24 Hour Call Handling Service

The idea is simple: instead of your phone ringing into an empty office or a voicemail box, incoming calls are forwarded to a service that answers them for you. Because the service handles calls continuously, coverage does not change at 5 p.m. or on a Sunday — the same answering behavior applies day and night.

With AllDayDesk, setup starts by choosing your business or entering its website. The service checks the details it finds, then you hear a personalized sample of how your receptionist would sound. That sample is a preview only — it does not create a real booking or take a real message. If you like what you hear, you move on to phone setup.

You keep your public phone number. You do not port it or print new cards. You simply forward calls from your current line to AllDayDesk, and the receptionist answers in your business's name using the information you saved. When a caller asks something the service does not know — an exact price, a policy question, an open appointment slot — it takes a message instead of guessing.

Everything the receptionist does is visible to you. Calls, transcripts, summaries and bookings appear in your dashboard, so you can review what happened on any call and follow up on messages in your own time.

• Answers calls around the clock using your saved business details
• Takes messages when an answer, price or appointment is unknown
• Books new appointments once services and availability are configured
• Shows calls, transcripts, summaries and bookings in one dashboard
• Lets you keep your existing public phone number

A caller dials your usual number. The call is forwarded and the receptionist greets them by your business name. From there, the conversation follows what the caller needs: a question about your hours or services, a request to book, or a message they want to leave.

For new appointments, the receptionist uses the built-in AllDayDesk dashboard calendar by default, once you have configured your services and availability. If you prefer, you can connect Google Calendar in Settings after connecting and authorizing your Google account — that connection is optional, not automatic.

Changes to existing appointments work differently. A caller asking to move or cancel an existing appointment generates a request for you to review, not a confirmed change. That keeps you in control of your schedule.

If a caller needs a person urgently, the receptionist can transfer the call — but only after you have configured a transfer destination and rules for when transfers happen. Transfers are not guaranteed to be picked up or answered immediately. When a caller's question cannot be answered with the information you have saved, the receptionist takes a message during the ordinary call.

• New bookings go to the dashboard calendar by default
• Optional Google Calendar connection lives in Settings, after you authorize it
• Existing appointment changes are requests for you, not confirmed edits
• Transfers need a configured destination and rules from you

The exact steps to forward your number depend on your phone provider, because each carrier and phone system uses its own method. Some use star codes dialed from the handset; others use a web portal or app. Identify your exact product first — for example, AT&T wireless, AT&T Phone for Business, and AT&T Collaborate all differ.

A few verified examples: on Verizon mobile, dial *72 plus the 10-digit destination to forward all calls, and *73 to turn it off. T-Mobile uses **21*1 followed by the destination and # for unconditional forwarding, with ##21# to disable. On Optimum Business Phone, dial *72, wait for dial tone, then dial the destination. Spectrum Business Voice manages forwarding through the SpectrumBusiness.net portal under Voice Settings or Forwarding Manager, where you can choose all calls or busy/no-answer forwarding.

One important limit: Google Voice does not support forwarding calls from a Google Voice number to an automated system, so a Google Voice line is not a compatible path to this service. If your provider is not listed here, check its support pages or ask support whether all-call forwarding to an outside number is available on your plan.

Forwarding is calls only — texts are not forwarded, so check with your carrier if you need SMS handling. And when all-call forwarding is active, your original line typically will not ring, so remember to dial *73 (or your provider's off code) if you want calls back on your own phone.

• Verizon mobile: *72 + destination to activate, *73 to deactivate
• T-Mobile: **21*1 + destination + # to activate, ##21# to deactivate
• Optimum Business Phone: *72, wait for dial tone, dial destination
• Spectrum Business Voice: portal-based, choose all calls or busy/no-answer
• Google Voice numbers cannot be forwarded to an automated system

You have three broad options for around-the-clock coverage, and the right one depends on your call volume, budget and how much judgment each call needs.

A human answering service staffs calls with real people. Providers such as Ruby and AnswerConnect offer 24/7 live answering; Ruby advertises plans starting at $245 per month as of October 2026, and Smith.ai uses per-call pricing for its human receptionist service. Human services can handle nuanced judgment, but costs vary widely by plan, included allowance and overage rates, so compare current quotes rather than headline prices.

An AI receptionist like AllDayDesk answers with software trained on your business information. It is available around the clock, takes messages reliably, and books new appointments into your calendar. It does not replace a full employee — an in-house receptionist also greets visitors and handles office tasks beyond the phone, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics occupation guide.

Plain voicemail is the cheapest option, but it offers the caller no conversation and no way to book anything. If you go this route, at least record a clear greeting; our voicemail greeting examples page has wording you can adapt.

• Human services: real judgment, pricing varies by plan and usage
• AI receptionist: consistent around-the-clock coverage at a fixed monthly plan
• Voicemail: lowest cost, but no conversation and no booking ability
• Compare included minutes, overage rates and contract terms on any quote

Full-time call handling makes the most sense when calls arrive outside the hours you can personally answer — evenings, weekends, holidays, or any time you are on a job, with a client, or simply unavailable. It also helps when you work alone and cannot hire front-desk staff.

Ask yourself these questions before choosing a provider:

First, what happens to a call you miss today? If it goes to voicemail, a caller gets no conversation and cannot book anything, while an answering service can actually help them. Second, how much of your call volume is routine — hours, directions, booking requests — versus questions requiring your personal judgment? A service handles the routine well and takes messages for the rest. Third, what is your budget for monthly service and per-minute overages? AllDayDesk plans include a set number of minutes with a per-minute rate beyond that, so estimate your typical call length.

Finally, consider the transition. Most owners answer their own phone today, so think about which calls you want forwarded — all calls, or only the ones you cannot reach. Conditional forwarding, where supported by your carrier, lets calls ring your phone first and reach the service only when unanswered or busy.

• Best fit: solo owners and small teams with calls outside working hours
• Estimate monthly minutes to pick the right plan size
• Decide between all-call and missed-call-only forwarding
• Messages and transcripts let you follow up on your own schedule