Configure Shared Line Appearance (SLA)

Shared Line Appearance (SLA) is the use of a single button on multiple phones that are set to use the same line.  This button should have an LED that will indicate the status of the line shared among the multiple phones.

When a call is received on the "Shared Line" all associated phones that are available will ring and have the LED flashing. Pressing this flashing button on any of the phones will answer the incoming call on the "Shared Line". 

Once answered, the button for the "Shared Line" on all the phones will have the LED stay on continuously indicating that the "Shared Line" is in use. If this same button on the phone that answered the call is pressed while the call is ongoing then the call is put on hold and acts like it is parked but only for the devices sharing the line. Once "parked" the call can be resumed from any of the associated phones by once again pressing on the "Shared Line" button which will then release the hold status of the call.

If the call has ended the LED on all the associated phones will turn off to indicate that once again the "Shared Line" is available to receive or make calls. Making a call using the "Shared Line" is done by simply pressing the button for the "Shared Line" and then dialing the number to call.

Shared line appearance (SLA) mimics the traditional KSU (key system unit) interface where all PSTN lines are shown on each phone, allowing users to hold and unhold calls from any phone.

This configuration will cost one (1) seat license to add the device(s) to the "Shared Line Account" user.

Intercom functionality does not work with Shared Line Appearance.

The ability to put calls on hold and pick up calls from hold from any line will only work if your domain has MOH enabled. Note that MOH is already enabled by default.

Rules

• Not all phones support shared line appearance
• One user (extension) can have many user devices (phones)
• SLA is supported for max 12 lines on each device
• The same user device can only be assigned to one phone

Example

In this example, we'll create SLA with lines 1000, 1001, and 1002 to be shared among 4 devices with MAC addresses 12:34:56:78:90:01, 12:34:56:78:90:02, 12:34:56:78:90:03, 12:34:56:78:90:04 (the number of lines and devices need not be equal).

Process for setting up Shared Line Appearance

Create the line users

Start by creating the users 1000, 1001, and 1002 in the PBX portal. You may wish to enable voicemail on the first line but that's not mandatory, the following lines generally shouldn't have voicemail.

Create User Devices

Then create user devices Users>Select the User>Phones) one per phone.  Generally, these would be 1000, 1000a, etc. Don't select a phone model - we're just creating the user device, not associating it yet.

Setup Line Hunt

• Go to Users and select the user then Answering Rules
• Select the default rule and set Forward On Active to the next line user
• If using voicemail, set a Forward No Answer to the mailbox on the first line

Repeat for the following lines, on the last line set the Forward On Active to voicemail.

Assign Lines with SLA

In the PBX portal under the Inventory for Phone Hardware or in the NDP portal create/edit the first device and add lines 1000, 1001, 1002. On the second device add lines 1000a, 1001a, 1002a. Follow with additional devices using lines b, c, etc. In PBX set the SLA checkbox or in NDP set the "Share Type" as shared.
You may optionally assign an extension for handset to handset calls, personal VM, etc. Then reboot the phones and test.