2025 PSTN and ISDN Switch Off

by Chris | Oct 26, 2022 | General, Networking

What is the PSTN and ISDN Switch Off?

The traditional telephony network, the Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN), will reach the end of life in December 2025, meaning the network will be switched off and services will no longer be supported.

The PSTN also supports the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) which is the network that supports broadband, allowing both voice and data services to be delivered over digital lines simultaneously. This will also be switched off, meaning you will need to look into alternative broadband services as well as voice.

What is affected by the switch off?

In addition to the telephony products affected by the withdrawal of the PSTN, a number of connectivity services will also be withdrawn, including Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Lines (ADSL) and Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) broadband.

This is because the underlying line product is being withdrawn, therefore there is no underlying telephone service to support the broadband.

Does this effect me?

If you are still using a traditional landline and or haven’t changed your broadband recently from FTTC/ADSL you are effected by this. If you are unsure ask your broadband provider or a recent bill. If it says FTTC or ADSL or you are paying per call you are on PSTN/ISDN and should look at moving in the near future.

If you do not move you will be looking a reduced service and paying more for the same service.

What are the benfits of upgrading to non-pstn/isdn sERVICES

Here is a quick list of benfits or why you should move sooner rather than later;

Phones

Cheaper calls
Flexible phone system
Easily customisable
Intergation with modem systems
No physical handset required, can use your smartphone or desktop
Global phonebook
Can keep existing numbers
Easy change and get new numbers
30 Day contract or 3 Years lease for hardware at very reasonable prices

Broadband

Better speeds
No reducation in service unlike old service which will have a reducation until they are disconnected in 2025
Same cost/cheaper with a much better responsive time from Openreach
Can be installed along side existing line with little or no interpulation
30 Day contract for broadband

I am sold what next?

VOIP / HOsted voice

BROADBAND

Office 365 – How to Share your Calendar

by Chris | Sep 7, 2022 | 365, General, Microsoft, Outlook

Make your co-workers know what you are doing

Here is a quick how to on giving others access to view your calendar (or not!)

Login into your emails via www.office.com
Open the Outlook app
Open your calendar on the left handside
On your calendar hover over, click on the three dots, then ‘Sharing and Permissions’
From there you can now give people access or change your organisation*

*Dending on your organisation setting

Please see the video below on how to given others access to your Office 365 calendar.

Video

Office UC to Cisco Webex Setup

by Chris | Nov 17, 2021 | General, MAC, Software

Cisco webex Migration

By the end of this post you will know how to migrate from Office UC to Webex.

Please view the guides below

For the migration you will need to have you Office UC username and password.

As well as your work email address.

Your username is case sensitive, for Example: Chris.McGuiness@tc-it.talk

When you are ready, click on the link below and follow the video guide or PDF document;

Start Mirgation here

FAQ Page

There is both a PDF Guide and video below on how to migrate from Office UC to Cisco Webex.

PDF GUIDE

Having problems?

Cisco Webex FAQ

by Chris | Nov 9, 2021 | General, MAC, Software

Please use this as a place to answer some your queries about Webex

Click on the plus to learn more!

Contacts and WebEx

Company and group contacts now filter through to the WebEx app. This can be delayed for the filtering through to the WebEx app, please allow up to 72 hours for these to fully pull through. We are aiming to have an improved refresh time provided by a Cisco fix later this year but are currently unable to confirm the date for improving the refresh time, which will come from a Cisco update.

Will call logs sync between handset and WebEx and vice versa?

Unified call history will be available in future updates, no current date set, and some call logs do currently filter.

Team Telephony and Busy Lamp Fields

Team telephony option is not directly replicated in WebEx, User Presence is available through WebEx, and works through the spaces system

Can you use username instead of email?

As part of the change, it will switch over to being an email login – this is not able to be changed to the username.

Can WebEx remember the login details?

You can set it to launch with the computer, and will automatically login, but we cannot set it to remember the login details once logged out.

Integration with Teams

If you are a Microsoft Teams user, you can add it to Microsoft Teams and then you will be able to make and receive audio and video calls using your WHC with WebEx service.

Will it work with all mobile devices?

The App works in line with minimum requires and access to correct App Store access (This can be an issue for Huawei devices not able to access the google play store)- For minimum requirements, Android it Is version Oreo 8.0, for iOS it is 13.7 minimum

Can you use click-to-dial?

WebEx can be utilised alongside Go Integrator in the same way Office UC can currently to gain the functions of click to dial.

Which App do we download?

The app we use is listed on the App store purely as WebEx – without and specific additional names. (Not business or anything of similar conduct) – a screenshot of this is shared in the presentation.

What is the Office UC like for like?

WebEx basic is the like for like for the Office UC Business offering, WebEx Standard is in line with the Office UC Team – with the premium version adding a further functionality with its licence beyond this.

Do we have limits on the number of personal contacts?

Contact limit on the HV.Select platform is currently 1,000 contacts for Group contacts and 500 for Personal contacts. Adding contacts directly onto the WebEx app may differ to this limit.

Does it work with my deskphone?

Yes you can to send calls to your deskphone however, for answering your deskphone is via the physical phone itself.

How do I change the ring tone?

Go to Webex > Call Settings (at the bottom) > Notifications > Sound For Call Notificaitons (at the bottom again). Here you get a list to choose from.

When does Office UC stop working?

1st May 2022

Are there any addition costs?

No as it is a direct replacement

For More Information:

To learn how to install click here,

Furthermore, for extra bits and more details click here

Installing Cisco Webex

by Chris | Oct 18, 2021 | General, MAC, Software

Cisco webex

Cisco Webex is the successor to the Office UC application with our provided telephone systems.

Cisco Webex allows you to speak to whoever, wherever, whenever.

Office UC to Webex Blog Guide

Office UC to Webex Migration Guide Document

No deskphone? No problem.

Cisco Webex is the successor to the Office UC application, this will be the application that is supplied as part of our VoIP telephone services.

Customer queries, business talk, meetings, communications and more, telephones are a core need for any business.

By choosing us to support your telecoms, we can provide an easy-to-use app for you and your employees that need telephone access at home or on the go.

See download links below, if one doesn’t work for example;

I downloaded Windows one but says it cannot run this PC.
Try the Windows 32bit

Webex for Windows

Webex for Windows 32bit

Webex for Macintosh M1 Chip

Webex for Macintosh Intel Chip

Webex for Android

Webex for iPhone/IPAD

Webex for Linux .DEB

Webex for Linux .RPM

Webex Linux install guide

Make calls easy

Have a deskphone as well? You can send calls to your desk phone as well! Just go to the keypad and change your device.

The app is a fully-fledged phone where you need it when you need it. TC-IT have had great success using the apps when we had to work from home or when out and about. It is a great option if you don’t want to use a deskphone at all. Undoubtedly, a useful feature is to separate your personal and work numbers, none of us want our clients to reach us on our personal numbers at any time of the day… Therefore, we phone them from our work numbers and keep our professionalism.

Personally, we love the new app as it replaces both Office UC and GoIntegrator. It is easy to use, simplistic in design and is much easier hearing and speaking with colleagues and clients alike.