A new soft phone offering is coming to Berkeley Lab – the IT Division’s Telephone Services Center is rolling out a program to modernize its services at the Lab and increase flexibility by offering soft phone technology. Chris Rosenstock, Computer Systems Engineer, and part of the TSC team launching the rollout, says “Your new soft phone application called Avaya Workplace complements your smartphone, enhances how you work, and supports greater remote office flexibility and function. In addition, using the soft phone app on your mobile device can reduce your overall costs for your cellular services.” Workplace provides a collaborative hybrid work model by enabling individuals to have access to their Lab phone number and Lab voicemail across multiple devices, including their computers and smartphones.
Individuals can choose to only have a software version (soft phone) of their phone number, making the desk phone optional. In the near future, TSC also plans to introduce new desk phones that will complement the soft phone.
If you are accustomed to forwarding your calls to your cell phone or using your cell phone for outgoing calls, the soft phone benefit could reduce your cellular costs. Placing calls on the soft phone will use your Lab phone number for all your calls, letting you decide who to share your cell phone number with and giving you better control over when you want to receive Lab phone calls.
What are the advantages to using Workplace?
- Use your Lab phone number on a computer or smartphone
- Control the forwarding of your Lab phone number
- See missed Lab phone calls
- Access the Lab Phonebook Directory
- Answer calls on multiple devices
- Instantly move calls between connected devices
Please see the full list of key benefits to using the Workplace soft phone on your smartphone, Windows or Mac.
Key Points
Release Date: Rollout across Berkeley Lab beginning April 2022.
Clients: Available for Chromebook, Mac and PC computers and iOS and Android smartphones.
Costs: Workplace is included with your standard Telephone Service charge. No usage costs are incurred for domestic calls made or received using a Lab phone number from your desk, smartphone or computer.
Updates: Telephone Services will provide more information on their Soft Phone Page when the service becomes available in April 2022.
Questions or comments? Contact the Telephone Services Center at TSC@lbl.gov or call x7997.
Learn More
The IT Telephone Services Center is a communications service organization staffed with experienced computer systems engineers and telephone specialists who provide timely installation, maintenance, facilities, and business management resources supporting Berkeley Lab’s telephone, data, and networking needs in a highly competent, cost-effective and professional manner.
Visit Telephone Services for more information or send email to TSC@lbl.gov.
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