Headset operation

(Not available on 12-Key Feature Phone.)

You can use your phone with a headset1 connected to the handset jack. Unless you’re using an ESI Cordless Handset2, you must have a headset key programmed as one of your programmable feature keys (see “Other feature keys” under “Programmable feature keys”) that you’ll use to connect or disconnect from a call (see also “RELEASE”). The key will blink green when a call is ringing and glow green when connected. If you have a headset connected and the phone is off-hook, pressing the scroll keys will adjust the headset volume. After you initiate or answer a call using the headset key, lifting the phone’s handset automatically takes you out of headset mode. To switch back to headset mode while on a call, press the headset key again and then place the phone’s handset on-hook.

Note:

Some ESI Feature Phones have integrated headset jacks. Consult your ESI Reseller for more information.

Not all headsets are compatible with your ESI Feature Phone; contact your ESI Reseller for a list of compatible models.

Once a headset is plugged into an ESI Cordless Handset (II or original), audio is automatically transferred to the headset, so there is no need to program a headset key if using a Cordless Handset. For headset use with a Cordless Handset, ESI supports only the headset that’s sold specifically for each Cordless Handset model (one headset for the Cordless Headset II, another for the original Cordless Handsets). For more information on this topic, contact your System Administrator.

Using a Bluetooth headset

Important:

The remainder of this page concerns use of the ESI Bluetooth Headset Interface, which is supported by only ESI Communications Servers. If you’re not sure whether this describes your system, contact your System Administrator or your Certified ESI Reseller.

If you are using a Bluetooth® headset with your phone through the use of an optional ESI Bluetooth Headset Interface, the following table indicates what the Headset Interface’s LED indications mean:

If the LED is . . .	This means the headset is . . .
Off	Paired and connected
Glowing solidly	Paired and not connected (out of range)
Blinking slowly	Paired and attempting to connect
Blinking rapidly	Neither paired nor connected

Answering a call using a paired Bluetooth headset

Here is the procedure for answering a phone call when using a Bluetooth headset that is paired to your ESI Feature Phone via the ESI Bluetooth Headset Interface.

Note:

When an incoming call rings on the ESI Feature Phone, the headset will provide an audible ringing if the headset supports this. This may cause a delay in the audio to the headset; some headset models may not pass the audio through to the headset until the audible ringing has been completed.

When an incoming call rings the Feature Phone, tap the Bluetooth headset’s Call button (the name given to this button may vary by headset manufacturer) or press the Feature Phone’s programmed HEADSET key.
The HEADSET key on the Feature Phone will glow green.

Note:

If the Bluetooth headset moves out of range, the call will remain connected via the Feature Phone’s HEADSET jack but audio will be lost. When the Bluetooth headset moves back into range, the Bluetooth connection will be re-established and audio will return.
When finished with the call, tap the Bluetooth headset’s Call button or press the Feature Phone’s HEADSET key.

Placing an outbound call using a paired Bluetooth headset

With the ESI Feature Phone idle, tap the Bluetooth headset’s Call button or press the Feature Phone’s HEADSET key.
The ESI Feature Phone’s HEADSET key will glow green, and you’ll hear dial tone on the Bluetooth headset.
Dial the desired telephone number.

Notes:

Special features such as voice commands, switching between calls, etc., using the Bluetooth headset button(s) won’t be supported (unless you’re using a Cellular Access key*).

If the Bluetooth headset moves out of range, the call will remain connected via the Feature Phone’s HEADSET jack but audio will be lost. When the Bluetooth headset moves back into range, the Bluetooth connection will be re-established and audio will return.
When finished with the call, tap the Bluetooth headset’s Call button or press the Feature Phone’s HEADSET key.

See the ESI Cellular Management User’s Guide (ESI document # 0450-1189), available from the downloadables page.

Cautions

In general

Bluetooth is an industrial specification for low-powered, short-range wireless networking. It provides a way to connect, and exchange information between, devices. Bluetooth is used not only in cellular phones and handsets but also personal computers, as well as other devices such as video game consoles. Bluetooth devices use a globally recognized, secure, unlicensed, short-range radio frequency.

Bluetooth compatibility

Not all Bluetooth-enabled headsets are alike, because different manufacturers implement Bluetooth slightly differently. To minimize such issues, a headset should comply with the Bluetooth 1.2 (or higher) specification.

Still, even then, there can be difficulty in making Bluetooth devices interact. In particular, a Bluetooth-enabled headset may:

Fail to pair with the ESI Bluetooth Headset Interface.
Turn off its Bluetooth capability by itself, due to either a power-saving setting or interference from other devices.
Suffer noisy or bad connections on calls. This can occur for a variety of reasons. The headset may be too far away from the ESI Bluetooth Headset Interface, or it may encounter interference from other Bluetooth devices (or even other objects such as walls, appliances, and cordless phones).

Some headsets turn off while charging, causing the HEADSET LED to glow solidly. To reconnect the headset after charging, just turn the headset back on.

For a list of headsets that ESI has tested with the ESI Bluetooth Headset Interface (although this is not intended as an endorsement of any of these, nor as a statement that they will always work properly with it), visit www.esi-estech.com/BT — where you also can learn more about the ESI Bluetooth Headset Interface itself.