How to forward unanswered calls to another number
How call forwarding for unanswered calls works, where to find it on a phone, and how to send missed calls to an agent that answers them.
The short answer
Call forwarding is a setting with your phone carrier: when you do not answer, the call goes to a number you choose. You can send those calls to a person, a voicemail service, or an agent that answers them.
The kinds of forwarding
- Always: every call goes to the other number, and your phone does not ring.
- When busy: calls go to the other number if you are already on a call.
- When unanswered: calls go to the other number if you do not pick up in time. This is the one that catches missed calls.
- When unreachable: calls go to the other number if your phone is off or has no signal.
How to turn it on
Where it lives depends on your carrier and your phone. On many phones you will find Call Forwarding under the phone or call settings, and some carriers use short codes you dial. Because this differs by carrier and country, the reliable place to look is your carrier's help page for "call forwarding when unanswered", or ask their support to turn it on.
Where to forward to
If you forward to a fone.me number (Premium gives your agent its own number), the call is answered by your agent. It says it is your assistant, finds out what the caller needs, answers from what you have taught it, and sends you a summary and the transcript.
Turning it off
Use the same setting, or your carrier's code or support, to turn forwarding off. Calls then ring through to you as before.
Questions
Does forwarding cost anything? That depends on your carrier and your plan. Check their price for forwarded calls before you turn it on.
Can I forward only the calls I miss? Yes: choose forwarding when unanswered, and when busy if you want, rather than always.
Does fone.me need an app on the caller's side? No. The caller dials a phone number as usual.