* ‘Whisper paging’ is a legacy feature coming to IP PBXs
In a recent briefing with ShoreTel, we were interested to learn that a feature called “whisper paging” had been added to its latest software release. Even though this feature has been around for a while in some legacy telephony systems, we found it to be of sufficient interest to mention here – especially since those of us with a data-oriented heritage might not be aware of it.
Here’s how it works. In a traditional office setting, you’re on the phone, and an associate needs to let you know that you’re needed for another call or an important meeting. They walk into your office and whisper to you – or hand you a note. You can then decide whether you need to interrupt your current call.
Whisper paging brings this same function to the IP PBX. If you authorize someone to whisper-page you, then whenever you’re on a call, their audio page to you will be superimposed on the call – but only on your end. You may then elect to respond to the whisper page by putting your phone on “mute.”
As the enterprise becomes increasingly distributed, this adds the capability for having an administrative assistant or colleague find you regardless of where you physically reside in the network. As characterized by ShoreTel, you can think of it as an integrated audible form of instant messaging.
Of course, this feature does not come without risks, and we recommend that you practice it and use it with caution. Forgetting to mute the phone while you respond to the whisper page with, “At last! An excuse to get off this call!” could have a negative business impact. So we recommend this as an adjunct to instant messaging as opposed to a replacement.
