How Does This Method Work?

With multicast paging, which is done using the default PAGE button on a desk phone, you are limited to only paging devices on the same network. This is due to how multicast functions. 

Since multicast paging is limited to use by devices within the same internet network, a different paging method needs to be used to page a device connected to a different internet network. 

Voice broadcasting through intercom calls can be used instead since it works differently than multicast paging. With an intercom call, a SIP call is initiated between two devices. When the receiving device gets the call, it is prompted to automatically accept the intercom call and play its message over its speakers. This is how the intercom code 08 is able to be used to intercom a device by itself. 

To allow devices from multiple locations to be paged together, a conference bridge can be created and configured to place intercom calls to a set of devices that are assigned to it. Our team achieves this by setting the conference bridge to dial the extension numbers of a set group of devices with the 08 feature code (i.e., the intercom code). These devices are set as permanent participants in the conference bridge so that anytime the bridge is dialed, the same devices receive the intercom call each time. 

Getting Started with Support's Help

To have this paging solution implemented, you will need to contact our Technical Support team so that they can create the conference bridge and manually assign the devices to be paged as permanent participants through the backend of our system.

While requesting this change, you should include the following information:

• The extension numbers of the devices that should be paged together.
• A preferred extension number for the conference bridge that will be created. 
  If one is not provided, the conference bridge will most likely be given an extension number in the 6000s range. 
• A preferred date and time to test the change with a Support Analyst. 
• The extension numbers of any desk phones that should have a button added for paging this way.
• A preferred spot on the phones to use for the button that would call the conference bridge.

Using the Conference Bridge to Page

Once Technical Support has assisted with creating and configuring the conference bridge, the Conferences page of the Stratus web portal will show the new conference bridge listed.

To start a page through this new conference bridge, you would dial its extension number from a desk phone or handset. 
For the example above, a user wanting to use the “Page Warehouse” conference bridge would dial 6005, which would start an intercom call with the example warehouse phones assigned to that bridge. 
If Technical Support was directed to add a button to phones for using the paging conference bridge, you can press the BLF button they created to dial the conference bridge as well. 

Add a Button for Paging

To make starting a conference with this method more convenient, a BLF button can be added to phones. If you did not direct Technical Support to add a button for you, you can do so using the Phone Manager tool of the Stratus web portal.

1. Log into Stratus.
2. Visit the Inventory page of Stratus. 
   
3. Click the Phone Hardware tab to view your phones.
   
4. Click the MAC address of the phone you want to add this button to.
   
5. Click an unassigned button and use the Select a feature dropdown to select User (BLF).
   
   

   WARNING: For many phones, line key 4 or 5 may be set as the main multicast paging key that pages all devices on the same internet network. Multicast paging keys will appear as unassigned since they are added through scripting on the phones.

   Before selecting an unassigned key on the first page of a phone, it is recommended to check the phone to see if one of these buttons may actually be a PAGE button. 
   

    
6. In the Enter a username or extension box, type and select the extension number or name of the paging conference bridge.
   
7. In the Label box, type a name to show for this button on the phone.
   
8. Save and resync the phone to apply and see the button change.
   
   

   ✔ Once the phone has updated, you can press the new button to start an intercom with all of the devices that were assigned to that conference bridge.