The new Call Delegation feature in Office Communications Server 2007 R2 enables managers to delegate phone-call handling to one or more administrative assistants or other delegates. When a delegate answers a call, the manager is notified that the call has been answered, and the name of the delegate who answered is provided.
Working in Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 R2, a manager selects a delegate from among the names in the manager’s contact list. The selected delegate uses the new Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Attendant to handle calls for the manager.
Depending on the particular permissions delegated by the manager, the assistant can perform the following tasks:
- Screen person-to-person or conference calls on behalf of the
manager. These calls can be audio only, audio and video, or audio
with instant messaging (IM).
- Join the voice portion of a conference on behalf of the
manager.
- Listen to manager’s voice mail (if manager has shared his or
her Microsoft Office Outlook inbox).
- Place a person-to-person call on behalf of the manager.
- Initiate a conference call on the manager’s behalf.
- Transfer calls to the manager.
- Use a shortcut to transfer a call placed on behalf of another
manager, such that the two managers speak directly to each other
without having to first go through an assistant.
These capabilities apply only to phone calls. The assistant cannot screen IM, IM conferences, or data-only calls.
The manager can also configure the following options from within the Office Communicator client:
- Transfer a call to configured delegates, which are
automatically placed on the Office Communicator 2007 R2 transfer
menu.
- Share Outlook contacts with the assistant.
The following call-delegation topologies are supported:
- One manager and one delegate
- One manager and multiple delegates
- Multiple managers and one delegate
- Multiple managers and multiple delegates