FAQs

A list of common questions about the Private Mobile Office solution.

I am in a long term mobile phone contract and want to keep my mobile phone number. What do I need to do?

No problem. With PMO you can keep your existing mobile contract and simply set up a divert to pass calls to the PMO platform when you are in the office.

What coverage is provided by the BTS access point?

to 350m omni directional in open space and up to 100m in building.

How many people can be supported on a single BTS access point?

7 concurrent voice calls can be made from a single BTS but you can have many more handsets registered to a single BTS.

If my mobile has registered to the BTS access point can it receive calls/SMS sent to my regular mobile number?

To get mobile calls to your PMO extension, a ‘no network coverage’ divert would need to be set up to send calls to your device whilst on the PMO system. SMS messages will not be delivered to your device whilst on the PMO but are queued and sent when you rejoin the macro network. SMS between the users on the PMO are supported

Are call charges incurred?

Calls are free for PMO phone to PMO and PMO to internal deskphone users, external calls passed out through the PBX are charged at the your normal fixed line rate.

What happens when I make a call from inside my PMO network and leave the area of coverage. Does the call stay up?

No. When the handset looses coverage from the local BTS access point, the call is dropped. If the handset has an operator SIM card, the handset will then search for and find your Mobile Network Operator and the call will need to be redialled.

What happens if I’m already on a call using my regular Mobile Network Operator and enter an area covered by my PMO network . Does it stay on until I hang up or transfer to the PMO network?

The call will remain with the Mobile Network Operator for the duration of the call. When you hang up, the handset will then transition or be manually transferred onto the private mobile network. Automatic transition assumes you are running the Netswitch application on the handset.

Can I use PMO without having a mobile operator SIM?

Yes. The PMO can be used as a secure closed mobile network without the abilty to take or make calls on a mobile operator network.

Are there any phones or networks that have issues or don't work?

A private secure network without access to the external mobile operator network can be created with any handset built since 2000. If movement between the private and the macro network is needed, then the best user experience is gained on Symbian Series 60 and Windows Mobile 5, 6 and 6.1 handsets as the Netswitch client automatically transitions between the PMO network and the Mobile Network Operator. Other handsets rely on a manual transition from one to the other. Blackberry devices fall into this category and will not be able to send or receive emails whilst on the private mobile network. Development work is still being undertaken in this area and information will change over time.

How many simultaneous calls from one BTS access point?

Each access point will support 7 concurrent voice calls, and multiple BTS access points can be configured to accommodate greater call volume.

There is mention of battery life being extended – why is this?

Battery life is extended because whilst using Low Power GSM the handset’s radio is transmitting at 200mW rather than 1-4W.

Are there any safety/health advantages of using Low Power GSM?

Low power GSM means that the BTS access point is transmitting at 200mW as opposed to 10W or greater from a regular Mobile Network Operators mast and the handset also transmits 200mW rather than 1-4W, a typical DECT access point will typically transmit at 250mW. So Low Power GSM can be used in areas where regular GSM isn’t allowed.

Does the PMO support DTMF Function?
The ability for mobile phone to access feature set of the host PBX via DTMF so that once a call has been answered, the call can be held & transferred around the building from the mobile device whilst the call stays ‘on net’ on the PBX.

Yes DTMF is supported (via SIP INFO) also handset depended you can also use the devices menu to hold a call, create a new one and transfer that call onto the new recipient whether that user is another PMO handset or a regular desk phone

Does the PMO have CLI Pass Through?
The Ability for the PBX to ‘pass through’ incoming callers CLI or internal extension as CLI to mobile device. Also the ability to SEND the users DDI number as a CLI when calling via the PBX.

Yes the CLI of the incoming call is displayed on the PMO handset and yes the CLI of the PMO handset is passed when calling other PMO and desk phone users.

Does the PMO support Dial Through?
The ability for mobile device to seamless make calls to other users on the system by dialling their respective extension numbers without the need for any digit insertion prior to the mobile device sending the number

When calling internally the user would dial the internal extension number the same as would be dialled from a desk phone, the same goes if a PMO user wanted to call another PMO user the internal number can be used.

Does the PMO support Break Out?
The ability for user to dial 9 and make call via the PBX trunk lines

Yes the system can be setup either way if you want your users to actively have to add the 9 to make an external call then that can be done, if you would rather have the platform add the 9 on for your users allowing for them to dial the number from their address book as normal then that can be done too.

How does PMO coverage compare to DECT?

A PMO BTS access point will typically cover the same area as 3-5 DECT units depending on DECT manufacturer