How to Forward Your Business Calls to an AI Receptionist

The number on your van, your invoices and your Google Business Profile took years to earn. You shouldn't have to give it up to stop missing calls.

You don't have to. With conditional call forwarding, your phone keeps ringing exactly as it does today. The only difference is what happens when you don't pick up: instead of voicemail, the call goes to your AI receptionist, which answers the caller's questions and takes a message.

---

Table of Contents

1. Conditional vs. unconditional forwarding
2. What you need first
3. The codes: AT&T and T-Mobile
4. The codes: Verizon
5. Test it
6. Turning it off

---

Conditional vs. unconditional forwarding {#conditional}

There are two ways to forward a line:

• Unconditional sends every call straight to another number. Your phone never rings.
• Conditional sends a call on only when you can't take it: you don't answer, you're already on a call, or your phone is off or out of signal.

For most trades, conditional is the one you want. You still pick up when you're free, and the receptionist covers the moments you're under a sink, on a roof, or driving between jobs.

---

What you need first {#before-you-start}

1. A Callnai number. On the Pro plan you get a dedicated local number in the US, Canada, the UK or Australia. This is the number calls get forwarded to. Customers never need to see it.
2. The phone that owns your business number. Forwarding is set at your carrier, by dialing a short code from that phone.
3. Your receptionist briefed. Write your hours, services, prices and how you want each kind of caller handled in your business instructions. Do this before forwarding, so the first forwarded call is handled properly.

In the Callnai app, open Forwarding and your codes are shown with your number already filled in. On Android you can tap to dial them. On iPhone, tap to copy and paste into the keypad, because iOS won't dial codes containing * or # from a link.

---

The codes: AT&T and T-Mobile {#gsm}

AT&T, T-Mobile and most GSM carriers use standard codes. Replace +15551234567 with your Callnai number, including the country code.

When the call forwards	Dial
You don't answer	**61*+15551234567#
You're busy (on another call)	**67*+15551234567#
Your phone is off or unreachable	**62*+15551234567#
Turn all forwarding off	##002#

Dial all three to cover every case. You'll usually see a short confirmation on screen after each one.

---

The codes: Verizon {#verizon}

Verizon uses its own star codes and takes a 10-digit number, without the +1.

When the call forwards	Dial
You don't answer or are busy	*71 followed by your 10-digit Callnai number, e.g. *715551234567
Turn forwarding off	*73

---

Test it {#test}

From a different phone, call your business number and let it ring out. Within a few rings you should hear your receptionist pick up. Afterwards the call shows up in the dashboard and the app with a summary, transcript and recording.

If it doesn't forward:

• It went to voicemail instead. Your carrier's voicemail may be catching the call first. Some carriers let you shorten the ring time before forwarding; others need forwarding set up in your online account instead of by code.
• You got an error tone. Codes vary by carrier and plan, especially on business plans and smaller networks. Your carrier's support line can turn on conditional forwarding to any number.
• A desk phone or VoIP system. These are set in the provider's admin portal rather than by code. Look for "forward on no answer" or "forward when busy".

---

Turning it off {#turn-off}

Dial ##002# on AT&T or T-Mobile, or *73 on Verizon, and your line goes back to exactly how it was. Nothing about your number changes along the way.

---

Ready to stop sending callers to voicemail? Get your number and the forwarding codes are waiting for you in the app.