Set Up Auto Answer for Cloud Voice App UC Clients

Auto answer lets the Cloud Voice App accept an incoming call on its own, so the caller is connected without the user having to tap or click Answer. This cuts the caller’s wait time to zero (or to a short delay you choose). You can enable it separately for a user’s mobile, desktop, and web unified communications (UC) apps, and each change you make is pushed to their apps right away. This page covers both flavors of the feature: auto answer for ordinary (non-paging/intercom) calls and auto answer for paging and intercom calls.

Requirements

Confirm the PBX and the user’s apps meet these minimum versions before you begin. If any component is older, the auto answer options may not appear or may not sync.

Server / Client	Version requirement
PBX server	84.17.0.16 or later
Cloud Voice App (mobile)	iOS: 5.8.2 or later; Android: 5.8.3 or later
Cloud Voice App (desktop)	Windows: 1.8.3 or later; Mac: 1.8.3 or later

Auto answer for non-paging/intercom calls

Use this setting for regular inbound calls. You can also hold the caller for a short delay before the app connects.

1. Sign in to the PBX (Private Branch Exchange, your organization’s phone system) web portal and open Extension and Trunk > Extension.

2. Next to the extension you want to change, select the edit icon , then open the Cloud Voice App tab.

3. Set up auto answer for the client you want to configure.

   

   1. Select the Auto Answer checkbox.
   2. In Auto Answer Delay Time(s), enter how many seconds the caller waits before the app picks up. Enter a value from 0 to 60; set it to 0 to answer immediately.
   3. Optional: Select Play Auto Answer Tone to play a short beep on the user’s end whenever a call is answered automatically.

   Caution

   With auto answer on, the call connects and the microphone goes live on its own, without the user tapping Answer. Anyone near the device could be overheard by the caller. Turning on Play Auto Answer Tone is the clearest way to signal that a call has just gone live.

   Tip

   A delay of a few seconds gives the user a moment to notice the call before the app connects. Reserve a delay of 0 (answer immediately) for situations where an open line is expected, such as a monitoring or hotline extension.

4. Select Save.

The setting applies to the user’s Cloud Voice App. From then on, incoming non-paging/intercom calls are answered automatically once the delay you set has elapsed.

Note

Extension users can also adjust this themselves from their own app, and any change they make syncs back to the PBX. See the client-specific steps for mobile, desktop, and web.

Auto answer for paging and intercom calls

Paging (a one-way announcement pushed out to devices) and intercom (a direct two-way call that opens the far end automatically) calls are meant to reach the user instantly, so this setting connects them right away rather than after a delay.

1. Sign in to the PBX web portal and open Extension and Trunk > Extension.

2. Next to the extension you want to change, select the edit icon , then open the Cloud Voice App tab.

3. Set up paging/intercom auto answer for the client you want to configure.

   

   1. Select the Auto Answer Paging/Intercom Call checkbox.
   2. Optional: Select Paging/Intercom Calls Barge In to answer an incoming paging or intercom call even when the user is already on another call.
   3. Optional: Select Play Auto Answer Tone to play a short beep on the user’s end whenever a paging or intercom call is answered automatically.

   Caution

   Paging/Intercom Calls Barge In answers the new paging or intercom call while the user is still on another call, which cuts into that active conversation. Leave it off if the user should finish their current call first.

4. Select Save.

The setting applies to the user’s Cloud Voice App, and incoming paging or intercom calls are answered automatically.

Note

Extension users can also adjust this themselves from their own app, and any change they make syncs back to the PBX. See the client-specific steps for mobile, desktop, and web.