Transfer Call Tracking

Unlike most call accounting packages that report on either the first or last leg of an
inbound call, or treat each leg like a new inbound call, Apogee correctly processes each
leg individually, allocating duration and cost to the proper extension.  Furthermore,
Apogee provides an accurate count of your total inbound calls regardless of the number
of transfers.

Abandoned Call Tracking

Some telephone systems identify an inbound call as abandoned if the caller hangs up while
on hold.  Apogee identifies these calls.  Other telephone systems do not tag calls as abandoned but Apogee can still recognize
certain calls as abandoned by carefully watching the trunks the calls came in on. 
The concept is simple.  The process is complex. Contact SDT for more details.

Wait Time Reporting

Hand-in-hand with abandoned calls, Apogee can calculate how long callers wait on hold
before growing impatient and hanging up.  Contact SDT for more details.

Intended Extension Reporting

Some telephone systems record the extension for which the call was intended.  For
example, it's difficult to allocate voice mail calls to individual employees because a
voice mail port is often shared by many employees.  But if your system records the
intended extension in addition to the actual extension (where it ends up), Apogee can
give you the full picture.

DNIS Reporting

DNIS can be utilized in many applications.  Apogee provides DNIS Billing with line
item charges.

Let's use an Ericsson telephone network with two sites (sometimes called nodes)
as an example.

Site 1 (Headquarters) is in Area Code 630 and Site 2 is in Area Code 773. 
Extension 1225 at Site 1 places
the first call.  Extension 1378
at Site 2 places the second call.

Here is the raw data (keep in mind both records come out in Site 1's SMDR/CDR)



1026 0018 M    9 70       
    2676770 1225


1026 0033 M    9 70       
    7591420 1378

Here is how Apogee processes the calls . . .

Without the Additional Processing Site:

The system processes extension 1378's call as if dialing from Area Code 630
when in fact extension 1378 is dialing from Area Code 773; therefore the call
is processed incorrectly to Lemont, IL.

With the Additional Processing Site:

Apogee knows extension 1378 is in Site 2 which is in Area Code 773; therefore
the call is processed correctly to Itasca, IL.

Direct Connect with No Buffer

The simplest method connects your phone system directly to a PC via cable
and records the data the phone system generates about the calls in real-time.

Direct Connect with a Buffer

An optional hardware unit known as a buffer can
be added to protect against data collection loss due to OS crashes and
power failure that may occur at the PC.  The buffer collects the
call records via the RS-232 cable and automatically transmits data to the
PC via another RS-232 cable at user defined intervals.  If the PC has
malfunctioned, the buffer will store the call records until the PC is ready.
The buffer checks before clearing its memory to verify that the PC has
received all records.  For this reliability, a buffer is recommended
for all revenue bill-back applications - a lost call is lost revenue.

Buffer Polling via modem

Calls records are stored in the buffer residing at a remote site and
automatically polled via modem across the public telephone network or T1 to
a PC at the central site.  The buffers require an analog port. Buffers
range in capacity from 256K to 4Meg with a five day battery and internal
modem.  A 256K buffer stores approx. 6,000 to 9,600 call records.

PC Polling via LAN/WAN 

Like Buffer Polling, Network Polling is required when the PBX is located
away from the Apogee System.  Instead of using the telephone
network to poll the data, Network Polling takes advantage of your
organization’s infrastructure.  Although an Ethernet enabled
buffer is more reliable than a PC, the system requirements for a data
collection PC are minimal and oftentimes this connectivity plan is
more cost effective than FTP polling.

FTP Buffer Polling

This method utilizes a business’s data network. Call records are collected
and stored by an enhanced buffer, which transmits the data across a
business’s Intranet or Internet using FTP protocol.   No long distance
charges and faster transmission provides an efficient and cost effective method.

Computer Telephony File

If your company has a non-PBX system, that does not generate SMDR/CDR records,
but does log calls in a file, then this is the method of choice.

Apogee Desktop and Apogee Enterprise^® offer unlimited markup classes
that can be assigned to a specific extension, auth code, account code (major),
and/or DNIS code.  The markup class wizard makes it easy to assign the
correct markup class and provide distinct pricing of calls based upon the
extension number and trunk facility that carried the call.  This pricing
engine is ideal for tenant billing applications.

Apogee also tracks calls to destinations within Mexico with radar accuracy.



US Carriers typically identify eight bands or regions within Mexico which are
often ignored by US designed call accounting systems. Standard Apogee tariffs
include these eight zones and furthermore specifies city names uniquely to six
total digits beyond the international dialing code (011) . For example Apogee
identifies calls to each of the following central offices -

011523510... is priced and identified as Zamore, MX;

011523511... is priced and identified as Chilchota, MX;

011523514... is priced and identified as Villamar, MX;

011523516... is priced and identified as Churintzio, MX;



and not just as being in the Guadalajara region or more simply as just in
Mexico.  Custom rates are also available for Mexico with central office
specificity at additional cost.