Cisco Jabber Softphone
The Cisco Jabber softphone platform streamlines communications and enhances productivity on many devices. It unifies online presence, instant messaging, video, voice, voice messaging, and conferencing capabilities securely into one client on your desktop, laptop or mobile device. Your extension number remains the same. Jabber provides increased options for staff in terms of where they work, e.g. hot-desk options (especially for staff working across campuses), flexitime, and working-from-home, staff whose roles require them to be mobile, etc.
Configuration Guides - do first
Cisco Jabber Setup and Configuration on a Waikato computer or laptop
Jabber User Guide
The Hub - Windows
- User status
- Search or call bar
- Contacts
- Chats
- Phone Controls
- Meetings
- Menu
- Custom Groups
- Group Contacts
- Custom Groups
- Group Contacts
The Hub - MacOS
Mac doesn't have the above view of the Hub.
To access, open Jabber and from the menu on the top of the page select Jabber > Preferences
Otherwise from Jabber > Hub Window > User Status > Preferences
If you wish to change your status to Unavailable or similar you can select your initials and make your choice.
Hub Position
Have the Hub window displaying on the monitor of preference and always on top.
- Click, hold, drag up to the top or to the side of the monitor and drag across to the monitor of preference
- Release the mouse button.
You can also make changes by using the Settings menu;
- Select the cog from the top right of the Jabber window
- View > Position docked window
- Select the position from the list.
Working from Home with Jabber
Once you have installed and configured Jabber you can use all of the features and actions as you do when on campus.
Ringer Alert
Windows
You can set the phone ringer to be heard direct from the computer or just through the headset.
To have the phone ring via the computer;
- Select the Menu cog
- Select Settings > Audio
- Under Ringer/Alert select All Devices
- Select Apply then OK when finished.
To have the phone ring via the headset only;
- Select the Menu cog
- Select Settings > Audio
- Under Ringer/Alert select the headset that is being used
- Select Apply then OK when finished.
To have the phone ring from both the computer and headset;
- Select the computer volume icon at the bottom right of the screen
- Expand the selection by selecting the upward arrow-head
- Select the Speakers of the headset you are using e.g. below.
MacOS
To have the phone ring via the computer speakers or the headset;
- From Jabber menu select Preferences
- Select Audio/Video and select the Audio and make your selections.
Headsets with a Jack rather than a USB plug
If you are using your own or an existing headset it needs to also have a microphone. If it does not plug in via USB, you can check if it has a microphone via the jack.
The correct jack is the one on the right as it has 3 rings and will enable left-ear, right-ear and mouthpiece audio.
The jack on the left with only 2 rings will enable only left-ear and right-ear audio but no mouthpiece audio so will not be suitable for phone use.
More Call Controls
Windows
While you are on a call, anytime you need to see the In call menu and More call controls, select the chat icon from the left menu.
- Mute audio
- Start video
- Share screen
- Show keypad
- More call controls
- End call
MacOS
While you are on a call select Chat as above then select the caller, this will display the In call menu where you can select 5. as above and it will provide you with three selections, Transfer, Hold or Park.
Make a Call
There are a few ways to make a call, using your Contacts or the number pad, remember to select 1 first when calling outside of the University. Contacts are drawn from Call Manager.
Select the Hub Window to display Jabber
- Search by name or type extension number, hit enter.
- Number pad – Use the computer number pad to input the number preceded by 1 for outside line or mobile.
If your Contact has multiple numbers e.g. extensions and mobile, select Phone Control to display the list of numbers. Selecting that number will automatically make the call.
How to make an International Call - dial 100 + country code + local number. (you will need to double check if you are allowed to make international calls)
For example: call to USA. - dial 100 1 (local number)
Call Mode Window
- Mute audio
- Start video
- Share screen
- Show keypad
- More call controls
- End call
Call Settings
For no apparent reason some users have found that their Jabber connection has disconnected.
If this happens check your Call Settings at the bottom left of the Hub calling window.
When the monitor icon is green (see below) your connection is fine but if it is red and has an exclamation mark (!), it has lost connect.
To rectify this select the Call Settings icon to open it and make sure the Device for calls is set to Use my computer, if this is already the setting then log off Jabber and log back on again. If a restart doesn't reconnect you, try restarting your computer.
Answer a Call
Depending on what type of headset you have you can either, answer the call by pressing the Answer button on the headphone or by selecting the Answer button that pops up at the bottom right of your screen when it rings.
MacOS
Jabber on a Mac will not pop-up when there is an incoming call, you will need to set Jabber on the top so you can have instant access without having to search for the app.
- Jabber > Preferences > Calls > Bring all calls to the front.
Disconnect a Call
There are a few ways to disconnect the call when you are finished.
- Click the X, End call.
- Select End Call from the popup menu
Transfer a Call
If you are ready to go ahead with the transfer do the following;
- Select More call controls
- Select Transfer and type the number or name to transfer the call to
- Hit enter or select the Phone control
- Do the soft handover then select Transfer.
Cancel a Transfer that you have already started?
- While your caller is on hold, click the end call button / red button with the white cross, at the bottom of the window
- Click Resume to go back to the original caller.
Put a Call On Hold
- Select More call controls
- Select Hold
- Once you are ready to speak with the caller again select Resume.
Start a Conference Call
Select the participants for your conference call, and then call each participant and add the person to the call.
- Select the contacts to include in the conference call from your contact list, and then right-click the contacts, and select Start Conference Call.
Tip: To select multiple contacts, press and hold Ctrl while you click each contact.
Alternately, you can right-click a group to start a conference call. A conference call window appears with the contacts that you selected. - Select the phone icon
- Select the Join button to add the contact to the conference call.
- Repeat steps 2 to 3 for each participant.
Conference calls can also be done while you are on an existing call if you need to bring another contact into the call.
- Whilst ‘in call’ select the More menu
- Select Conference
- Search for another contact to join the conference
- Select the Call icon. You will see the message Waiting to join then In Conference once they have joined.
- To Remove a participant simply hover the cursor over the contact and select Remove.
Park a Call
You can park an active call and resume the call from another location. This could be useful if you need to go to another desk or office for some information.
- During a call, select the More menu and select Park.
- Retrieve the call from another device by logging onto Jabber and call the ext number that you parked the call from and select Resume
- Or, Resume the call from the current device.
Video Call
If during setup, you turned video calls off, you can easily turn it on again for the current Active call by selecting the video icon on the Chats screen view.
Add Groups and Contacts
When adding your first Contact you will select the Add Contact button and search for Contacts to add, then you will be required to Create a Group to add these contacts to.
Add Contacts to a Group
- Select Contacts icon on the left
- Select Add Contact (this window will only be available when adding your first Contact)
- Search by name, select Add to add the first Contact
- After you have your first Contact continue adding Contacts searching by name, select the Contact and hit enter to add
- Once you have all the Contacts required select New Group
- Type a name for the group and select Create
- Click Add.
Add an External Contact
You can add Contacts that aren’t found in Call Manager (External Contacts) but they will need to be added to a Group.
- Select File from the Menu cog on the top right of the Hub
- Select New
- Select Custom contact
- Fill in the contact details
- Select Create
MacOS
You can add an external contact using the Jabber menu.
- Open the Jabber app and from the menu select Contacts
- New Custom Contact and add the necessary details.
Remove a Group from Contacts
This will NOT remove the people from your Contacts, just the Group.
- Right click the Group name
- Select Remove
- Confirm removal.
Voicemail
Setting up your voicemail greetings and other voicemail settings is very simple with Jabber.
- Dial the University internal access number 9900
- Select '*' (asterix)
- You will be prompted for your password/PIN, for first time setup the initial password/PIN is 965800
- Follow the voice prompts to make any changes or setup your voice recordings.
Use these instructions to assist with your voicemail setup and other phone selections.
You will receive voicemails through your email and you will listen to them via your Jabber headset.
If you wish to save a voicemail create a folder on your email account or on your H drive and save them there.
If you have forgotten your PIN or been locked out due to too many unsuccessful attempts ring the Service Desk to have you PIN reset and your voicemail box unlocked.
Call Forward (Divert) Your Extension Number
Please be aware that if you are choosing to divert your extension number to your personal mobile phone, your personal number will be visible to the caller unless your Service Provider is 2degrees, who are the University's current mobile provider.
You can now divert your extension number to your voicemail, another extension or to a mobile phone if required.
- Select the computer monitor icon that can be found at the bottom left of your Jabber Hub
- Select Voicemail, the ext or add a New Number. If you are adding a mobile number it may need to be preceded with the number 1
- Type 1 followed by the mobile number
- Select Forward
- If you would like to turn the diversion off simply Click to turn off.
Ringtones
Windows
You can change your ringtone if you prefer a different sound to the default.
- Select the Menu cog from the top right-hand side of the Hub
- Select ‘Settings’ from the list
- Select ‘Notifications’
- Scroll down if needed and select the arrow-head
- Select one of the wav files, test it by selecting the ‘Play’ button
- Once you are happy with the ringtone you would like to use select ‘Apply’
MacOS
- Select Jabber from the menu
- Preferences
- Notifications
- Select from the Ringtone list.
Using Jabber on a Mobile Phone
Things staff need to be aware of if they are wishing to use Jabber on a mobile phone:
- Calls made to and from Jabber Mobile when on Campus will incur call charges but not data.
- Calls made to and from Jabber Mobile from outside of the University but within a WiFi connected area, e.g. the staff member’s home will incur call charges but not data.
- Calls made to and from Jabber Mobile outside of the University or a WiFi connection e.g. a car will incur both call and data charges. For staff wishing to use Jabber on a personal mobile device the University will cover the cost of calling but not the data consumed.
- Jabber Mobile uses Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) which is a technology that allows users to make voice calls using an internet connection instead of a regular phone line, as such call quality cannot always be guaranteed and is subject to individual providers e.g. Spark, Vodafone etc.
Videos
Jabber Setup Guide for Desktop
Jabber User Guide for Desktop
Jabber User Guide for Android
Jabber User Guide for iPhone
Other Useful Links
Download and install Jabber for your home Windows or macOS computer.
If you have a Linux machine and wish to use Jabber please log a Service Request in Kuhukuhu
Te Kuhukuhu Rārangi - Log Your Own Request
"Kuhukuhu" is our IT Service Catalogue. You can search for and log your own service requests. You can also view the status of your current requests and see the estimated delivery time for them, provide further information by adding notes or attaching files, and view a full history of all previous requests.
For anything urgent you should phone the Service Desk: ext 4008 (838 4008) for assistance.