Configuring a Dial Plan

A dial plan in Lync Server 20103 is associated with users and contains a set of normalization rules. Normalization rules are used to convert dial strings entered by users into a format routable by Lync. Dial plans can differ based on region or site depending on how users are used to dialing digits. Additional dial plans are usually created to accommodate different dialing habits based on sites or users. A dial plan can be scoped to apply at the site level, to a specific pool, or even just to a specific set of users.

Lync Server dial plans have the following options available:

• Simple Name—A name used by the system for the dial plan that includes no spaces or special characters. Leaving the default, suggested Simple Name is usually sufficient.

• Dial-In Conferencing Region—The dial-in region name associated to users assigned this dial plan. This name appears in Online Meeting invitations.

• External Access Prefix—A leading digit used to indicate that a call is trying to dial an external number. Many organizations use the digits 8 or 9 for this functionality.

• Associated Normalization Rules—An ordered list of normalization rules that will be applied to calls coming from users assigned to this dial plan.

To create a new dial plan, follow these steps:

1. Open the Lync Server 2013 Control Panel.

2. Click Voice Routing.

3. Click Dial Plan.

4. Click New, and then select Site dial plan, Pool dial plan, or User dial plan.

5. Leave the suggested Simple Name for the dial plan.

6. Enter a Description for the dial plan.

7. If the dial plan is associated with a dial-in conferencing region, enter the name of that region.

8. Enter an External Access Prefix if used.

9. Select any Normalization Rules to be included in the dial plan.

10. Click OK to save the dial plan.

Alternatively, the New-CsDialPlan cmdlet can be used to create a new dial plan using the Lync Server Management Shell. One parameter is not available in the Lync Server Control Panel Interface:

• OptimizeDeviceDialing—A true or false value that determines whether the External Access Prefix will be applied for calls placed to numbers external to the company.