Set up Auto Answer for Paging/Intercom Calls

Paging and intercom calls are meant to reach you instantly, so having to click to accept each one defeats the purpose. Turn on auto answer in the Cloud Voice App and these calls connect on their own the moment they arrive.

Note

A paging call is a one-way announcement broadcast to a group of phones (for example, “the store closes in five minutes”). An intercom call is a two-way conversation that opens directly to another extension without ringing first. Auto answer applies to both.

Before you begin

You need version 1.8.3 or later of the Cloud Voice App desktop client. If auto answer is missing from your Preferences, check that the app is updated to at least this version.

Turn on auto answer

1. Open the Cloud Voice App desktop client and go to Preferences > Features.

   Note

   Preferences is the app’s settings area. Features is the tab where per-user call behaviors (such as auto answer) are switched on and off.

2. Under Call, tick Auto Answer Paging/Intercom Call. Two related options become available, which you can set to suit how you want the feature to behave:

   

   • Paging/Intercom Calls Barge In: With this on, an incoming paging or intercom call is answered automatically even while you are on another active call. With it off, auto answer is skipped whenever you are already on a call.
   • Play Auto Answer Tone: With this on, a short beep plays whenever a paging or intercom call is picked up for you, so you know the line has opened.

   Caution

   Auto answer opens your microphone and speaker without any click from you, so anyone paging or calling your extension can be heard immediately and can hear your side. Keep this in mind in shared or private spaces, and leave Play Auto Answer Tone on so you always know when a line has opened.

3. Click Save.

Result

From now on, paging and intercom calls connect automatically without any action from you.

Note

If you are on an active call and call waiting is turned off, an incoming paging or intercom call cannot be answered at that moment. Instead, it follows your “When Busy” destination (the fallback set for calls that arrive while you are busy, such as voicemail).