Forwarding your cell's missed calls to an AI receptionist
Conditional call forwarding sends only the calls you do not answer to your AI receptionist. The steps, the carrier codes, how to test it, and how to turn it off.
·5 min read
Most owners do not want a robot answering every call. They want it to catch the ones they miss. Conditional call forwarding makes that possible: your cell rings as usual, and if you do not pick up, the call moves to your Text2Sale number, where the AI receptionist answers.
It takes about a minute to set up and uses a feature built into your mobile carrier.
How conditional forwarding works
Carriers offer several kinds of call forwarding. The one you want is forward-on-no-answer, sometimes called conditional forwarding. It only triggers when you are busy, out of coverage, or let the call ring out. Because it arrives at your Text2Sale number as an ordinary inbound call, no special integration is needed.
Setting it up
From your cell, dial the forward-on-no-answer code for your carrier, followed by your Text2Sale number, and press call. On most US carriers that code is *71. Verizon and T-Mobile use *71 to turn forwarding on and *73 to turn it off, while AT&T uses *004*. Your carrier's support page will confirm the right code for your plan.
- ✓Dial your carrier's forward-on-no-answer code, then your Text2Sale number
- ✓Call your own cell from another phone and let it ring out
- ✓Confirm the assistant answers with your greeting
- ✓To switch it off, dial *73 (or your carrier's equivalent)
Test before you rely on it
Always make a test call. Use a different phone, let your cell ring until it forwards, and listen to the greeting. Then try booking an appointment and check that it appears on your calendar. A forwarding mistake discovered during a real customer's call is an expensive way to learn.
Mind the carrier minutes
Forwarded calls use minutes on both sides. Your carrier may bill the forwarded leg, depending on your plan, and Text2Sale charges for the AI call from your wallet. Check your carrier plan if you expect a high volume of forwarded calls.
When forwarding does not work
If a call goes to voicemail instead of the assistant, your carrier may use a different code, or voicemail may be taking the call before forwarding triggers. Some carriers let you adjust how many rings pass before forwarding. If you are still stuck, your carrier's support team can confirm which code applies to your plan.
A short checklist before you rely on it
Forwarding is simple, but a few details decide whether it works smoothly the first time a real customer calls.
- ✓Confirm the right code with your carrier
- ✓Test from a second phone and let your cell ring out
- ✓Listen to the greeting from a customer's point of view
- ✓Make sure your wallet has funds to cover calls
- ✓Decide whether to set a transfer number
- ✓Tell your staff that missed calls now go to the assistant
Key takeaways
- →Conditional forwarding sends only unanswered calls to the assistant.
- →Dial your carrier's forward-on-no-answer code, then your Text2Sale number.
- →Verizon and T-Mobile use *71 and *73; AT&T uses *004*.
- →Test with a second phone before relying on it.
- →Forwarded minutes may be billed by your carrier as well.
Put this into practice with Text2Sale
Import leads, create follow-up campaigns, organize replies, and connect texting, calling, and appointments in one workspace.
Frequently asked questions
Will my phone still ring first?
Yes. With conditional forwarding, your cell rings normally, and only unanswered calls are forwarded.
How do I turn forwarding off?
Dial *73 on Verizon or T-Mobile, or your carrier's equivalent. Your carrier's support page lists the right code.
Does the carrier charge for forwarded calls?
Possibly. Depending on your plan, your carrier may bill the forwarded leg in addition to the AI call charge from your Text2Sale wallet.