The system stores a list of valid account code numbers. When making a call or during the call, a user can enter the account code they want associated with that call. The system checks the account code against the list of valid codes and requests the user to reenter the code if it is not valid. For incoming calls, the Caller ID can be used to match it with an account code from the list of valid codes and report the account code with the call for billing.

Supervisors and administrators can designate users to use a forced account code requiring them to enter a valid account code before making external calls. Using short codes it is possible to identify certain numbers or call types as requiring a valid account code before permitting the call to proceed, for example long distance or international numbers. Analog phone users can only enter account codes before making a call or in response to an audible system prompt to enter a code when making the call.

Account codes can also be entered through the Avaya one-X™ Portal for IP Office and Phone Manager. A system wide setting determines whether Phone Manager will display a list of account codes from which the user can select the code required or will hide the account code list.

In all the cases above, the account code entered is included with the call details in the IP Office’s call record output. (SMDR).