A switchboard as known as a manual exchange was traditionally a device used to connect a group of telephones or to an outside connection. With time, however, the huge switchboards that once took up a large space in our offices has now been transformed into small multi-phone systems. Now to fully manipulate the uses of these phone line systems you will need to familiarize yourself with its basic operational functions. By following the guide below you will be able to get a first hand experience of using the switchboard’s functions so lets get started.
Thing you will need
- Multi – Phone Line / Switchboard
- Other telephones to call
- A ‘Yes I Can’ Attitude.
Instructions
Placing a call on hold:
- Answer the incoming call.
- Press the ‘Hold’ button.
- Get the information you need while call is on hold.
- Retrieve the call be pressing the hold button a second time
Starting a conference call:
- Answer the incoming call / Dial a telephone number on line one.
- Press the ‘Conference’ button.
- Listen for the dial tone.
- Dial the telephone number of the other party.
- Wait for the person to answer your call.
- Inform the person of the call
- Press the ‘Conference’ button again to connect both parties.
- Repeat steps 2 through 7 until all parties are connected to the call.
- Press the ‘Release’ button to take yourself out of the call.
Transferring a call
- Answer the incoming call /Dial a number.
- Press the transfer button.
- Listen for the dial tone.
- Dial the telephone number of the person you are sending the call to.
- Press the ‘Transfer’ button again.
- Release the call.
Activating the speakerphone:
- Answer the incoming call / Dial a phone number.
- Press the ‘Speaker’ button.
- Continue the call.
- Press and hold the ‘Speaker’ button again to deactivate speakerphone.
- Release call.
Muting a call:
- Answer the incoming call / Dial a number.
- Press the mute button
- Simply press the ‘Mute’ button again to deactivate.
Dos
- Consult your instruction manual if your phone has any other functions not discussed here or if you need further clarification on anything.
- Familiarize yourself with all the various extensions and telephone numbers used so as to make your task a bit easier.
Donts
- Never forget to release a call after you are through because if you don’t then you create an unnecessary busy line.
