The BusyOnBusy solution from Unify² allows corporations to maintain the familiar busy signal on inbound PSTN or PBX calls for select users of Office Communications Server.

Unify² BusyOnBusy

Microsoft Office Communications Server enables users to handle multiple communication sessions concurrently, allowing users to communicate with multiple parties at the same time, place phone calls on hold, or have calls forwarded to other users, groups or voicemail. These sessions may include multiple modalities such as instant messaging, voice and conferencing. 

In some situations it may be appropriate to allow for additional calls when a user is already busy with an active phone call.  In other circumstances, the appropriate way to handle secondary calls is the familiar busy signal, alerting the caller that the number they are trying to contact is busy, and to call back at a later time. 

The Unify² BusyOnBusy solution adds this capability to OCS 2007 R2's feature set, enabling administrators to configure secondary call handling with a variety of enhanced communication features such as team call or response groups, or by using traditional telephony features such as the busy signal.

To obtain an evaluation copy, please contact: sales@unifysquare.com

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

Q: What is BusyOnBusy tool?
The BusyOnBusy tool is a Server Managed API (MSPL) application running on each Office Communications Server Enterprise Edition Front-End Server or Standard Edition server. On an incoming call coming via an Office Communications Server Mediation Server into the Office Communications Server environment, the BusyOnBusy tool will check whether the called user is already in a call (Presence state = "Busy, In a call"). If so, the tool will respond to the SIP Invite message with a 486 SIP Busy response that will be sent back to Office Communications Server Mediation Server. This will result in a "busy" signal for the caller. Effectively similar to "Secondary call suppression" in the PBX world.

Q: Which versions of Office Communications Server are supported with V1.x of BusyOnBusy tool?
Office Communications Server 2007 R2 only.

Q: How is BusyOnBusy tool licensed?
BusyOnBusy tool is licensed per Enterprise Voice enabled user, regardless of whether the user will be enabled for BusyOnBusy functionality or not. The reason for this is, that figuring out in advance which user wants to use this functionality and which user not is neither practical for administrators nor for Unify². Please contact sales@unifysquare.com for a quote.

Q: How do I install BusyOnBusy tool?
The tool can be installed on Office Communications Server Enterprise Edition Front-End Server or Standard Edition Server by running a standard install (MSI) package.

Q: Do I need to reboot the server when installing or uninstalling the BusyOnBusy tool?
No.

Q: Can I install BusyOnBusy tool on a Director server?
No, this is not recommended. BusyOnBusy should only be installed on an Office Communications Server that hosts users (OCS Enterprise Edition Front-End server or Standard Edition server).

Q: Are all users automatically enabled for BusyOnBusy behavior after the tool is installed?
No. By default, the behavior is disabled for all users by default. Users need to be enabled by the administrator individually.

Q: Can I enable individual users for BusyOnBusy?
Yes, the administrator can enable an individual user for BusyOnBusy by entering the user's SIP URI using a command line utility.

Q: What if I want to enable all users for BusyOnBusy at once? Do I need to enable each SIP URI individually?
No, Unify² provides a PowerShell tool that is included in the distribution.  Individual users can be disabled after that.

Q: Is the user able to enable or disable BusyOnBusy functionality by himself e.g. out of his Office Communicator client?
No, only the admin can enable the user for BusyOnBusy functionality.

Q: What if an Office Communicator user is in a call and another Office Communicator user in the same enterprise calls this user?
The call will not be blocked by BusyOnBusy tool as the functionality only works for calls coming from the PBX/PSTN via an Office Communications Server Mediation Server into the Office Communications Server environment. In this case, the user will receive a secondary call alert. Reason is, that another Office Communicator user has the chance to avoid running into secondary call situations as the called users presence state is available to the caller. Callers from the PSTN do not necessarily have access to the user's presence state before calling.

Q: What if I am in a Live Meeting using Office Live Meeting client?
When joining a Live Meeting using Office Live Meeting client, the presence state of the user will be "In a meeting". BusyOnBusy behavior will not be active for the user so the user will receive phone calls coming from in via Office Communications Server Mediation Server.

Q: What if someone from the PSTN calls me and I am speaking on my Office Communicator Phone Edition IP phone?
The behavior of the BusyOnBusy tool is the same for Office Communicator, Office Communicator Phone Edition or third party Office Communications Server registered endpoints as long as they publish presence states
"Busy - in a call, Online – available, etc." properly.

Q: What happens when I am enabled for BusyOnBusy and I am also a team member of someone else. Will I get a team notification when I am in a call and a call is coming in to the team owner from the PSTN?
Yes. Team notifications are not affected by the BusyOnBusy tool.

Q: Should I enable OCS Attendant Console for BusyOnBusy?
No, as the purpose of these workspaces is to receive multiple calls at a time. Please make sure if you use a script to enable all users at once, that you disable SIP URIs of users that are using the Attendant Console.

Q: Do I need to enable users again for BusyOnBusy when upgrading BusyOnBusy from Version 1.x to V1.y?
No, you can uninstall the program and use the new MSI file to install the new version. Unless you go into the database to delete BusyOnBusy configuration (which is a manual step), BusyOnBusy will keep the settings.

Q: Why is the application called BusyOnBusy TOOL?
Unify² differentiates between Tools and Products. Tools serve a specific purpose and do usually not have a long-term roadmap. Unify² will try its best to ensure functionality of tools on new versions of Office Communicator and Office Communications Server but cannot guarantee this as newer versions of Office Communicator or Office Communications Server might prevent or replace functionality of tools.

Products have a long-term roadmap and are planned to be released in multiple versions with additional functionality. Software Assurance contracts allow the customer to continuously benefit from the improvements and additional functionality provided by the product.

Q: How can I get support for BusyOnBusy tool?
After purchase of the tool, a one year free email support with 24 hour response guarantee on work days will be provided by Unify² at eusupport@unifysquare.com. Extension of this support can be purchased for an annual fee of 18% of the original sales price. If no support contract is in place and the free email support period is over, Unify² charges an hourly rate for its support services.