# Akuvox IP Intercom Integration Overview

Integrating Akuvox IP (Internet Protocol) intercom hardware with Cloud Voice turns your door phones and indoor monitors into managed phone system extensions. Once connected, visitors can reach the right person, that person can see and hear who is at the door, and the door can be unlocked from a desk, a monitor, or the Cloud Voice App on a phone. This page explains how the integration works and points you to the setup tasks.

## How it works

When an Akuvox door phone and indoor monitor are added to Cloud Voice, each device registers as a standard PBX extension.

:::note
A PBX (Private Branch Exchange) is the phone system that routes calls between users. Registering a device as an extension gives it its own internal number, exactly like a desk phone, so the system can send calls to it and place calls from it.
:::

A visitor presses the button on the door phone to place a call. Cloud Voice routes that call to the extension assigned to the indoor monitor. The person on that extension can answer, watch the live video feed, and release the door lock, either directly at the indoor monitor or through the Cloud Voice App.

:::caution
Releasing the door lock is a physical security action, not just a phone feature. Anyone who can answer the door call on an extension can open the door, so assign these extensions only to trusted staff and keep their Cloud Voice App accounts secured.
:::

## What the integration enables

### Intercom calling between Akuvox devices

Register your Akuvox door phones and indoor monitors with Cloud Voice using auto provisioning for a faster rollout, or configure each device by hand. After a device is registered and holds an extension, users can call directly between devices using those extension numbers.

:::tip
Auto provisioning pushes the settings to each device for you, so it is the quicker choice when you are rolling out several door phones or monitors at once. Manual registration is handy for a single device or when you need to configure one device by hand.
:::

- [Provision Akuvox Intercom Device with Cloud Voice](/pbx/integrations/akuvox/provision-akuvox-intercom-device-with-cloud-voice-cloud/)
- [Manually Register Akuvox Intercom Device with Cloud Voice](/pbx/integrations/akuvox/manually-register-akuvox-intercom-device-with-cloud-voice/)

### Door access from the Cloud Voice App

You do not have to be standing at the indoor monitor to respond to the door. From the Cloud Voice App, you can take the visitor's call, check the live video, and unlock the door wherever you are.

:::note
When a visitor calls, the Cloud Voice App can ring at the same time as the indoor monitor (synchronous ringing), so whoever is available can answer first. You set this ringing and video preview behavior on the extension during setup.
:::

- [Control Door Access via Cloud Voice App](/pbx/integrations/akuvox/control-door-access-via-cloud-voice-app-clients/)

### Call forwarding to an external number

So that a visitor is never left waiting when no one is available, you can nominate a fallback destination. If the door call goes unanswered, Cloud Voice forwards it to the external number you choose, such as a mobile phone.

:::note
Forwarding only takes over when the call is not answered on the indoor monitor or the Cloud Voice App. It does not replace those devices, it backs them up.
:::

- [Forward Door Phone Calls to an External Number](/pbx/integrations/akuvox/forward-door-phone-calls-to-an-external-number/)