If you have multiple people handling estimate calls at their desks, or if you’re configuring this for a single user, a better approach may be using a hardware phone that supports two separate SIP registrations/accounts while in the office.
Here’s how it works:
• Each user has two extensions registered to their phone.
• One extension (1001) is used for estimate-related calls and only catches calls from the ring group or queue you are distributing your estimated needed calls from. You don’t have to specifically give this extension out to people, it’s is used primarily for call routing for this single purpose.
• The second extension (2001) is their primary extension, registered to Clearly Anywhere, and used for everyday calls, including routing their personal DID.
This setup ensures smooth call handling and voicemail management in FreePBX.
- Extension Setup
Each user has two extensions:
• Desk Extension (1001)
• Registered to the desk phone.
• No voicemail (to avoid conflicts).
• Rings only while the user is in the office.
• Mobile/Primary Extension (2001) Registered to the deskphone as well.
• Registered to the Clearly Anywhere app.
• Has voicemail enabled.
• Used for DID calls and as the main extension when the user is away.
Both extensions are registered to separate SIP profiles on the same phone.
- Call Routing Options
A. Calls to a Direct Inward Dial (DID)
• Route DID calls directly to 2001, this will ring on desk and clearly anywhere.
• If they don’t answer, calls go to 2001’s voicemail.
B. Calls via a Ring Group or Queue
If handling estimate calls, you can:
• If using a Queue for multiple agents, add only the “1001” number to the Queue for each agent so it rings their desk phone when they are available.
• If unanswered, set the failover to voicemail for 2001 or a general queue voicemail or broadcast voicemail for multiple users.
- Key Benefits of This Configuration
Estimate-related calls only ring when the user is in the office.
Clearly Anywhere only rings when 2001 is called (optional Follow Me on 1001 can forward calls to 2001 if needed).
Voicemail is centralized to avoid conflicts.
DID calls go directly to the user’s primary extension (2001).
This setup keeps call handling simple, efficient, and avoids voicemail issues. And Clearly Anywhere calls and voice mail should work as expected without any needed feature code changes.