# Alpha Tagging

## Description

Alpha Tagging associates names with external numbers entered in the system telephone directory. When a call from, or to, an "alpha tagged" number is presented on a display device, the user sees the associated name and number.

Alpha Tagging for incoming calls is intended for (but not restricted to) jurisdictions that do not provide calling party name in incoming signaling from the PSTN.

On outgoing calls, alpha tagging helps users catch miss dials by displaying a more readily recognized (compared to the number) name to confirm that they are calling the correct party.

Alpha tagging is especially useful for Speed Calls. For example, you might have several Speed Calls going to a company you do business with, each directed to a different area or department (Sales, Support, Finance, etc.). Alpha tagging allows you program the department names against the Speed Calls. When users dial these Speed Calls, they are reassured they have dialed the correct number via the Alpha Tag name that now appears on their display.

## Conditions and Feature Interactions

- Alpha Tagging is an option in the System Options form. The option controls whether or not the system performs alpha tagging. You do not need the option enabled to program alpha tagging entries in the Telephone Directory form.

- The Privacy option in the Telephone Directory form has no effect on alpha tagging names (incoming and outgoing). The names always display whether or not the option is enabled against the associated number.

- Alpha tagging names display on any line for which the display of caller ID information is enabled in the device's Class of Service.

- Only PSTN calls on the following trunk types are subject to alpha tagging: LS Class, T1/D4, T1 CAS, T1 PRI, T1 QSIG, E1 PRI, E1 R2, E1 QSIG, E1 BRI, and SIP trunk.

- Incoming alpha tagging is only performed on calls from the PSTN that have a calling party number.

- A name obtained through alpha tagging takes precedence over a name received from the PSTN for display purposes.

- A name obtained from an external LDAP Server (see Multilingual Name Display Using External LDAP) takes precedence over a name received from the system Telephone Directory.

- When an alpha tagging name cannot be found, the PSTN-provided name is displayed (if available).

- An alpha tagging name does not replace a PSTN-provided name when the call routes off-switch, unless the switch is another MiVoice Business system that is also using alpha tagging. Each switch performs its own alpha tagging. Thus, it is possible for an alpha tagging name to change as the call transits from one switch to the next (assuming that the telephone directories are not synchronized using Remote Directory Number Synchronization).

- No alpha tagging is performed when the incoming signaling indicates that the caller's identity is private.

- Incoming PSTN calls to a named hunt group is not subjected to alpha tagging.

- In a network environment that uses Remote Directory Number synchronization to maintain the telephone directory, alpha tagging on incoming calls is invalid for numbers that are external to the cluster, but internal to the network. The following examples illustrate when alpha tagging is invalid for external numbers:

- If a user with DN 17000 and name Smith, hosted on MiVoice Business System A with PNI 811, is distributed to a node MiVoice Business System B outside the cluster but within the network, then a telephone directory entry appears on System B with DN=81117000 and the name Smith. The entry on System B will be identified as an external number but this number is invalid for alpha tagging because it is internal to the network. An attempt to include the ~ in the DN would fail.

- If DN 81117001 with name Smith2 is added to the telephone directory on System B and SDS has not yet distributed the DN to the database of System A, the DN appears as an external number. In this case, you could add the ~ into the DN field of this entry. However, the ~ would be invalid because the DN is internal to the network. An SDS distribution error is generated for the DN.

- Alpha tagging is not supported on SIP devices for outgoing SIP trunk calls.

- The alpha tagging name of the called party is displayed for an outgoing call while the caller is listening to ringback tone and during talk state.

- The Display Dialed Digits during Outgoing Calls COS (if enabled) takes precedence over alpha tagging in the talk state.

- When the speed call number (any of User Speedcalls, CDE Speedcalls or System Speed calls) is dialed, the alpha tag name programmed for the corresponding DN is retrieved and displayed on the caller’s set.

- If the original call across the public trunk is forwarded (CFA, CFB or CFNA) or rerouted, the calling set’s display will still indicate the Alpha tag name of the original called party. However if the original call in the Private Network is forwarded or rerouted within the Private Network and the COS option ‘Originator's Display Update In Call Forwarding/Rerouting’ is enabled, the Calling party display will be updated to indicate the name and number information received from the Trunk.

- An outgoing PSTN call from an extension that is answered, and then subsequently transferred from that extension to another are subject to alpha tagging.

- When the call on hold is retrieved on pressing the Cancel button, the alpha tag name of the held user will be displayed on the set retrieving the soft held party.

- For outgoing calls in a network or gateway scenario, the alpha tagging lookup is performed on the egress node, not the originating node. Both nodes must have the Alpha Tagging option enabled in System Options. Intermediate nodes (i.e., between the egress and originating nodes) do not. require the option.

- The following are other features in which the originator’s set display is subject to outgoing alpha tagging during call setup (while caller is listening to ringback tone or is in talk state) and answered states:

- ACD (outgoing calls)

- Attendant Console (outgoing calls)

- Brokers Call (outgoing called party during swap)

- Call History (dialing call history records with external destinations)

- Call Waiting Swap (outgoing called party during swap)

- Direct Outward Dialing

- Hot Desking

- Hotline

- Messaging - Callback (calling the external sender back)

- Non-Prime Lines (key system and multicall)

- Override (override an external call)

- Conference calls

- Personal Ring Groups (outgoing calls from members in the group)

- Suites (outgoing calls from members in the suite)

## Programming

1. System Options form

- Enable Alpha Tagging Enabled option.

2. Telephone Directory form

- Program alpha tagging entries in the Number field. See the Number field description in the Telephone Directory help topic for more information.

## Device Support

Not applicable

## Operation

None