Panasonic has 3 conditions whereby a line can be handled under a programmable key.
1. Standard C.O. (Central Office) lines that may or may not be squared (squared meaning the same arrangement is identical on every phone). ie. line 1,2,3,4,5 etc..
2. Pooled lines. One key has access to multiple lines. Seldom used but desirable when in a multi-
tenant arrangement and there aren't enough keys to handle all the lines.
3. Group C.O. A poor choice of name, however, this is a good function for IP phone systems. Rather than having a specific line assigned to each key, any line can float into the pool. When placed on hold, however, it appears under the same key location on each set. Very much like parking with the addition that the parked calls flash on hold on every set. This is ideal because it will make no difference whether it is a conventional line or a SIP derived trunk. On the 26P and 28P sets the 3 or 6 line keys next to the display can be used for holding on that particular set. The lighted keys along the side, however, can be used as system hold keys that are common to all the phones. based upon user requirements, a few or many keys can be used to provide key system mimicking. Panasonic uses dual color LEDs to indicate calls placed on hold at the set (green) vs. calls held by other sets (red).
Timed held line reminder is a good feature but poorly implemented in most systems because the re-call is too aggressive and thus, annoying. A pleasant reminder tone every 15 seconds should suffice. I turn this feature off on the Panasonic system as the reminder ringing is loud and constant which users dislike. Every system where I left it on, I was asked to turn it off. Subsequent Email:Panasonic allowed for 3 functions of keys set up for trunk access.
1. Direct 1:1 line appearance with hold and flashing. Calls on hold made at the originating set
flashed in green. It flashed red on all other sets. If another set picked up the line it would turn to
green on that set and red on all the others. If the call was then placed on hold it would flash green
on that set and flash red on all the others. If the user pushed the 'HOLD' button twice in succession the call could only be taken off hold from the set that put it on hold. All other phones would show steady red in this case. It was called 'Exclusive Hold.'
2. A key could be assigned as a pooled loop key. This saved buttons on the sets. More than one line could be accessed via a single key. For example, a system could have OPX stations (FXS) from another system arriving in a trunk group of say, four lines. There is no need to occupy four keys when one will suffice. The key would turn red when all of the lines were in use. It would remain dark as long as lines were available. Calls on that key would flash just like in the above example.
3. Floating loop keys. It makes no difference which line would go onto a key.A set would be set up with say 5 of these 'parking' keys. as many as five calls, regardless of what type of trunk the lies were associated with, as many as five calls could be held on these keys. The operation and indications of which are also as described in scenario #1 above. This is, IMO the best method to use if the customer has more lines than available buttons or has a mixture of POTS and SIP trunks. This way the limit for all phones functioning in a key system scenario will be only limited by the number of keys reserved for this type of function.
All three situations as described above should be available as this combination offers the greatest
flexibility.
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Phone System 