SimulRing Problems with Call Transfer

Posts: 7 · New Forum Member Joined: Jun 28, 2009 Posts: 7

I currently have a small office set up with Vonage - 2 adapters and 3 lines (2 regular lines, one associated with each adapter, and a fax line). The problem I'm experiencing now relates to using the Call Transfer feature with the SimulRing feature (at least that's what I think).

Basically, I have it set up so that when calls come in to one of the regular lines (I'll call it the Primary Line), SimulRing is set up to ring it on the other Vonage line (I'll call this the Secondary Line) as well.

However, it seems that when a call is attempted to be transferred from the Secondary Line to the Primary Line via Call Transfer, it just goes to voicemail. I haven't tested yet to see whether it goes the primary line or secondary line's voicemail, nor whether this only happens when the secondary line picks up a call meant for the primary line, or for itself (and then attempts to transfer that call to the primary line). However, I'm thinking that since I have call waiting enabled on both lines, it should work no matter what.

Obviously, this is a major issue, since it basically prevents the secondary line from answering any of the primary lines calls and then transferring them to the primary line if the person at the primary line needs to speak to the caller.

Any help or advice regarding this issue is greatly appreciated. I can also provide more information if needed. Thanks.

Posts: 350 · Vonage Forum Evangelist Joined: Dec 04, 2005 Posts: 350

The problem is the Simulring. When you attempt to transfer the call from the secondary line to the primary line, the call will simultaneously ring the secondary line (as you have set it). What happens is that the secondary line is in the state of placing a call when that happens -- the secondary line cannot activate call waiting in this state so the line will return that it is busy and when busy the call is forwarded to voicemail.

This happens because when the Simulring is performed for the primary line, is delivers the call to the first destination that answers -- but it doesn't know (or care) why it was answered. Similarly, if you set up Simulring to a cell phone but the cell phone was turned off, all your calls would go to the cell phone's voicemail -- its not know why the call was answered, only that it was answered.

A better solution to do what you are looking to do is to get a virtual number and use the Blast Me ring pattern to ring both lines. Then, you can transfer calls between each of the lines without a problem.