Setting Up Call Forwarding: A Step-by-Step Guide

Setting up call forwarding to your AI receptionist is simpler than you might think. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process for all major phone providers, ensuring you can start capturing every call within minutes.

Understanding Call Forwarding Basics

Call forwarding redirects incoming calls from your business number to another number - in this case, your Ringing.io AI receptionist. The beauty is that callers still dial your existing business number, so there's no disruption to your marketing materials or customer experience.

Types of Call Forwarding

1. Unconditional Forwarding: All calls forward immediately
2. Busy Forwarding: Calls forward when your line is busy
3. No Answer Forwarding: Calls forward after a set number of rings
4. Selective Forwarding: Forward calls based on time or caller

Pre-Setup Checklist

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• Your Ringing.io phone number (found in your dashboard)
• Access to your phone system (admin credentials)
• 10 minutes of uninterrupted time
• A phone to test the forwarding

Provider-Specific Setup Instructions

Verizon Business

1. From your business phone, dial *72
2. Listen for the dial tone
3. Enter your Ringing.io number
4. Wait for confirmation tone (two beeps)
5. Hang up

To deactivate: Dial *73

Alternative method via My Verizon:

1. Log into My Verizon Business account
2. Navigate to "Manage Services"
3. Select "Call Forwarding"
4. Enter your Ringing.io number
5. Choose forwarding type
6. Save settings

AT&T Business

1. Dial 21 followed by your Ringing.io number and #
2. Press "Call"
3. Wait for confirmation message
4. Test with a call

Via AT&T Business Portal:

1. Access your AT&T Office@Hand admin portal
2. Go to "Phone System" → "Call Handling"
3. Select "Call Forwarding Rules"
4. Add your Ringing.io number
5. Set conditions (always, busy, no answer)
6. Apply changes

T-Mobile Business

1. Dial 21 followed by your Ringing.io number#*
2. Press "Send"
3. Wait for confirmation
4. You'll see "Call forwarding activated"

For conditional forwarding:

• Busy: *67[Ringing.io number]#
• No answer: *61[Ringing.io number]#
• Unreachable: *62[Ringing.io number]#

Google Voice

1. Open Google Voice settings
2. Click on the gear icon
3. Select "Settings"
4. Go to "Calls" tab
5. Under "Incoming calls," add your Ringing.io number
6. Choose "Forward calls to"
7. Verify the number when prompted
8. Save changes

Pro tip: Use Google Voice's scheduling feature to forward only during specific hours.

RingCentral

1. Log into your RingCentral admin portal
2. Navigate to "Users" → Select your extension
3. Click "Call Handling & Forwarding"
4. Under "Call Forwarding," select "Forward all calls"
5. Enter your Ringing.io number
6. Choose ring duration before forwarding
7. Save settings

8x8

1. Access 8x8 Admin Console
2. Go to "Users" → "User Settings"
3. Select "Call Forwarding"
4. Enable "Always Forward"
5. Enter your Ringing.io number
6. Set forwarding delay (recommend 0 seconds)
7. Apply changes

Vonage Business

1. Sign into Vonage Business portal
2. Click "Features" → "Call Forwarding"
3. Toggle "Enable Call Forwarding"
4. Enter your Ringing.io number
5. Select forwarding conditions
6. Save configuration

Traditional Landline (Various Providers)

Most landline providers use these codes:

• Activate: *72 + Ringing.io number
• Deactivate: *73
• Busy forwarding: *90 + Ringing.io number
• No answer forwarding: *92 + Ringing.io number

VoIP and PBX Systems

Cisco Systems

1. Access Cisco Unified Communications Manager
2. Navigate to "Call Routing" → "Call Forward"
3. Select extension to forward
4. Enter Ringing.io number in "Forward All"
5. Check "Forward to Voice Mail" is unchecked
6. Update configuration

Avaya

1. Log into Avaya Site Administration
2. Go to "Call Forwarding" settings
3. Select station/extension
4. Enable "Call Forward All"
5. Enter Ringing.io number
6. Save and test

Asterisk/FreePBX

1. Access FreePBX admin interface
2. Go to "Extensions"
3. Select the extension to forward
4. Find "Call Forwarding" section
5. Enable "Unconditional" forwarding
6. Enter your Ringing.io number
7. Submit and apply configuration

Mobile Phone Forwarding

iPhone (All Carriers)

1. Open Settings
2. Tap "Phone"
3. Select "Call Forwarding"
4. Toggle on "Call Forwarding"
5. Enter your Ringing.io number
6. Tap "Back" to save

Android (All Carriers)

1. Open Phone app
2. Tap three dots menu
3. Select "Settings"
4. Choose "Calls" or "Calling accounts"
5. Select "Call forwarding"
6. Choose "Always forward"
7. Enter your Ringing.io number
8. Enable

Advanced Forwarding Strategies

Time-Based Forwarding

Set up different forwarding rules for business hours vs. after hours:

Business Hours (9 AM - 5 PM):

• Forward to your desk phone
• If no answer after 3 rings, forward to Ringing.io

After Hours (5 PM - 9 AM):

• Forward directly to Ringing.io
• Urgent calls can trigger special handling

Selective Call Forwarding

Some providers allow forwarding based on:

• Caller ID (VIP customers)
• Area code (local vs. long distance)
• Time of day
• Day of week

Simultaneous Ring

Configure your system to ring multiple numbers at once:

1. Your desk phone
2. Your mobile
3. Ringing.io

First to answer gets the call!

Testing Your Setup

After configuring call forwarding:

1. Call from another phone to verify forwarding works
2. Check the greeting plays correctly
3. Leave a test message to confirm recording
4. Verify notifications are sent to your email/SMS
5. Test during different times if using conditional forwarding

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Calls Not Forwarding

• Verify the Ringing.io number is entered correctly
• Check if call forwarding is activated (dial *#21# on most carriers)
• Ensure your phone plan includes call forwarding
• Confirm no call blocking is active

Forwarding Works Intermittently

• Check conditional forwarding settings
• Verify time-based rules
• Ensure stable internet connection (for VoIP)
• Review carrier-specific limitations

Double Forwarding Issues

If calls are forwarding multiple times:

1. Disable all forwarding
2. Wait 5 minutes
3. Re-enable only the desired forwarding

Best Practices

1. Document Your Settings: Keep a record of your forwarding configuration
2. Test Regularly: Monthly testing ensures continued operation
3. Inform Your Team: Make sure staff knows about the forwarding
4. Update Voicemail: Disable or update your old voicemail message
5. Monitor Performance: Check Ringing.io analytics regularly

Managing Multiple Numbers

If you have multiple business lines:

1. Set up each number separately in Ringing.io
2. Use different forwarding rules for each line
3. Consider a virtual PBX for centralized management
4. Test each line independently

Deactivating Call Forwarding

When you need to temporarily disable forwarding:

Universal codes:

• *73 (most carriers)
• #21# (some mobile carriers)
• *93 (some VoIP systems)

Always test after deactivating to ensure calls ring normally.

Security Considerations

• Never forward to untrusted numbers
• Regularly audit your forwarding settings
• Use strong passwords on phone system portals
• Enable two-factor authentication where available
• Monitor for unauthorized changes

Getting Help

If you encounter issues:

1. Contact your phone provider for carrier-specific help
2. Reach out to Ringing.io support via chat
3. Check our FAQ section for common solutions
4. Join our community forum for peer assistance

Conclusion

Setting up call forwarding is a one-time task that takes just minutes but provides 24/7 business coverage. With these instructions, you can configure forwarding from any major provider to your Ringing.io AI receptionist. Remember, you're not changing your business number - just ensuring every call gets answered professionally.

Once configured, you'll never miss another opportunity, and your customers will always reach a helpful, professional voice representing your business.