On-net calls are calls between two members within the system network and thus they don’t need outbound carrier to connect. Such calls can be established both between members from one account and between members from different accounts in the system. The communication between the members is done through the so called On-Net Numbers (or Fake Numbers) which are assigned to each member. In order for one member to call another member it needs to know its On-Net Number.
1. Create On-Net Numbers
On-Net Numbers should first be created before they can be associated with members – these are numbers from Number Sets, which contain only fake numbers. First you need to create the Number Set and then add the numbers (manually or generate automatically).
Routing > Number Sets > Add Number Set
Give a Name to the number set and check the “Active” box.
Please note that there is no need to assign Origination Carrier and Endpoints, or Toll Free and Inbound Tariffs.
Routing > Number Sets > Number Set Name > View Numbers
Then you have to add, generate, or upload numbers in this number set.
You can add numbers manually with the “Add” button.
Please note that you can enter only the number and leave all other fields blank because the On-Net numbers are not associated with any destination.
Routing > Number Sets > Number Set Name > Import Numbers
Use this when you have a list with fake numbers in .csv file format – the file can contain only one column with numbers – all other fields are not mandatory, because these numbers are not geographically related to Countries or States.
Routing > Number Sets > Number Set Name > Generate Fake Numbers
Generate fake numbers from here – you can also click on the “Generate Numbers” button.
You have to enter the start number and how many fake numbers you want to be created.
Please note that every time a new number is added or an existing one edited, Provisioning of route sets is required.
2. Create a Tariff for On-net Calls
The Tariffs determines how you want to bill the On-net calls in your system.
Tariffs are created in Rating and Billing > Tariffs and assigned to the correspondent zone in Rating and Billing > Subscription Plans > Call Billing.
There are two On-Net Zones:
- On-Net Inbound Calls
- On-Net Outbound Calls
These two zones allow the administrator to decide how to charge the customers for the two directions of the call – inbound and outbound.
If you want to charge both customers participating in the on-net call, you have to create two tariffs for the correspondent zones. The Outbound Tariff is used for billing the customer who is making the call (the originator) and the Inbound Tariff is used for billing the called (destination) account.
If you want to offer free on-net calls to your customers leave the tariffs in the Subscription plan empty or assign tariffs which have initial and increment rates, fees and charges equal to $0.
Rating and Billing > Tariffs
You create the Tariffs for billing the On-Net calls from here. As On-Net calls have no destination (they are fake numbers) – you can create the rates with prefixes from 1 to 9.
The system will try to match the prefixes to countries, but as those calls never leave the system network, the matching is irrelevant – e.g. 1 will be associated with USA and 7 with Russia – you can change the destination name in reports for the On-Net calls from Settings > Destinations > Destinations.
Please note that after you create the tariff you need to Provision Rates.
3. Assign On-Net Tariff & Number Set to Subscription plan
Rating and Billing > Subscription Plans > Plan Name > Call Billing
You choose the tariffs for billing the On-Net calls from here.
Rating and Billing > Subscription Plans > Plan Name > Number Sets
Number sets should be assigned to subscription plans so that the numbers can be assigned to account members.
Please note that you need to create the number sets before you can assign them to subscription plans here.
There is no need to assign recurring charge and/or recurring charge toll-free.
The Number Selection Priority is optional – this is used if more than one number set is assigned to the plan.
Please review “How to Create Subscription Plans” for full details about this topic.
4. Create Account Member Device (SIP Endpoint)
The On-Net number should be assigned to a SIP device, which will ring when the number is called. The devices are SIP endpoints in the account member.
Accounts > Account Name > Features > Endpoints > Add Endpoint
You should create SIP endpoints for the account member the On-Net number will belong to.
Please note that in most cases these endpoints are with Digest Authentication.
Please review “How to Create Customer Accounts” for full details about this topic.
5. Assign On-Net Number to Account Member
Accounts > Account Name > Features > Numbers > Add Number
You can add numbers to the account from here.
The system displays all numbers from the Number Sets assigned to the Subscription plan of the account.
You can choose different criteria for listing the Numbers – if nothing is selected, the system will display the first numbers from the set with higher priority.
Choose a Number from the list with checking the box next to the Number and push the “Submit” button.
Thus this number is reserved for the account and can be assigned to a member.
Accounts > Account Name > Members > Member Name > Add Call Forwarding Rules
For every On-Net number there should be a separate Call Forwarding Rule.
Choose a name for the call forwarding rule and select Ring Destination to be “one at a time”.
You can change the Ring Duration (the time during which the system will try calling the number) – leave the default value or increase it depending on your needs.
Authenticate Incoming Calls and Outgoing Caller ID are not used in this business case and that is why you don’t need to select them.
Push the “Add Number” button.
A pop-up window is displayed from which you can select the number you want to use for this call forwarding rule.
Push the “Add Number” and then the “Close” buttons when you are ready.
Now you should add the destination the call will be forwarded to – for On-Net numbers this destination is a device (an existing SIP Endpoint).
Press the “Add Device” button and enter the endpoint name if you know it – you can also search the desired endpoint from all existing account endpoints by pushing the “Search” button.
After you select the endpoint push the “Add Device” button.
Now you will see in the list with the destination of the selected device – push the “Submit” button to create your call forwarding rule.
5. How On-Net calling works
Please find below an example for a common on-net call scenario together with the steps you have to follow in order to set it up in the system.
Example
You are using one subscription plan – Subscription Plan 1
You have one number set – Number Set 1
You have two accounts – Account A and Account B
Account A has one member – Member A
Account B has one member – Member B
Both accounts are assigned to Subscription Plan 1
Both accounts are using fake numbers from Number Set 1
You want Member A from Account A to make on-net calls to Member B from Account B
You need to do the following:
- Create Number Set 1 and generate fake numbers in it – you need at least two numbers, e.g. Number 1 and Number 2
- Create Billing Tariff Inbound for billing the member who will receive the call
- Create Billing Tariff Outbound for billing the member who will initiate the call
- Create Subscription plan 1 (or use the existing ne of already created)
- Assign the Inbound and Outbound Tariffs in Subscription Plan 1 if you want to bill the members making on-net calls. If you want the on-net calls to be free of charge, you don’t have to create tariffs and assign them to the on-net call billing in the subscription plan.
- Provision Rates and Routes
- Assign the Number Set 1 to Subscription plan 1
- Create Account A and assign to Subscription plan 1
- Create Member A in Account A
- Add Number 1 in Account A
- Create Endpoint 1 (SIP Device) in Member A
- Create Call Forwarding Rule in Member A using Number 1 and Endpoint 1
- Create Account B and assign to Subscription plan 1
- Create Member B in Account B
- Add Number 2 in Account B
- Create Endpoint 2 (SIP Device) in Member B
- Create Call Forwarding Rule in Member B using Number 2 and Endpoint 2
- Register Endpoint 1 and Endpoint 2 using softphones or VoIP phones (devices)
- Make a call from Endpoint 1 dialing Number 2
- Endpoint 2 will ring and a successful on-net call will be established
Please refer to “How to Create Number Sets”, “How to create Customer Accounts”, How to Create Subscription Plans”, “How to Create Customer Tariffs”, “How to create Call Forwarding Rule”, and “When to Provision” for full details about these topics.
Please note that using similar steps you can setup on-net calls between members from one account, between members from accounts with different subscription plans, and between members with numbers from different number sets.