# Set up a One-way Paging Group

One-way paging lets a single person broadcast a live announcement to a group of people. Members do not have to accept a call the way they would for a normal inbound call: their devices open straight into speakerphone and play what the broadcaster says. Use it when you need to reach a team quickly without waiting for anyone to pick up.

## Example scenario

Imagine an office spread across several floors, with one shared phone per department. A manager needs the marketing team in the meeting room right away. By creating a one-way paging group for that department, the manager can dial the group and speak once, and everyone on the group hears the message on their phones without lifting a handset.

## Create the paging group

1. Sign in to the PBX (Private Branch Exchange) web portal and go to **Call Features > Paging/Intercom**, then click **Add**.

2. Fill in the group settings.

   ![One-way paging group configuration form with fields for number, name, type, prompt, and members](/images/pbx/1-way-paging.png)

   | Setting | What to enter |
   |---------|---------------|
   | **Number** | The extension number people will dial to reach the group. This example uses `6600`. |
   | **Name** | A label that identifies the group, such as `Marketing Department`. |
   | **Type** | Choose **One-way Paging**. |
   | **Prompt** | Optional. Pick a custom prompt to play before the live announcement begins. This example uses **Default.wav**. |
   | **Prompt Playback Times** | How often the prompt repeats before the broadcaster speaks. |
   | **Broadcaster** | Optional. Limit who is allowed to page the group by choosing specific extensions or extension groups. Leave it empty to let anyone page. |
   | **Client Allowed to Receive Broadcast** | Choose which client types the announcement is delivered on. |
   | **Dial \* to Answer** | Optional. Lets a member interrupt the broadcast to speak privately with the broadcaster. Keep it off for this example. |
   | **Dial # to Stop Playing Prompt** | Optional. When a prompt is set, lets the broadcaster press # to skip the rest of the prompt. |
   | **Play Prompt to Broadcaster** | Optional. Controls whether the broadcaster also hears the prompt. Turn it off in this example. |
   | **Members** | Move the people who should hear announcements from **Available** to **Selected**. This example selects **Marketing Department**. |

   :::note
   To set your own prompt audio, see [Record a Custom Prompt](/pbx/administrator-guide/record-a-custom-prompt/) or [Upload a Custom Prompt](/pbx/administrator-guide/upload-a-custom-prompt/).
   :::

   :::note
   For **Prompt Playback Times**, enter any number from 1 to 100, or choose **Unlimited** to loop the prompt continuously.
   :::

   :::tip
   When **Dial \* to Answer** is on, a member who dials `*` ends the broadcast for everyone and opens a private, two-way call with the broadcaster.
   :::

   :::note
   **Play Prompt to Broadcaster** appears only when a custom prompt is selected, and it is on by default.
   :::

   :::caution
   The example leaves **Broadcaster** blank, which lets any extension page the group. In everyday use, name specific extensions or extension groups here so only authorized people can broadcast to everyone's phones.
   :::

3. Click **Save**, then **Apply**.

## How members receive the page

Once the group is live, dialing its number delivers the announcement to the selected members through the client types you allowed:

- **Cloud Voice App** (Mobile, Desktop, Web, and Pad): the app rings first, and the member answers manually before hearing the broadcast. If you want these clients to pick up paging calls on their own, you can enable auto answer for each user's Cloud Voice App.
- **IP phones**: these answer automatically into speakerphone mode and play the announcement.