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Understanding the differences between Shared Call Appearances and Busy Lamp Fields

Shared call appearances and busy lamp fields let you monitor or answer a colleague's extension. The two features are similar, but have distinct differences. Below is a quick comparison of these features.

Feature

Shared Call Appearances (SCA)

Busy Lamp Fields (BLF)

Function

Monitor if the other line is in use, idle, or ringing

Monitor if the other line is in use, idle, or ringing

Sound or visual cue

A unique ring tone can play on your line and/or shows a visual indicator that the other line is ringing

Only shows a visual indicator that the other line is ringing

Caller ID

Calls made shows the phone extension of your colleague (not your desk phone caller ID)

Caller ID shows your desk phone caller ID (not your colleague's extension)

Indicator on display

  • Listed below your primary lines (usually first two lines)
  • Shows a shadow phone icon on your display
  • Listed below your primary lines (usually first two lines)
  • Shows a silhouette icon on your display

Placing calls on hold and resuming calls

Can place call on hold or resume from the other person’s line

Can place call on hold or resume on your primary desk line

Transferring

Not applicable  

Transfer call back to the other person’s line by pressing the busy lamp field

Dialing monitored line

Not applicable

Dial the line monitored by pressing the busy lamp field instead of manually inputting the extension

Conferencing

Not applicable

Conference in the person monitored by pressing the busy lamp field instead of manually inputting the extension