Specifications

Other IP Endpoints SoftPhone
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SoftPhone
The ShoreTel SoftPhone can be launched through Communicator. SoftPhone does not support NAT or
firewall transversal. Problems with the Headquarters server or network connectivity can prevent the
SoftPhone from being loaded.
From a configuration and management standpoint, the SoftPhone appears to be an IP phone with
some limitations. User have access to the DTMF keys (0-9, #, *), on hook, off hook, and flash.
The SoftPhone user interface does not have a display, so it does not interact with IPDS. Just like an IP
phone, the SoftPhone uses MGCP for call setup and teardown, and RTP for media.
IP phones are uniquely identified by their MAC address. In most cases the SoftPhone is identified by
the NIC of the user PC. If a SoftPhone is installed on a PC without a NIC, the SoftPhone generates a
fake MAC address that is still unique.
The SoftPhone page contains an ActiveX control that implements the VoIP media support. Because it
requires an ActiveX control, the SoftPhone only works on PCs with Internet Explorer and Microsoft
Windows. The ActiveX object attempts to reach the switch call manager configured in ShoreTel
Director. If the switch call manager is successfully contacted, the SoftPhone buttons are enabled.
When the switch call manager is contacted, ShoreTel Director detects that a new IP phone is being
registered. Depending on licensing and IP phone port availability, a new port is automatically created
in the configuration database. The SoftPhone then appears in the Individual IP Phones list in ShoreTel
Director.
In some situations, Communicator waits for several seconds for a corresponding IP phone port to
appear in the configuration database. If this times out, a warning message is displayed in the
SoftPhone status bar.
When Communicator is closed, the operation is reversed to return the user to his or her home port.
Dial Tone Behavior
The following section discusses the dial tone behavior for various call operations.
Transfer
When a user is on a call and hits the transfer button, the phone remains off-hook and plays a dial tone.
When the user completes the blind or consultative transfer while on the speakerphone or headset, the
phone automatically goes on-hook. Only if a user is on the handset does the phone stay off-hook and
play a dial tone. A user using hands-free mode with speaker or headset goes on-hook without a dial
tone.