Set up and manage the sequential ring feature

Sequential ring allows you to create a list of up to 5 additional numbers (a total of 6) to ring in a specific order when you receive an incoming call. Specific criteria must be assigned to activate this feature. The criteria for each sequential ring entry can be calls from any number, a list of up to 12 phone numbers or digit patterns, a specified time schedule, and a specified holiday schedule.

Feature prerequisites

• Each destination number should be entered as a 10-digit number or an E.264 international number.
• The timing for how long a destination rings is controlled by the number of rings set for each destination. The valid range is 2 – 20 rings.
• The sequential ring feature has the following interaction/precedence with other features:
  • Alternate numbers – Sequential ring can be used with alternate numbers and applies to all alternate numbers for a user.
  • Sim ring/ Single number reach – If sequential ring is configured with the same number as sim ring/single number reach, sequential ring takes precedence. The typical scenario involves ringing the base location first (and all the other sim ring/single number reach locations at the same time). As soon as sequential ringing alerts the next location, the sim ring/single number reach feature is turned off.
  • Call center – When a call is presented to a user in the call center, the user’s sequential ring service is inhibited. This means that any sequential ring settings for the user are not applied to an incoming call from a call center.
  • Call forward always – If call forwarding always is active at the main location, it takes precedence over sequential ring. If call forwarding always is active on any other destination numbers for sequential ring, the sequential ring location rings as usual and hunts to the next location if the call is unanswered.
  • Call forward busy – Sequential ring has precedence over call forward busy. If all locations are busy, (or if the base location is busy with the sequential ring set up not to continue) call forward busy has a chance to execute (otherwise, no-answer processing is always applied). The sequential ring locations can have call forward busy themselves, in which case the call is forwarded if the location is busy.
  • Call forward no answer – Sequential ring has precedence over call forward no answer. Even if the base location is configured as a sequential ring location, a timeout causes sequential ring to attempt the next location. Once sequential ring has finished going over all its locations, normal no-answer processing occurs, and call forward no answer can then forward the call (a no-answer timer is not restarted prior to that).
  • Call forward not reachable – If active, sequential ring runs before the call forward not reachable service is invoked. If all the destinations, including the base locations, are not reachable, the call forward not reachable feature forwards the call to the destination number after the sequential ring feature hunts through the list.
  • Call forward selective – Call forward selective at the base location takes precedence over sequential ring. If call forward selective is assigned to other locations visited by sequential ring, the sequential ring timer applies as usual and hunts to the next location if the call is not answered before the timer expires.
  • Calling plans – Sequential ring calls are screened by the transferred/forwarded calling plan that applies to the user. If the user is not allowed to transfer specific types of calls, the sequential ring service may be inhibited.
  • Directed call pick-up/directed call pick-up with barge-in – Another user that invokes call pickup, no matter which location is being alerted, can still pick up a call to a user being alerted by sequential ring.
  • Do Not Disturb – Do not disturb takes precedence over sequential ring.
  • Hunt group – When a call to a hunt group is presented to a user in the hunt group, the user’s sequential ring service is inhibited.
  • Selective call acceptance/selective call rejection – These features precede sequential ring.
  • Shared call appearance – The shared call appearance locations are alerted in addition to the base location when sequential ring handles an incoming call.
  • Simultaneous ring – Sequential ringing takes priority over simultaneous ring. However, if the base location is alerted, simultaneous ring triggers and rings any simultaneous locations.
  • Voice messaging – If a sequential ring location rolls over to voicemail, the service ends, and the caller is connected to voicemail. There is an option to enforce answer confirmation on sequential ring destinations to prevent calls from immediately going to voicemail.
    

Feature operation

• When a caller dials a user with sequential ring enabled, they hear an announcement asking them to stay on the line. If the interrupt setting is enabled, the caller also hears a message to press pound to interrupt the search, if applicable.
• After the first announcement, the caller will hear ringing.
• If a call is answered by any of the numbers in the search list, the search is stopped.
• Every 20 seconds, a comfort message is played asking the caller to stay on the line.
• If the interrupt button (#) is pressed, the caller is provided with the subscriber’s no-answer processing.
• After all numbers are tried and not answered, the ring back or announcement is interrupted, and the caller is provided with the subscriber’s no answer processing (voicemail in most cases).

Set up sequential ring

1. Sign in to User Hub.
2. Click Settings > Calling > Call settings.
3. Navigate to Sequential ring and click the toggle button to enable it. To disable it, click the toggle button again. 
4. Enter a list of 10-digit numbers or E.264 International numbers to be rung in order from 1 to 5. 
5. With each line you input, you can also set the number of rings for each device. Select the number of rings from the drop-down menu.
6. Check Answer confirmation for each number you want. Answer confirmation requires that the called party press 1 on the keypad to receive the call. If 1 is not entered, the call continues through the list of sequential numbers. This feature prevents calls from being placed into the voicemail of the alternate sequential numbers.
7. Check Ring Webex calling primary line first if applicable. When checked, your base location rings first before the other locations are tried. If not checked, your base location will not ring, and Location # 1 is tried first. This also sets the number of rings at your base location before ringing your other locations.

Changing this setting also changes the settings for rings before voicemail and the number of rings for forwarding unanswered calls.

8. Check Continue if Webex calling primary line is busy if applicable. Calls are sent to your list of alternate locations if “Ring Webex calling primary line first” is also checked, and you’re on a call, or your phone is unreachable.
9. Check Allow calls to go to voice mail, if applicable. Callers can press # to interrupt the search.
10. Once your numbers have been entered, you can create a rule in which this feature will take effect. To do this, select a predefined schedule from the drop-down menu and click the Apply schedule button. The Apply a schedule box appears.
11. Make sure your Schedule field shows which schedule you currently want to use.
12. Select the numbers for this specific alert. You can either choose Any phone number (to get alerts for all calls) or Select phone numbers (to get alerts for specific calls).
13. Choose Ring or Don’t ring.
14. Click Apply.
15. Click Save.