Attendant console

The inquiry station (also telephone or attendant console ) is a terminal of a telephone system. The main task of the person who operates an inquiry station, the attendant of telephone conversations. Calls from the public network to reach the participants of a PBX, either directly by selecting the extension number, or - if this is not known to the caller - over the query space. The person at the polling place ( telephone operator ) takes calls on the " main number " counter and give these to call them - the extension - on. The main phone number (including center number ) is the extension number 0 is used in the rule, for example (0 12 34 ) 9 87 65-0.

For PBXs with more than 1,000 participants in the rule, an employee is mainly responsible for the operation of the polling place. In smaller systems, this activity is usually the way, for example by the Secretariat or a porter, done. Large PBX systems may have multiple query venues on which incoming calls are distributed. In networked systems (Corporate Network) a polling place may also be responsible for multiple PBXs.

Inquiry stations are available in different versions, for example as:

• Simple telephone set ( for small systems )
• Telephone with special buttons and indicators
• PC workstation with network software and headset

Inquiry stations formerly had large display panels (known as busy lamp field ) on which the operator of the polling place could see whether the desired subscriber is free or busy tone. Today, a search space has a monitor, or connected to one or more PC via which the exact status of all participants can be queried.

As an alternative to manned space query, there are increasingly automatic voice-activated switches ( see language dialogue system ). With a very high call volume, calls are handled by a call center.