Previous releases
The following features and enhancements were introduced in previous versions of 8x8 Work for Desktop (formerly known as the Virtual Office desktop app). For details on the latest new features, see our list of what's new in the current release.
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In this release, we have introduced the following enhancements:
- Improved ability to search for caller additional information set in Info Pop-up URL
- Enhanced settings available for warm transfer caller info pop-up
- Ability to select different ringtones for internal, external, and group calls
- Improved support for integrated Call Control through Web Human Interface Device
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Ability to override additional app settings to default value by IT admins
- Other enhancements
Improved ability to search for caller additional information set in Info Pop-up URL
The Caller info pop-up feature now supports new macros and is also available for transferred calls.
You can now additionally pass in the Caller Info pop-up URL the username, or/and extension of the signed-in user getting the call by adding the %%Username%%, or/and %%Extension%% macros. The search for information set in the macros is also performed for warm transfers, not only for direct calls.
In the Caller Info Pop-up section of your 8x8 Work for Desktop settings, you can customize the information returned in your browser when someone calls you based on who answered the call. When a call comes in, 8x8 Work opens the app or web page specified in the URL and replaces the macros with the relevant call and user information. The macros search is based on what you've set in the Caller Info Pop-up field.
You can use any of the following macros to get the information you need in your browser when someone calls you:
- %%CallerNumber%%
- %%CalleeNumber%%
- %%UserName%%
- %%Extension%%
For example, to display information from a Google search about the caller’s username and extension, add the <%%Username%%> and <%%Extension%%> macos in your URL:https://www. google.com/search?q=%%Username%%&q=%%Extension%%.
To learn more about setting up a caller/callee info pop-up, see the 8x8 Work for Desktop—View call info pop-up topic.
Enhanced settings in caller info pop-up for warm transfer
You now can choose to have external callers automatically searched after completing a warm transfer.
To get information about the external caller after completing a warm transfer:
- Go to Settings
> Caller info pop-up.
- In the App or web URL for caller info pop-up box, enter the URL with the desired macros to display information from a Google search using the username and extension (%%UserName%% and %%Extention%%).
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Enable the new settings by switching ON the Pop-up also for warm transfers toggle.
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You are now ready to receive and transfer a warm call and get the information in the browser. After you transfer the call, in the app or web page specified in the URL, you can see the relevant call and user information based on what you've set in the Caller Info Pop-up field.
To learn more about setting up a caller/callee info pop-up, see the 8x8 Work for Desktop—View call info pop-up topic.
Ability to select different ringtones for internal, external, and group calls
You can now select different ringtones for incoming internal, external, and group calls.
Note: The new sound selection is available only for the Modern sound theme.
Go to Notifications > Sound theme and set up your ringtone from the list.
To customize the incoming calls:
- Go to Settings
> Notifications.
- Under Sound theme, select the Modern option.
- Set up your ringtone to customize the incoming calls from the appropriate list: Incoming internal calls, Incoming external calls, Incoming ring group or call queue calls, or/and General notification.
To learn more about how to set up ringtones, see 8x8 Work for Desktop—Set up notifications.
Improved support for Integrated Call Control through Web Human Interface Device
8x8 Work now supports advanced call control on all the devices supported by Web Human Interface Device (HID).
Note: Built-in call control (answer, end call, and toggle mute) browser support is available on Chrome OS, Linux, macOS, and Windows. Select one of the available HIDs to enable this capability in your browser. If you want to select a different device, turn the toggle on and off again.
WebHID integration allows you to control your calls without using a vendor-specific headset application, ensuring any WebHID is supported by 8x8 Work. That means the call control events, such as answer, hangup, volume, and mute, will be synchronized.
To choose the device for advanced control:
- Go to Settings
> Audio & Video.
- Under Speakers, switch ON the Enable built-in call controls toggle, and choose the appropriate HID device for advanced call control.
To learn more about setting up audio and video, see 8x8 Work for Desktop—Set up audio and video.
The ability to override additional app settings to default value by IT admins
IT admins can now override additional app settings to default values. However, they can override only the setting values configured in the Work Apps Settings application.
IT admins can manually create the configuration file 8x8work-config.json and place it in the indicated locations with the indicated config keys. The file must be on a fresh install or uninstall and then re-installed for the app to load it. Otherwise, the configuration will be loaded as set by the user in the app.
The IT admins now can override the following settings:
{
“default-caller-info-popup-url":“https://www.google.com/search?q=%%CallerNumber%%”,
“default-call-control-window”: true,
“default-built-in-call-controls”: true,
“default-time-to-status-away”: 600
“default-toggle-mic-sensitivity”: true,
“default-nose-suppression-level”: 2
“default-toggle-work-start-sound”: true,
“default-ring-group-contact-resolution”: true,
“default-enable-vod-webrtc”: false,
“app-privacy-allow-logs”: true,
“app-privacy-allow-feedback”: true,
“app-privacy-allow-telemetry”: true
}
To learn more about setting default values for some app settings by IT admins, see About system requirements
Other enhancements
- Improved accessibility for screen readers in areas like calls, general, and call control.
- Yealink support for integrated Call Control - Users can now use the Yealink headset for advanced call control. By pressing the headset's buttons, they can answer, hang up, or mute calls.
- Contacts display profile photos imported from Google contacts.
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In this release of 8x8 Work for Desktop, we are introducing the following enhancements:
Import contacts from Salesforce
You can now import up to 10000 Contacts from Salesforce into 8x8 Work for Desktop. For example, if you want to reach out to your customers via phone and avoid manually dialing each number you can import contacts via the Sales Workspace integration and you have all your contacts available under Contacts in the 8x8 Work app.
To import contacts from Salesforce:
- Go to Settings
> Sales & Account Workspace.
- Toggle on Switch to basic Salesforce Contacts integration.
- Your Salesforce Contacts will be imported into the 8x8 Work app local storage and you can access them on the Contacts page.
Other enhancements
- Improved accessibility for screen readers in areas like calls and call controls.
- Enhanced call details tooltip - The tooltip displays the company name for callers saved in Contacts, along with company name data.
- Optimized search during an incoming call while the app is in Compact mode.
- Call forwarding now displays the recipient's full Direct Inward Dialing (DID) when you choose to route calls to another user from another PBX.
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In this release we introduced the following enhancements:
Enhanced Internal Caller Identification
You can now configure 8x8 Work for Desktop to automatically search for additional information on internal callers through internal service desk tools and directories. For example, if your organization uses an application to track internal calls between departments, you can enter the application's URL in 8x8 Work for Desktop to activate the call info pop-up for internal calls. This pop-up displays information about the caller such as their name, department, extension, and other details provided by internal service desk tools and directories.
To set up caller info pop-up:
- Go to Settings
> Caller info pop-up.
- Enter the search URL of your internal tool to search for an internal caller.
- Toggle on Pop-up also for internal calls.
Note: The 8x8 caller extension number replaces the <%%CallerNumber%%> macro in the URL search string.
Enhanced Voicemail log details
In the Voicemails tab, you can find a detailed voicemail log by hovering over the log. Check details such as the phone number, date, start time, and duration of the specific voicemail in the tooltip, select, and copy-paste them for tracking purposes.
Other enhancements
- Improved accessibility for screen readers in areas like calls, notifications, lists, and contact cards.
- Users can mention themselves in a message, which creates a link that others can follow and clearly indicates who they are.
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In this release, we introduced the following enhancements:
- Ability to delete an old voicemail greeting recording
- Accessibility enhancements in the app
- Other enhancements
Ability to delete an old voicemail greeting recording
In this release, we are introducing the option to delete an old voicemail greeting recording. Use your voicemail greetings to greet callers for leaving voicemails while you are away. You can now delete an outdated greeting, and record a new one if you:
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Go to Settings
> Voicemail.
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Click on the drop-down menu under Current from either External or Internal greeting.
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Hover over the greeting recording that you want to delete and click on the bin
icon to permanently delete it.
Note: You can only delete old voicemail greetings which are not in use under External or Internal greeting. If you want to delete a greeting in use, you have to record a new one first.
Accessibility enhancements in the app
The profile menu, search, call control, and general lists areas are now accessible. The screen readers can now focus and easily read the information.
Other enhancements
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Ability to control startup sound - The user can now toggle on/off the App startup sound from Settings > Notifications > Advanced settings.
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Country specific ringback tone - Once you place a call, you hear a specific ringback tone while waiting for a call to be answered. Each country has a distinct ringback tone.