Cisco Call

Cisco Call is a softphone client embedded in MS Teams that, when launched, uses Webex Calling in the background to provide UB's standard phone services.  

On this page:

You may place and receive calls both on and off campus and access your personal voice mailbox.  As with similar tools within MS Teams (e.g. UBbox), you will be prompted separately for a login.

Audio and video calls to others who are using MS Teams are still available using the MS Teams Call app. 

Note: Webex does not have Instant Messaging (IM) or chat room services.  If you have a Jabber chat room you can still use Jabber, but it is highly recommended that you migrate it into a MS Teams channel as soon as possible.

Manual Download of Cisco Webex

Once you are given the proper group membership for access, the Cisco Call app will display in the app bar on the left.  Before you can use it, you must first download and install the Webex Calling client.  If you click on Cisco Call in Teams before this step is complete, it will appear to be making a call but will fail with no indication as to why.

Download Cisco Webex for PC or Mac

Note: For Mac, select the download specific to your chipset, Apple or Intel. Only Apple M1 is listed, but others at UB are running it on the M2 and M3 chipsets without any reported issues.

For mobile devices, use the App Store or Google Play and search on Webex.  

  • Make sure to install the Webex client and not the Webex Meeting app.

During installation you must allow all of the access it requests or else it will not run properly.

Once installed, the Webex Call client will run silently in the background.

Using Cisco Call

Learn how to use Cisco Call once it's installed (Cisco)

If you login and see the following pop-up message, you are still logged into Jabber.  Click Sign in which allows Webex to take control of phone services from Jabber,

Zoom image: Your phone is in use error message, indicating you are still signed into Jabber. Your phone is in use error message, indicating you are still signed into Jabber.

Multiple Lines

If you have multiple lines provisioned in Jabber, they will work in Webex.  All inbound calls will ring and appear in your Recent Calls history of MS Teams.

By default, your personal line is selected for making outbound calls.  Open the Calling dock to use another line:

1. Click on the ellipsis (. . .) in the upper right corner and slide the Calling dock toggle button to the right.

Zoom image: Under the ellipsis, toggle the slider next to Calling dock by sliding it to the right. Under the ellipsis, toggle the slider next to Calling dock by sliding it to the right.

2. In the Calling dock, click on the handset icon in the upper left near your name and select the desired line

Zoom image: Select the line you want to use Select the line you want to use.

This will remain as the selected line for making outbound calls until changed using the same steps.  If you receive an inbound call, it will not change the selected line to use for outbound calls.

Audio Settings

Check the Webex/Cisco Call Audio Settings to confirm your preferred devices are selected.  These are independent of the settings in MS Teams and may not necessarily match.

1. In MS Teams click on Call Settings 

Zoom image: Click Call Settings Click Call Settings.

2. Click Audio in the pop-up and make adjustments to select your desired device and volume, and the correct microphone:

  • In Webex the default Ringers and Alerts setting is All Devices and is set at a loud volume.  Use the pulldown to select the preferred device and/or adjust the volume control.
  • Check that the correct microphone is being used to avoid poor call quality at the far end of the conversation.
Zoom image: Select Audio and adjust settings as desired. Select Audio and adjust settings as desired.

E911 Settings on a PC or Mac

Important: For this pilot, you must manually set your E911 location when on a PC or Mac. Set your Work location when on campus and your Home location when working remotely.  

When on your smartphone, Webex will automatically send 911 calls out the native dialer and use your cellular provider’s tracking for a location. You do not need to set a location manually.

Adding campus locations

1. When setting the first location, for Windows go to Hidden Icons in the taskbar and open the Webex app. For Mac, open the Webex app from your Applications

Zoom image: Click the caret in the task bar and select the Webex app Click the caret in the task bar and select the Webex app.

2. Click E911 settings

Zoom image: select e911 settings select e911 settings.

3. Add a label such as Work. You must use the Official UB Building Service address as base address and add specific room location in the available free-form field at the bottom:

  • North Campus – Amherst, NY 14260
  • South Campus – Buffalo, NY 14214
  • Downtown Campus – Buffalo, NY 1420X
Zoom image: enter a dispatchable address, including UB zip code enter a dispatchable address, including UB zip code.

4. After selecting Save, the client will confirm that you set a dispatchable location. 

  • When done correctly you will see Address successfully saved
Zoom image: Address successfully saved will appear Address successfully saved will appear.
  • If it doesn’t find a match with a valid address, you will have to try again
Zoom image: If the address is invalid, you will see an error message that the address entered is invalid. If the address is invalid, you will see an error message that the address entered is invalid.

Adding remote locations

When entering a remote location, everything must be a 100% match with what’s on file with your local county or else the address lookup with fail with “Address not found”.  That is, if you enter “Maple Road” it will fail because it is registered as “Maple Rd”.

If you’re uncertain of the syntax you can use Google Maps to get the correct information for your location.

  1. Open Webex:
    • For Windows, go to Hidden Icons (^) in the taskbar and open the Webex app
    • For Mac, open the Webex app from your Applications
  2. Select E911 settings
  3. Click Clear address 
  4. Enter a label such as Home and then enter your home address as it is recorded with the county
  5. Click Save: 
    • If it is successful, you are set
    • If it is not successful, change the information (e.g., Rd instead of Road) until the address saves successfully

Set your location each time you work

  1. Open Webex:
    • For Windows, go to Hidden Icons (^) in the taskbar and open the Webex app
    • For Mac, open the Webex app from your Applications
  2. Select E911 settings
  3. Click Choose a saved address and select the location where you are working, e.g., Home or Work
  4. Click Save
Still need help?

Contact the UBIT Help Center.