone Feature Packs).

Setup > Extensions > Manage

The settings on the Digium Phones tab of a phone extension, along with those on the Common Settings tab, let you control almost everything about the Digium Phone assigned to this extension. The settings here are also available in Extension Templates and Bulk Modify.

Settings that are not controlled here in Extension Management: 

• Hosts (for SIP registration) are managed in Phone Networks.

• Additional lines (SIP accounts) are managed in Digium Phone Assignments.

• Contacts are managed by the extension owner (as Phonebooks), and in the Admin Suite's Contacts page.

• Volume levels for the ringer, speaker, handset, and headset are controlled from the volume bar on the phone itself.

All of the settings on a Digium Phone, except volume, can be controlled by one of these tools in the Switchvox web suite.

Depending on the permissions that you offer each extension, some of the phone settings can also be controlled by the extension owner.

This affects Phone Settings and Permissions for:

• Extension templates

• Extension management

• Bulk-Modify extensions

The phone settings for extensions with a Phone Feature Pack are now under the Other Manufacturers tab.

A new Phone Networks page lets you set up network information for Digium phones.

Server > Phone Networks

Digium Phones use all of the network information here to register to this Switchvox.

This is particularly helpful for a remote employee. If you have a remote employee:

1. Make sure that Phone Networks contains an external network location for Switchvox

2. Make sure that Access Control contains a network location for the employee, with Digium Config Server to Yes

3. Make sure that the Phone Assignment has the correct extension and MAC address

4. Plug the phone into your local network

5. Wait until the the phone obtains its configuration from Switchvox

6. Make a test call just to be sure the phone is configured correctly

7. Unplug the phone and send it to your employee

When the employee plugs the phone in, he or she does not need to do anything. Once the idle screen displays the date and time, the phone is ready to make calls.

The new Contacts page controls a set of contacts that are put on each Digium phone. 

Tools > Contacts: Internal Directory

Digium Phones support up to 1,000 contacts (including admin contacts, and personal phonebook entries).

The Contacts page gives you control over the Internal Directory that is used on Digium and Polycom phones.  On a Digium Phone, the extensions in the Internal Directory are always included in the Contacts app. On a Polycom phone with a Phone Feature Pack, the extensions are included in the Directory.

The Directory application on Polycom phones with a Phone Feature Pack now uses the Internal Directory. (Meaning the Switchvox Directory under Applications/Services, not the Polycom phone's Directory button or softkey.)

The Internal Directory is now used as the Switchboard Directory Panel.

Tools > Contacts: External Contacts

The Contacts page also lets you put External Contacts in every Digium Phone's Contacts app. 

External contacts can be useful for contacts on a peered Switchvox. The Internal Directory section has an option to download the directory as an XML file. If you download that file, you can upload it to the peered Switchvox's External Contacts. This way, all of your employees can have the Internal Directory of both Switchvoxes.

The Updates page no longer mentions Phone Feature Packs. That information is now on the Phone Setup page (Setup > Phone Feature Packs).

New Features and Changes For Phone-Users (/main)

Presence is now referred to as Status, and Status is extended across your phone system.

Features > Status Options 

Your Status reflects your call status (busy, ringing, etc.), and your general communications status (Do Not Disturb, Available, Away, etc.).

You can create your own Sub-statuses. Under each main Status (Away, Available, etc.), you can create multiple sub-statuses, such as Available: home office, or Away: Conference in San Diego. Those can be used any time you set your Status. 

Status can be set from your Digium Phone, the Switchvox Suite, and the Switchboard.

Status is part of your Call Rules.

Features > Call Rules

Each Call Rule is based on a time frame, and your Status.  You can set both conditions, or just one or the other. (Time Frame can be Anytime, and Status can be Any.)

IMPORTANT:

• There is a new default call rule that defines what happens if your Status is Do Not Disturb. If you are DND, queue calls are declined, and direct calls go immediately to your voicemail. If you do not want that to happen, you can change that Call Rule. Again, if you are not using a Digium Phone, setting DND from the phone does not change your Switchvox Status.
   

• If you use a desktop Jabber chat client (such as Pigin) that automatically changes your Status for you based on your idle time, make sure that this will not cause an unwanted affect to your Call Rules. For example, if you are idle in Pidgin for 5 minutes and your Status changes to Away, and if you have a Call Rule that is based on Status:Away and forwards your calls to your assistant, make sure that is how you want it to behave.

Phonebooks have new options.

Features > Phonebooks

As in previous versions of Switchvox, you can set which one of your Phonebooks is used as Rapid Dial Keys on your Digium Phone (or Polycom phone configured with a Phone Feature Pack). 

If you have a Digium Phone, you can enable or disable using extra (unregistered) line keys for rapid dial.

If you have a Digium D50 Phone, you can easily print the strip of paper (DESI Strip) for your rapid dial keys. You should do this last, after you determine which Phonebook to use, and whether to enable line keys for rapid dial.

Converged Phones

Features > Converged Phones

If you have a converged Digium Phone, its main extension is used

• For all voicemail activity: message indicator light, the Msgs button, and dialing the voicemail system extension.

• For these Apps: Contacts, Status, Queues.

• For parking a call (the call appears to be parked by the main extension).

• To log into and out of a queue via a Status Indicator Rapid Dial Key. (These are Phonebook entries.)

Phone Features

Features > Phone Features

If you have a Digium Phone, the Digium Phones tab under Phone Features lets you set your preferences for your phone.

Switchboard has new options.

The current calls panel had a Send button that is now Send VM. That sends the call straight to your voicemail, ignoring your Call Rules.

The current calls panel has a new button, Ignore. This makes your phone stop ringing, but your call rules are respected.

Affected Version(s)

SMB 5.5