| Caller ID is generally understood, most cellular phones | | | | easily be demonstrated if the digital extensions display |
| will match the number of an incoming call with a name | | | | the number of the calling party. |
| in the phone address book and display the name of | | | | The second requirement is that the PBX will report the |
| the caller. | | | | callers ID in real time. Some exchanges are designed |
| Taxi and private hire booking and dispatch software | | | | to only report the caller ID when the line is answered. |
| can take this one step further and can cross | | | | This is very limiting as it does not allow the telephonist |
| reference the incoming callers ID (telephone number) | | | | to pre-empt the call and prioritise which calls to answer |
| with a database of information so not only can it | | | | on a busy night. This feature has an industry nickname |
| display a stored name or address to alert the operator | | | | it is called cherry picking. |
| of who is calling, it can also cross reference the | | | | The third important requirement is that the PBX must |
| booking history of the caller to further assist the | | | | report again in realtime which extension has answered |
| telephonist to select job details that may be based on | | | | the call. This enables the taxi booking and dispatch |
| previous booking data. | | | | software to then display the callers booking history |
| Although the simplest caller ID systems are based on | | | | and allow the telephonist to use this information to |
| a single phone line, taxi booking and despatch | | | | populate the new booking. This dramatically cuts down |
| software needs to integrate with a wide range of | | | | on the amount of typing that a telephonist has to |
| PBX systems that taxi companies use. In their simplest | | | | perform. |
| form the PBX will allow a number of telephone lines | | | | The fourth requirement is a "nice to have" and that is |
| (typically 2 to 16 lines) to be routed through a small | | | | that the exchange has call on hold reporting. What this |
| branch exchange that will allow a number of | | | | means is if the call is placed on hold and transferred to |
| telephonist extensions to choose to answer any of the | | | | another extension then the software can transfer any |
| incoming calls. | | | | booking details to the new telephonist who has taken |
| The PBX must provide certain features that are often | | | | the call. |
| omitted by even the most popular makes. The first | | | | A fifth nice to have feature is CTI computer telephony |
| requirement is that the exchange must be equipped to | | | | integration which allows the software to direct |
| communicate the trunk ringing data on either a serial | | | | incoming calls to extensions, this facilitates the |
| interface or an IP detailed call reporting port. The trunk | | | | telephonist using the mouse or keyboard to answer |
| cards must recognise the caller ID on either the ISDN | | | | the call especially handy on a busy night when a |
| or Analogue lines that are connected to it. This can | | | | headset is worn. |