Forward calls to a mobile or another number

Choose how to forward

You can forward calls in two ways. The right one depends on what should happen when nobody answers.

Either way, forwarding adds the cost of a call to the number you forward to. See pricing.

Forward every call to a mobile

A Phone Number handler sends each call straight to the number you choose. It takes a minute to set up.

1. In the Enfonica Console, go to Phone Numbers > My numbers, and select your number.
2. Under Incoming call handlers, select Add, and then select Phone Number.
3. Enter the mobile number in full international format, for example +61491570156. To confirm it, select the checkmark.
4. If the number already has other handlers, use the up arrow next to the new handler to move it to the top of the list.
5. Select Save Changes. The next call to your number rings the mobile.

The first handler in the list takes every call. Handlers below it are tried only if the call to the mobile fails outright, for example when the number can't be reached at all. They aren't used when the mobile rings out or is busy. In those cases, the mobile's own voicemail usually answers. If you'd rather take the message yourself, use a flow. To learn how, see Ring a mobile, then someone else, then voicemail.

Forward calls for a short time

To divert calls while you're away from the office, add the forward above your usual handlers. Remove it when you're back. Your usual setup stays in place underneath.

1. Add a Phone Number handler, and move it to the top of the list. For the steps, see Forward every call to a mobile.
2. Select Save Changes. Calls now go to the mobile.
3. When you're back, open the number again, remove the Phone Number handler, and then select Save Changes. The next call goes to your usual handler.

Ring a mobile, then someone else, then voicemail

A flow can try one person after another, and take a voicemail when nobody answers. Each Call step has a Complete exit for an answered call. It also has an Incomplete exit for a call that was rejected, not answered, busy, or failed. This flow uses the Incomplete exits to move on.

To build the flow:

1. In the Console, go to Flow, and select Create flow.
2. Drag a Call step from the left sidebar onto the flow tree, directly under the start of the flow. Then select the step.
3. Select Add recipient, select Add phone number, and then enter the mobile number.
4. Open Advanced controls, and turn on Call screening, so the mobile's own voicemail can't take the call. To learn why, see Stop the mobile's voicemail from answering.
5. Set Ring time to the number of seconds the mobile should ring before the flow moves on, for example 15. You can set 5 to 600 seconds. The default is 30.
6. Close the step form.
7. Drag a second Call step into the first step's Incomplete exit, and add the office number to it.
8. Drag a Voicemail step into the second Call step's Incomplete exit, and add your email address as a recipient. For its settings, see Set up voicemail to email.
9. Select Publish, and give the flow a name if the editor asks for one.
10. Go to Phone Numbers > My numbers, and select your number.
11. Under Incoming call handlers, select Add, select Flow, and then choose your flow.
12. Move the flow to the top of the list, and then select Save Changes.

Stop the mobile's voicemail from answering

Flow can't tell a person answering from their mobile's voicemail answering, because both connect the call. If voicemail picks up, the Call step counts the call as answered. The steps under Incomplete never run.

Call screening solves this. It plays "Press 1 to accept this call" to whoever answers. It connects the call only when they press 1, which a voicemail service can't do. The caller doesn't hear the prompt.

A shorter Ring time, such as 12 to 15 seconds, also helps, because most mobile voicemail answers after 15 to 20 seconds. It doesn't help when the call is rejected or the phone is off, because then voicemail answers straight away. For more detail, see Calls go to a mobile's voicemail.

Ring several people at once or in turn

One Call step can ring up to five recipients. Its Strategy, under Advanced controls, sets how.

With Linear and Random All, the Ring time applies to each recipient in turn. To change the order of the recipients, use the arrows next to each one.

Forward one number in a range

All the numbers in a range share one setup, so a forward on a range applies to every number in it. To forward only one of them, split it off into its own range first. Splitting doesn't change your bill or interrupt calls. To learn how, see Give one number in a range its own setup.

Check that it worked

1. From a phone that isn't the one you forward to, call your Enfonica number. The mobile rings and shows the caller's number.
2. If you built a flow, call again, and let the mobile ring out. The call moves to the next step, and finally to voicemail.
3. Leave a short voicemail. It arrives by email from noreply@notifications.enfonica.com.

If the call doesn't follow your flow, see Calls aren't following your flow.

Questions