Dial 9 on behalf of user

[cburgy]

Has anyone figured out a way to program a button on the phone to dial 9 for the user so they can just dial the telephone number without a 9?

A pretty odd request, I know. Setting the extension to not have to enter a trunk access code isn't an option because they will be calling internal extensions as well.

Speed Dial will not allow you to just enter 9. It needs to be the full number.

[Palitto Consulting]

I have tried a number of times to do this natively but never found a way. Perhaps ShoreTel could do something with dial plans to make this happen. Otherwise,

This should be doable with a custom. The only challenge is that it will be phone-model-specific, as the button presses map to different values in TAPI for each phone model. I'm not sure why this is, because the phones send the same messages for the button, but this is how they chose to do it. Once the button press can be detected, we can easily synthesize pressing the 9 key on the phone.

[Miersk]

so, a button to dial 9? I have all mine configured that way. I have set the 9 button to dial a 9.

So, what exactly are they trying to accomplish? I mean, if they have to hit a button, why not the 9? I don't really get what they are after.

[cburgy]

I'm with you, it is a really unusual request. Unfortunately, that is what certain "important" people want. Personally, I think it would take more time to hit an appearance button and then go back down to the key pad to finish dialing the number.

[Bobby_Digital]

Well, have a look here. My German friends say they tried it and it doesnt work on IP phones...But I'd say try it.
Hack ShoreTel to kill the Dial 9 requirement for Fax Machines!

[Bobby_Digital]

Oh, sorry, I just reread your post...I guess that wont work here...I dont know then.

[59Deano]

Are they willing to dial via the PCM? You don't need a '9' there.

[cburgy]

No, they aren't.

One alternative we came up with (and working on some dial plan manipulation that might produce the result we want)...

If you do enable trunk group supression on the extension, you can still dial extensions via the following manner:

PCM (obviously because it is subjected to different dial plan rules)
Directory
Intercom
Button Assignments for speed dial and extension monitor

[cburgy]

No, they aren't.

One alternative we came up with (and working on some dial plan manipulation that might produce the result we want)...

If you do enable trunk group supression on the extension, you can still dial extensions via the following manner:

PCM (obviously because it is subjected to different dial plan rules)
Directory
Intercom
Button Assignments for speed dial and extension monitor

Not really ideal setup but can at least be trained.

[Jason Learmouth]

What kind of trunks are in use? Something like:

<o'444>x.%999G

added to the trunk dial plan would drop them out to dial tone on an analogue trunk group if the user dials the off system extension 444. You need to enter the off system extension as well. This doesn't work with ISDN because ShoreTel sends a setup message with a blank phone number to the carrier, which they don't like.

You can put an off system extension into the external field of a speed dial. One draw back may be that the user will see 444 on their display...

Overall it will be a pretty ugly solution, like taking an F1 car rally racing...

[cburgy]

Yeah, we tried dial plan manipulation as well. Like you mentioned, a PRI changes the dynamics of how Shoretel reacts.

The customer was ok with the previous solution I posted. We could also write an application via the Phone API and replace one of the standard hard keys OR use a custom app via a route point. Fortunately, they were good with the aforementioned solution.

A pretty unusual request. First time in 5 years we've ran across it.