Set up a Two-way Intercom Group

Two-way Intercom feature allows you to establish two-way communication with an individual user or a group of users. The called parties can respond without picking up the handset. This topic describes how to set up a two-way intercom group.

Background information

In office complexes, hospitals, or schools, there are either static guards or patrol guards to ensure safety within the workplace. The Two-way Intercom feature helps improve communication efficiency. For example, a security guard can ask for help when security incidents happen, a supervisor can flexibly dispatch employees in daily activities.

Yeastar P-Series PBX System supports to place an intercom call to one or more users:

Place an intercom call to a specific user
Dial Intercom feature code (default: *6) followed by a desired extension number.
For example, dial *61002 to place an intercom call to 1002.
Tip: To change intercom feature code, go to Call Features > Feature Code > Intercom.
Place an intercom call to multiple users
Set up a two-way intercom group on the PBX and place a call to group numbers.
For more information, see the following instructions.

Procedure

  1. Log in to PBX web portal, go to Call Features > Paging/Intercom, click Add.
  2. Configure a two-way intercom group.

    • Number: Enter a number for the intercom group. In this example, enter 6602.
    • Name: Enter a name for the intercom group. In this example, enter Security Office.
    • Type: Select Two-way Intercom.
    • Prompt: Optional. To play a prompt before making an announcement, you can select a custom prompt. In this example, select alarm_prompt.wav.
      Note: To customize a prompt, see Record a Custom Prompt or Upload a Custom Prompt.
    • Broadcaster: Optional. To restrict users from placing an intercom call to the intercom group, select allowed extensions or extension groups from the drop-down list. In this example, leave it blank.
    • Client Allowed to Receive Broadcast: Select the desired clients or extension endpoint for receiving intercom calls.
      Note: Intercom calls initiated by the feature code will NOT be restricted by this configuration and will call all the clients and extension endpoints of members simultaneously.
    • Dial * to Answer: Optional. To allow users to dial * to talk to the broadcaster privately, enable this option.
      Note: When a user dials *, the call is ended from other users' side, and the user can have a private talk with the broadcaster.
    • Play Prompt to Broadcaster: Optional. To restrict the broadcaster from hearing the prompt, disable this option. In this example, disable this option.
      Note: This option is available only when a custom prompt is selected and is enabled by default.
    • Members: Select desired members from Available box to Selected box. In this example, select the group Security Office.
  3. Click Save and Apply.

What to do next

When dialing the number of the intercom group, the selected members will receive the call through the client(s) you have specified.
  • For Linkus clients (Mobile/Desktop/Web) and analog phones, they will ring first, and users need to manually answer the call to listen to the broadcasts.
    Note: Members can set their Linkus clients to automatically answer paging calls, or you can set for them on PBX web portal. For more information, see Set up Auto Answer for Linkus UC Clients.
  • For IP phones, they will automatically answer into speakerphone mode.