---
title: "Cisco Connect Admin - Create A Common Area Phone"
slug: "cisco-connect-admin-create-a-common-area-phone"
tags: ["calltower", "public"]
updated: 2026-09-18T16:19:28Z
published: 2026-09-18T16:19:28Z
canonical: "learn.calltower.com/cisco-connect-admin-create-a-common-area-phone"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://learn.calltower.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Cisco Connect Admin - Create A Common Area Phone

### GOAL

This article is to go over how you can add a common area phone in Connect or to change and existing available phone to a common area phone.

## Method 1: Adding a New Common Area Phone

1. Log in to the Admin Portal.
2. Navigate to the Menu![Hamburger Menu.PNG](https://cdn.us.document360.io/4662144b-ab1f-4796-8b7b-e9f9c609894f/Images/Documentation/Hamburger_Menu.PNG?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-04T21%3A37%3A38Z&se=2026-11-04T22%3A37%3A38Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=6aTmQHjM9VyN29ylkJJK3FRg%2FY0EXz8Zx%2B1HNf7%2BMgQ%3D)>> Phones and select the plus sign at the top of the screen.![Add Phone.PNG](https://cdn.us.document360.io/4662144b-ab1f-4796-8b7b-e9f9c609894f/Images/Documentation/Add_Phone.PNG?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-04T21%3A37%3A38Z&se=2026-11-04T22%3A37%3A38Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=6aTmQHjM9VyN29ylkJJK3FRg%2FY0EXz8Zx%2B1HNf7%2BMgQ%3D)
3. Select Common Area Phone under "Device Purpose" depending on the intended use of the phone.

![Capture (2).PNG](https://cdn.us.document360.io/4662144b-ab1f-4796-8b7b-e9f9c609894f/Images/Documentation/Capture_(2).PNG?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-04T21%3A37%3A38Z&se=2026-11-04T22%3A37%3A38Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=6aTmQHjM9VyN29ylkJJK3FRg%2FY0EXz8Zx%2B1HNf7%2BMgQ%3D)
4. Fill in the fields below.

Device Type:

Device Model:

Device Template:

Location:

MAC Address:

Internal Caller ID:

Description:

911 DID:

![clipboard_e3f170dcd32d485bddc3523a7254b665b.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/4662144b-ab1f-4796-8b7b-e9f9c609894f/Images/Documentation/clipboard_e3f170dcd32d485bddc3523a7254b665b.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-04T21%3A37%3A38Z&se=2026-11-04T22%3A37%3A38Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=6aTmQHjM9VyN29ylkJJK3FRg%2FY0EXz8Zx%2B1HNf7%2BMgQ%3D)
5. Save ![clipboard_edd7f88f2ad28d9402287a193caeb3d3d.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/4662144b-ab1f-4796-8b7b-e9f9c609894f/Images/Documentation/clipboard_edd7f88f2ad28d9402287a193caeb3d3d.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-04T21%3A37%3A38Z&se=2026-11-04T22%3A37%3A38Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=6aTmQHjM9VyN29ylkJJK3FRg%2FY0EXz8Zx%2B1HNf7%2BMgQ%3D)

## Method 2: Changing an existing available phone to Common Area.

1. Go to the Phones tab and select an available phone.

> [!NOTE]
> Note:
> 
> The "Description" column will identify whether or not a phone is available.

![clipboard_e92599407b4e021dbf5491bcb8a08b1aa.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/4662144b-ab1f-4796-8b7b-e9f9c609894f/Images/Documentation/clipboard_e92599407b4e021dbf5491bcb8a08b1aa.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-04T21%3A37%3A38Z&se=2026-11-04T22%3A37%3A38Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=6aTmQHjM9VyN29ylkJJK3FRg%2FY0EXz8Zx%2B1HNf7%2BMgQ%3D)
2. Highlight the phone and click "Change to Common Area Phone" from the hamburger menu.

![clipboard_e3905e08d6ad21c83bb8d57da30decdaf.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/4662144b-ab1f-4796-8b7b-e9f9c609894f/Images/Documentation/clipboard_e3905e08d6ad21c83bb8d57da30decdaf.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-04T21%3A37%3A38Z&se=2026-11-04T22%3A37%3A38Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=6aTmQHjM9VyN29ylkJJK3FRg%2FY0EXz8Zx%2B1HNf7%2BMgQ%3D)
3. Fill out the "Change to Common Area Phone" template and click "Save". ![clipboard_edd7f88f2ad28d9402287a193caeb3d3d.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/4662144b-ab1f-4796-8b7b-e9f9c609894f/Images/Documentation/clipboard_edd7f88f2ad28d9402287a193caeb3d3d.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-04T21%3A37%3A38Z&se=2026-11-04T22%3A37%3A38Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=6aTmQHjM9VyN29ylkJJK3FRg%2FY0EXz8Zx%2B1HNf7%2BMgQ%3D)

![clipboard_ef2d6a4a0815b8f159fb90a73e8c3febf.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/4662144b-ab1f-4796-8b7b-e9f9c609894f/Images/Documentation/clipboard_ef2d6a4a0815b8f159fb90a73e8c3febf.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-04T21%3A37%3A38Z&se=2026-11-04T22%3A37%3A38Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=6aTmQHjM9VyN29ylkJJK3FRg%2FY0EXz8Zx%2B1HNf7%2BMgQ%3D)

### What is a Common Area Phone?

A Common Area Phone is a phone created without a specific user in mind. These phones will typically be in the lobby, hallway, break room, or any other "common area" where a phone may be required but a designated user will not be available.

Please note that a common area phone is not going to be able to receive voicemail.

Direct Inward Dialing (DID) is a telecommunication service that allows a phone number to be assigned to a specific phone line within a private branch exchange (PBX), enabling direct calls to that line without going through a receptionist.