Free virtual PBX - Setup instructions

Menu items (scenarios)— a group of extension numbers that will receive an incoming call under the chosen conditions (for example, when pressing 1 in the voice menu or calls from a certain city numbers).

On “My PBX” - “Incoming calls and IVR” page you can edit existing incoming call scenarios, add new or delete redundant ones.

To create a scenario click “+ Menu item” button. You will see scenario settings menu in the block on the right side of the screen.

Trigger when — button that will trigger the scenario when pressed. The scenario can be triggered not only by pressing a certain button, but also when a call comes from a certain number or a group of numbers (for example, +4420*), as well by a call to one of your numbers at Zadarma.

Call group — employees (extension numbers) that will be able to receive that call. You can create a new call group or choose an existing one.

Transfer to menu — voice menu choice for further actions (for multilevel voice menu configuration).

After choosing a button in “Trigger when” and creating or choosing a call group, a link for calling settings will appear.

In the “Calling settings” tab you can configure call queues, hold music, calling duration (when the incoming call needs to be dropped if not answered), action if the call is not answered (end, repeat or send to voice menu), enable call queue order notifications and random call distribution.

Strategies of call distribution among PBX extension numbers

In order — call will go to extension numbers in order in case the previous employee did not answer, you can set up the required order and time between calls (for example, you can choose 20 seconds between calls, meaning that in case the first employee does not answer, the call will go to the second one in order and so on).

Equally — equal call distribution depending on the time of the last call to the extension number or number of calls it has received. For this type of strategy, you can enable notifications for your client with their order number in the call queue.

Simultaneously —calls will go simultaneously to all extension numbers in the call group.

Manually — default option, using the slide you can visually configure the call order. Below you see the example, where a call withing 2 minutes first goes simultaneously to extension numbers 201 and 203, and then in 60 seconds from the beginning to employee with extension numbers 202.

Randomly — calls will be distributed to randomly chosen extension numbers. Just like for the equal distribution, here you can also enable queue number notifications.

Important: equal and random call distributions are not compatible with call forwarding (calls will not be forwarded to the extension numbers with forwarding).

To add a greeting file click “Set up” in the “Voice greetings” block.

You can either upload a file or enter a text that will be voiced by the machine. Over 15 languages and 100 different voices are available for text voicing. You can use the file as a greeting, voice menu (including level 2+) or hold music.

If each virtual number requires a separate voice greeting or different working hours, on the “My PBX” - “Incoming calls and IVR” add a new menu (“+” button), enable Trigger when Calls to numbers and choose a required number.

In the latest PBX version you can create several voice menu levels.

1. First add IVR files in the “Voice greetings” tab.
2. Add all required menus (second and further levels) by clicking + next to the Main menu.
3. In any item (scenario) of the main menu choose transfer to that menu.

If you have several phone numbers with Zadarma, you can direct each number to:

1. Certain employee/employees

Under “Additional scenarios click “+ scenario” and “Call employees”. In the pop-up block on the right choose phone numbers (calls to numbers) and extension numbers (call employees) that will answer calls. Call to this call group can go through simultaneously, in order or according to manual settings.

2. Department (voice menu)

2.1 Create a new voice menu (click + next to the Main menu) and configure it (set up greeting and menu items)

2.2In the new menu click “Trigger when” and “+ Add triggers ", there you choose “Calls to numbers” and specify the numbers, calls to which will trigger the menu.

If you need to direct calls from a certain client to a responsible manager, you can create a separate scenario for that. Enable in its settings Trigger when “Calls from numbers”, enter the number in an international format and click Save. You can also add a mask for country and area codes, for example, 4420*, in order to direct calls to different employees depending on the caller’s region.

Calls from specified numbers will be directed to scenario’s extension logins bypassing voice greeting. If you need to add a separate voice greeting you can do that in the additional menu.

On the page “My PBX” - "Incoming calls and IVR" you can create a menu option “Blacklist” and add numbers that you don’t want to receive calls from, as well as a mask of numbers starting with a country and city/provider code, (for example, 1415123* or 44*).

To accept calls only during working hours, on the page “My PBX" - "Incoming calls and IVR" turn on feature “Working hours” and select your working days and set working hours.

You can also set lunch breaks and holidays. In the holidays tab, you can find lists of official national holidays for different countries, add to or delete a holiday from the chosen calendar.

Calls outside working hours can be directed to a separate scenario, for example, to a certain employee or a voicemail so the caller can leave you a message. For this purpose create an “Autoresponder” scenario.

To configure the autoresponder, send calls to extension number(s) that have call forwarding to voicemail enabled on them (you can set up call forwarding for all numbers on the My PBX - Extension numbers page).

Visual PBX editor will allow you to clearly view how PBX is configured, what are the conditions for triggering different call scenarios. On this page, you can see and set up PBX work using easy to understand block schemes.

You can go to visual PBX editor by clicking “Open editor” button on My PBX - Incoming calls and IVR page. Here you can see your PBX call routes. You can add any block from the left side to the chart and set up connections between the blocks.

To check PBX work click “Test”, to save changes made in PBX use the “Publish” button.

Important conditions for PBX visual editor to work

• “Working hours” block is added before the menu, so the link from the "Yes" branch can only be with the menu, and the link from the "No" branch can lead to blocks "Call users", "Audio file", "Voice menu" and "Working hours"
• The link from the "Call users" block signifies an action when no one from the Call group has answered a call and can be looped with the same block (repeating calling) and lead to other "Voice menus"
• "Audio file" block can only be in one place - as a file played before "Call users" scenario when following the "No" link after the "Working hours" block. The only possible order of blocks is Working hours (no) -> Audio file -> Call users

To transfer a client to a different extension number press #, the extension number and again #, for example, #101#.

To transfer a call with a voice note press *, extension number and #, for example, *101#. In this case, you will be connected to the extension number first and will be able to notify why you are transferring the call. After one of you finishes the call, the client will be connected to the second number.

If the dialled extension number does not answer the call in 25 seconds, the client will be returned to you.

To intercept an incoming call, if your extension number was not added to the incoming calls scenario, enter 40 and press the call button.

To transfer a call to the scenario (department) dial scenarios number in the voice menu, for example #1#

Number dialing format for making and forwarding calls is set in section ”Outgoing calls”, by default the numbers are dialed in local format (for example, for the US in format 415...). You can also turn off the “Call without country code” feature and make calls in an international format (country code, city code, a number without 1 or 0 in front of it).

You can enable call recording for one or several PBX extension lines. Records are sent by email or stored in the cloud (on our server).

You can record calls on 3 extension numbers for free (8 numbers in “Office” price plan and 20 numbers in “Corporation” price plan). The cost of each additional extension number recording is $1 per month.

The size of the free cloud storage is 200 MB for “Standard” price plan, 2000 MB for “Office” price plan and 5000 MB for “Corporation” price plan (5000 MB is over 250 hours of calls).

You can listen to the recordings saved in the cloud on “My PBX” page - “PBX statistics” or download with the help of API. After turning off call recording the records will be stored in the cloud for 180 days.

You can turn on call recording on “My PBX” page - “Extension numbers”.

You can integrate Zadarma PBX with one of top CRM and other business systems. Integrations are set up on “Settings” - “Integrations and API” page. Detailed instructions on integrations can be found on an appropriate page.

Currently the following official integrations are available and completely free: Bitrix24, Zoho CRM, amoCRM, Salesforce, Megaplan, RetailCRM, ZohoDESK, PlanFix, WireCRM.

5.1 Incoming calls forwarding

Call forwarding is directing a call to a mobile or landline number. Call forwarding is needed to receive calls without additional programs, equipment or internet connection.

To never miss a call, set up conditional call forwarding to your mobile or landline number.

To turn on call forwarding on the page “My PBX” - “Extension numbers” on the left side in number settings in the field “Call Forwarding and Voicemail” choose an option “No answer or unavailable” to turn on conditional call forwarding or an option “Always” to turn on unconditional call forwarding.

In the first case the call will first be directed through the internet to you app, program or equipment, and if it is off or there is not answer for 20 seconds the call will be forwarded.

When enabling unconditional forwarding, the call will go straight to the forwarding number, regardless of an active program/equipment.

In “Phone” field enter a number in accordance with dialing prefixes (if they were set in “My PBX - "Outgoing calls") without a plus sign and check “Phone” to save the settings. If the “Call without country code” feature is on, enter the number in a local format.

If the prefixes are not set, enter the number in an international format: [country code][city/provider code][number], for example, 14151270777.

Also, in your personal account in “Settings” - "My profile" you can turn on “Call without country code” feature, in this case the numbers can be entered in a local format, for example, 4151270777.

The cost of call forwarding is the same as our prices on outgoing calls.

5.2 Call forwarding notification

So that you know when the call has been forwarded to your mobile and not made directly, you can set an appropriate notification. It will play when you answer the call before connecting you to the caller.

Standard notification is a one-tone signal, similar to a voicemail tone. You can set your own notification (for example, “Sales call”).

5.3 Call forwarding to voicemail

On the page “My PBX” - "Extension numbers" in the extension number settings in the field “Call Forwarding and Voicemail” choose “Always”. In the field “E-mail for the voicemail” enter your email address and check a box next to the field. In the field “Greeting” you can upload a separate audio file for the voicemail.

Then add an extension number to a needed scenario, for example, “Autoresponder”, on the “My PBX” page - "Incoming calls and IVR".

Voicemail is a feature that allows recording voice messages if a call was not answered.

To enable voicemail, enter your email address in the call forwarding settings. Please note, we do not recommend using voicemail in the scenario with other numbers, as it will pick up the call first.

You can upload a file, voice over a text or choose one of the default messages for client notification.

Receive notifications about missed calls, account balance, number and price plan renewal and SMS messages in popular messengers - Slack, Facebook Messenger, Viber or Telegram. You can configure notifications in your personal account, Settings-My profile-Notifications page.

During a call PBX users can enter 000 command – conference creation.

After entering 000 you need to enter caller C’s phone number and confirm by pressing #, for example 000102#

While adding another user, caller B will hear the music, callers A and C can communicate:

# - confirm adding caller C (during the call)

* - reject caller C and go back to the call with user B or to the conference

*# - return to caller B or to the conference.

When user C is added, you can enter 000 again and add another caller, while the call between the existing users will continue. After creation the conference will exist while there is more than one caller left.

Caller C can be any number (number format as during a regular call from PBX, for example 00018571111111#).

CallerID is the number that will be displayed for outgoing calls.

You can set any connected or verified number for CallerID.

You can use different CallerIDs when calling from different devices or to different destinations (countries and cities).

To set your CallerID by destination, on the page “My PBX” - "Outgoing calls" on the right click “CallerID by called destination”. Enter country and/or city code that you call (for example, 44 for Great Britain or 1 for the US etc), choose a CallerID and click “Create”.

You can connect up to 20 numbers from a different provider to Zadarma virtual PBX on the page “My PBX” - "External lines".

If you have a traditional landline number connected through a copper line, you need to use VoIP gateway with FXO port, enable an external line in the gateway mode and specify settings from the website for the gateway. If your number supports SIP operation, you can just enable the line in Server mode and specify number settings.

Your provider needs to provide data for connecting: server, domain (can be the same as the server), login, password.

On our side the connection to the number is realized from the following IP addresses:

185.45.152.167

185.45.152.184

185.45.152.185

195.122.19.26

195.122.19.16

37.139.38.70

37.139.38.71

185.45.155.13

185.45.155.27

You can also port (transfer) a number from a different provider to Zadarma. Numbers available for porting can be found on this page.

Detailed statistics of PBX calls can be found on “My PBX” page - “PBX Statistics”. Here you can set statistics timeframe, compare different periods, see charts and geography of calls. Statistics and charts are available both for all calls and calls on certain virtual numbers (or external lines).