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Send me information Simply defined, call forwarding is a telephone line feature that is offered by most local telephone companies that serve your calling area. (The local telephone company provides your dial tone). For example, in the New York City area, this service is offered by Bell Atlantic, among others. The "call forwarding" feature is usually described in your local telephone directory. The feature allows you to program your calls to ring on another telephone line. Call Forwarding allows an office to forward the line to a telephone answering service. The function is enabled usually at the customer’s location. Some telephone companies also offer "Remote Access Call Forwarding" or "Ultra Call Forwarding" which allows access for you to forward your office line from any phone to any phone.
Here's how to use the basic call forwarding feature. (You must first have this service made available on your line by ordering this feature from your phone company). When you receive a dial tone on the line to be forwarded, you then enter 72# (in some localities they enter *72). Next you enter the destination number to which you want the call to go. Include the area code if needed. After the call is answered, the line is automatically forwarded. To save time, use the programmable memory feature in your phone to automate the call forwarding process to your answering service!
The telephone company will send back a one ring signal every time your number is called. This will remind you that your phones are forwarded, but keep in mind you cannot answer any calls as long as the phones are forwarded. The actual transfer of the call takes place at your local exchange central office. The calls are routed from there directly to the number you entered for forwarding. When you want to cancel call forwarding, you pick up the line, wait for dial tone, and enter 73# (again, in some localities, you enter *73). You will hear a tone signal, and all incoming calls will then revert back to you.
Please note that you only need to forward your main number. Other lines in your office do not need to be forwarded. You may make outgoing calls at any time on a forwarded line, and this normally will not affect the forwarding of calls. Simultaneous inbound calls will be forwarded and can be answered as long as the Answering Service has enough capacity to receive them. Otherwise the latter caller(s) will get a busy signal.
Clearly, call forwarding is an essential call feature for business requiring 24/7 phone coverage and uses the services of a Telephone Answering Service.