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Extension Mobility -- Webex Calling Hotdesking

[!]️ GAP SEVERITY: HIGH | Affects: Open-plan offices, shared desks, Mumbai HQ

2A.2.1 Problem Statement

CUCM Extension Mobility allows any user to log into any IP phone on the corporate network and receive their personal profile -- extension number, speed dials, ringtone, voicemail access, and calling privileges. This is widely used in Abhavtech's Mumbai HQ hot-desk seating areas and shared workstations across India sites.

Webex Calling offers a Hotdesking feature for MPP phones that provides similar functionality with key differences: - The Webex hotdesking host device must be explicitly configured as a hotdesk station - Each user must have a Webex Calling license - Feature is MPP-phone-only -- no equivalent for Webex App

2A.2.2 Webex Calling Hotdesking Configuration

License Note: Hotdesking in Webex Calling does NOT require an additional license. Any user with a Webex Calling Professional license can use hotdesking. The host device must be a supported Cisco MPP phone (68xx, 78xx, 88xx series).

Abhavtech hotdesking configuration approach:

  1. Identify all shared/hot-desk stations in Mumbai HQ -- estimated 40 stations in open-plan floors 3-5
  2. Configure each hot-desk MPP phone as a Hotdesking Host in Control Hub: Users > Devices > select phone > Enable Hotdesking
  3. Set idle extension for each hot-desk station (e.g., Floor-3-Desk-A) for incoming calls when no user is logged in
  4. Set auto-logout timer -- recommended 8 hours for Mumbai HQ, 12 hours for after-hours staff
  5. Users log in by pressing the Hotdesking softkey and authenticating with Webex credentials
  6. Upon login, the phone registers to the user's Webex Calling extension -- all calls, voicemail, and speed dials reflect their profile

2A.2.3 Limitation -- No Cross-Platform Hotdesking During Coexistence

During the coexistence period, a CUCM user cannot hotdesk into a Webex Calling MPP phone and vice versa. Extension Mobility across platforms is explicitly not supported.

Migration Batch Rule: The migration batch for each site must include all hot-desk stations and the users who share them in the same wave.

2A.2.4 Validation Steps

  • Inventory all hot-desk stations (Mumbai HQ floors 3, 4, 5 -- estimated 40 stations)
  • Confirm MPP phone model compatibility (Cisco 8865 and 8845 -- both supported [OK])
  • Configure 5 pilot hotdesk stations during IT department pilot batch
  • Test user login via Webex credentials -- verify extension registration within 30 seconds
  • Test auto-logout timer -- verify idle station reverts to generic extension
  • Test voicemail access from hotdesk phone
  • Document hotdesking procedure in user training materials