Shared Line Appearance (SLA) is a common PBX feature often used in a boss/secretary type scenario. Is may also be referred to as a “Bridged Extension”. Shared Line Appearance allows for a secretary type user role to have a DSS/BLF key configured to mirror the identity of a boss's extension. Calls for the boss's extensions will also ring on the associated shared line appearance DSS key of the secretary's phone. The secretary can differentiate between calls to their own extension versus calls for boss's extension based upon the DSS/BLF key the call comes in on. Shared Line Appearance can also be used for placing outbound calls using the identity (Caller ID) of the boss's extension. Voicemail notifications and retrieving voicemails for the boss's extension can also be performed using a shared line appearance DSS/BLF key on the secretary's phone.
It is recommended to use a supported phone model that has adequate DSS/BLF keys to be assigned for minimum user requirements (BLFs, Parks, Speed Dials, etc). Best practice is to have a BLF (Busy Lamp Field) key as well as a Shared Line Appearance key configured on the secretary's phone of the boss's extension. The BLF key will act as a speed dial and status indicator of the boss's extensions while the shared line appearance key will act as a mirror of the boss's phone for fielding calls. You cannot transfer calls to the share line appearance, however you can transfer calls to the BLF key.
How to Configure Shared Line Appearance
The following steps can only be performed by an Office Manager role or higher. Contact your system administrator if you need assistance.
Primary/Boss's Phone
Step 1: Log into SQUIBIT UC and navigate to the boss's extension under the Users thumbnail
Step 2: Go to the Phones tab and click “Add Phone”
Step 3: Enter an available suffix letter in the space next to the extension. (Use lowercase letter)
Step 4: Select the appropriate Emergency Caller ID from the drop-down list
Step 5: DO NOT assign a Model
Step 6: Assign an Emergency Address from the drop-down list
Secondary/Secretary's Phone
Step 1: Navigate to the secretary's extension under the Users thumbnail
Step 2: Go to the Phones tab and click the vButton Builder icon
Step 3: Choose an available/unused DSS/BLF key and assign it to be Shared Line Appearance. Enter the boss's extension and suffix letter as configured in step 3 above in the primary/boss's phone setup
Step 4: Choose an available/unused DSS/BLF key and assign it as a BLF of the boss's extension. (Optional but recommended)
