Formatting of phone number using "tel:" url

In CDOL, when I look at a membership list, the phone numbers are formatted using the "tel:" URL, which lets me click on the phone number and Microsoft Lync calls the number for me. It's very handy.

The standard ward directory off the local unit website, however, doesn't use the "tel:" URL so I have to dial the phone number the old fashioned way - with my fingers.

I've submitted a request via the feedback page on lds.org but wanted to post here too in case anyone else has noticed it. (You have to be a ward clerk or similar to have permissions to see a membership list on CDOL.)

I knew nothing about Microsoft Lync when I read your post. I thought that would be great to have. But I also thought there would be something more than just a special link to be able to call someone. From what I have read at Microsoft's Lync site is there is more than just the special format. It requires a service and of course the person making the call using Microsoft Lync must have the necessary hardware. Most mobile devices have the hardware. Most clerk computers do not.

The service is Lync Server 2010. Evidently it is installed for limited use (Church offices and limited CDOL users) on church servers. I have no idea what licensing the Church has purchased but I would guess a substantial increase in cost would be incurred to provide Lync access for anyone using the online directory. Additionally an increase in server load would need to be considered. Lync licensing information is available here.

Other than that I would love to be able to use Lync for phone calls.

OTOH, I know that if the number is recognized as a phone number, Android will turn it into a hotlink with nothing special on the website. I've even used the classic LUWS that way. I'm not sure about iOS.

On the iPad, the normal ward directory is *not* turning phone numbers into links. On the leader page, it *does* turn the phone numbers into links, but that's what I was seeing in my original post too. (My original post erroneously said CDOL instead of leader page. The leader page shows the phone as links. CDOL does *not* show the phone as links)

Does the ward directory on android show the phone numbers as links?

I didn't want to sidetrack the discussion about MS Lync. My main point was whether the phone numbers could display as links for everyone, not just mobile devices. This can be done if the "tel:" url format is used in an anchor tag:

[HTML]<a href="tel:123-456-7890">call me</a>[/HTML]rather than relying on the browser on a mobile platform to do it.

sasgrw wrote:Does the ward directory on android show the phone numbers as links?

Test:
(808)555-1212

It doesn't show it as a link, but if tapped, Android will bring up that numer in the phone "app".

I added your suggestion to our list of proposed features for future releases of Directory. Thank you.

Lync recognizes that number on my desktop

JohnShaw wrote:Lync recognizes that number on my desktop

Which one?

This is a great idea. If the church implements it, be sure to review the URI standard for it. I think this may be the latest version:
http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc5341

Taking a quick glance at it, it looks like it's preferred to use the globally unique phone number (i.e., with country code, such as +1-801-555-1212). I doubt clerks are going to enter that. That notation might confuse some church members. In some places, such as Europe, that notation is more common. That notation also works great on GSM phones for making international calls properly wherever you are on the planet