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Making Phone Calls with Cisco Jabber

Last modified 8/8/2024

You can make phone calls with Cisco Jabber regardless of whether the contact also uses Cisco Jabber or not. You can do so using either a Cisco IP phone or a softphone (i.e. a virtual phone rather than a physical desk phone).

Before You Begin

If you use Cisco Jabber in conjunction with a Cisco IP phone, and you make a call using the soft phone (i.e., virtual Cisco phone on your computer), the call will be placed using your physical phone. If you use a softphone, you must also have a headset with a microphone.

Make a Phone Call

To make a phone call with Cisco Jabber, do the following:

  1. Launch Cisco Jabber and log in.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • Right-click on the contact you want to call and select Call. If the contact has more than one phone number, you must select the phone number you want to dial.
    • Hover over the contact you want to call and click the Call icon (This icon looks like a phone). If the contact has more than one phone number, you must select the phone number you want to dial.
    • Enter a name or ULID in the search box at the top of the Cisco Jabber window. Then right-click on the contact and select Call or click the Call icon.
    • Select the Calls Icon on the left hand side, open the Dialpad, then enter the number you'd like to call
  3. When the call begins, you will see an Active Call window appear on your screen.
    • If you are using Cisco Jabber in conjunction with a Cisco IP phone, the call will be placed through your phone.
    • If you are using Cisco Jabber with a softphone, you must have a headset with a microphone or the person you are calling will be unable to hear you.
  4. To end the call, either hang up using your Cisco IP phone or close the Active Call window.

If you have created a custom contact that does not have a university phone number, you will need to put the 71 in front of their phone number in order for it to dial out with the instructions above.

Transferring Calls 

  1. Click More . . .  in the Call Control Strip.
    1. The Call Control Strip appears once an active call is in progress.
  2. Select Transfer to place the current call on hold.Jabber transfer button image.
  3. Type the name of the person or the phone number you want to transfer the call to in the search box.
  4. Select the person or number in the search list.
  5. Click Transfer to complete the transfer.
  6. Click the Disconnect button after the third party answers.

How to Get Help

Technical assistance is available through the Illinois State University Technology Support Center at:

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