In short: The BT Cloud Voice Receptionist console is an optional extra for Connect and Collaborate users who handle a lot of calls. It shows at a glance who is free, busy or ringing and transfers calls with a click. Receptionist small business is a scaled-down version, and busy lamp field adds status lights to a desk phone.
What the Receptionist console does
A receptionist or operator spends the day answering calls and putting them through. Doing that blind, by trying extensions until someone picks up, wastes time and annoys callers. The BT Cloud Voice Receptionist console solves this with a screen that shows the people you look after, whether each one is free, on a call or ringing, and lets you transfer a call to them with a click of the mouse.
It runs as a web application that you launch from the BT Cloud Voice Business Portal (in the user's Applications section), with its own sign-in. An administrator assigns the add-on to the receptionist's licence and then chooses which colleagues appear on their console.
Receptionist console or Receptionist small business?
BT offers two versions:
| Receptionist console | Receptionist small business | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | Busy receptionists and switchboard operators | Smaller businesses with a front desk |
| Colleagues you can monitor | Up to 200 users (BT's help guide) | Up to 30 users (BT's help guide) |
| See who is free and transfer with a click | Yes | Yes |
| Available with | Connect and Collaborate | Connect and Collaborate |
Both are optional extras added to an individual user, not to the whole site. They cannot be added to a Basic licence, so a receptionist who needs a console must be on Connect or Collaborate.
Busy lamp field: status lights on the phone
If your receptionist prefers to work from the handset, busy lamp field (BLF) puts colleagues on programmable keys on the phone, each with a light:
- Green: free
- Red, flashing: their phone is ringing
- Red: on a call or unavailable
- Orange: the phone could not read that colleague's status
From those keys the user can speed dial a colleague, transfer a call with one touch and, if they are in the same call pick-up group at the same site, answer a colleague's ringing phone. BT's help guide says a BLF group can hold up to 50 members, and each member's device must support BLF. BLF is an add-on licence for Connect and Collaborate users only; it will not work with a Basic licence. Check how many programmable keys a handset has before you choose it; see our desk phones guide.
Who needs which
| Role | Usually best served by |
|---|---|
| Full-time receptionist or switchboard for a larger office | Receptionist console, plus a good headset |
| Front desk in a small business | Receptionist small business |
| PA or office manager who also answers calls | Busy lamp field on their desk phone, often with shared call appearance |
| Someone who covers the phones occasionally | A hunt group and the standard transfer keys |
Where callers queue for a team, pair the console with Call Centre ACD, and use the Auto Attendant to take simple requests off the receptionist altogether.
What computer the console needs
Because the Receptionist console runs in a web browser, it does not need a powerful computer, but it does need a sensible set-up:
- A computer with an up-to-date, supported web browser
- A large enough screen to see the whole team, ideally a second monitor for a busy switchboard
- A desk phone or the BT Cloud Voice app to carry the calls, and a comfortable headset
- A reliable network connection; see our connectivity guide
The receptionist signs in with separate Receptionist credentials, which an administrator can find or reset under Applications on that user's profile in the Business Portal. We check your receptionist's computer and browser against BT's current requirements before go-live.
How we set it up
Forever Communications Limited, a BT Business Partner, decides with you who appears on the console and in what order, sets up the busy lamp keys on the right handsets, and trains your receptionists before go-live. When people join or leave, we update the console for you. Contact us to add a console to your BT Cloud Voice order.
Why buy BT Cloud Voice from Forever Communications Limited
Forever Communications Limited is part of Forever Group and a BT Business Partner. We supply, set up and support BT Cloud Voice for UK businesses, schools, charities and public sector organisations, from a handful of users to multi-site teams.
- A named partner who plans your numbers, call flows, user feature packs and handsets with you
- Number porting managed for you, timed to avoid downtime
- Connectivity checked first, so call quality is right from day one, with BT business broadband and BTnet available if you need it
- Help with the digital switchover, including alarms, lifts, card terminals and other analogue lines
- Training and ongoing support for the apps, Microsoft Teams integration, moves, adds, changes and faults
BT Cloud Voice is a business service. We do not sell consumer or home phone products.
Want a BT Cloud Voice quote for your business?
Tell Forever Communications what you need and we will come back to you by email with options, not a hard sell.
Contact usFrequently asked questions
What is the BT Cloud Voice Receptionist console?
It is an optional extra for a Connect or Collaborate user that shows at a glance which colleagues are free, busy or ringing, and lets the receptionist transfer calls with a click. It runs in a web browser, launched from the Business Portal.
What is the difference between Receptionist console and Receptionist small business?
Receptionist small business is a scaled-down version for smaller businesses. BT's help guide says the standard version supports up to 200 users and the small business version up to 30.
Can a Basic user have the Receptionist console?
No. The Receptionist console, Receptionist small business and busy lamp field are optional extras for Connect and Collaborate users only.
What does busy lamp field do on BT Cloud Voice?
Busy lamp field shows colleagues on keys on your desk phone with a light for free, ringing or busy, so you can speed dial, transfer with one touch or pick up their calls. BT allows up to 50 members in a group, and each user needs a Connect or Collaborate licence, the BLF add-on and a compatible handset.
Do I need special software for the Receptionist console?
No. The Receptionist runs as a web portal, which you launch from the BT Cloud Voice Business Portal or sign in to directly with its own login. You need a supported browser and a phone or the app to carry the calls.