External Hotline

External Hotline (#311) 4
Use this feature to identify an external hotline extension. When a user lifts the handset of an external hotline, a predetermined outside number is dialed automatically. The external number might be, for example, a frequently called service bureau. The external hotline must be a single- line telephone, not a system telephone, and should not have a dialpad.
After you identify an external hotline extension, you must store the external telephone number for the hotline extension as Personal Speed Dial code 80.
Considerations 4
■ Under certain conditions of heavy telephone usage, the external hotline may be unable to dial the programmed number immediately (for example, if many of the tip/ring devices connected to your system dial out at the same time).
■ You can identify several extensions as external hotlines.
■ Do not assign an external hotline to extension 10, 11, or to the first two extensions of any 206 or 308EC module, which are reserved as power-failure extensions.
■ Use Hotline (#603) to identify an internal hotline extension.
■ Use Line Assignment (#301) to assign outside lines to the external hotline extension, Pool Extension Assignment (#314) to assign pools to the external hotline extension, and Automatic Line Selection to set the extension to select outside lines or pools first.
If your use of the external hotline requires immediate dialing of the programmed number, assign a line for use only by this extension.
■ Set Line Ringing to No Ring for all lines or pools assigned to the external hotline to prevent incoming calls from ringing at the extension.
■ Make sure there are no call, line, or pool restrictions assigned to an external hotline.
■ Do not use Station Lock at an external hotline because it will prevent the outside number from being dialed.
■ Remove external hotlines from Night Service Group Extensions (#504), Calling Group Extensions (#502), and Hunt Group Extensions (#505).
■ Do not assign Forced Account Code Entry (#307) to the external hotline.