Configuration

How to Configure Call Forwarding Rules

Updated 2 days ago
45.2K views
4.8 rating

Introduction

Call forwarding is a powerful feature that allows you to route incoming calls to different destinations based on various conditions. Whether you need to forward calls when you're busy, unavailable, or outside business hours, this comprehensive guide will walk you through configuring call forwarding rules in your VoIP system.

Important Note

Call forwarding configuration may vary slightly depending on your subscription plan. Enterprise users have access to advanced features like simultaneous ring and sequential forwarding.

Prerequisites

Before setting up call forwarding rules, ensure you have:

Administrator or user access to the VoIP admin portal
Valid destination phone numbers (internal extensions or external numbers)
Understanding of your business call flow requirements
Updated browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge recommended)

Basic Call Forwarding Setup

Follow these steps to configure basic call forwarding:

1

Access the Admin Portal

Log into your VoIP admin portal at portal.telphi.com using your administrator credentials. Navigate to Settings → Call Handling → Call Forwarding.

2

Select Forwarding Type

Choose from the following forwarding options:

  • Always Forward: All calls immediately forwarded
  • Forward When Busy: Calls forwarded when line is in use
  • Forward When Unanswered: Forward after specified rings
  • Forward When Offline: Forward when extension is offline
3

Configure Destination

Enter the destination number or select an internal extension. You can also enable simultaneous ring to ring multiple destinations at once, or sequential forwarding to try destinations in order.

4

Test Your Configuration

Always test your forwarding rules by making test calls. Verify that calls are being routed correctly and the caller experience meets your expectations.

Conditional Forwarding Rules

Conditional forwarding allows you to create sophisticated routing rules based on various criteria:

Caller ID-Based Forwarding

Route calls differently based on the caller's phone number. Useful for VIP clients or specific vendor calls.

IF caller_id IN ["+1234567890", "+0987654321"] THEN forward_to "ext:1001" ELSE forward_to "ext:2000"

Department-Based Routing

Route calls to specific departments or teams based on dialed number or IVR selection.

Department "Sales" → Ring Group (ext:3001, 3002, 3003) → Voicemail after 30s

Time-Based Routing

Configure different forwarding behavior based on business hours, holidays, or specific time windows:

Business Hours Configuration

Monday - Friday:
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM → Main reception
After Hours:
All other times → Voicemail
Weekends:
→ Emergency hotline
Holidays:
→ Holiday greeting message

Advanced Scenarios

Sequential Failover

Try multiple destinations in sequence until the call is answered:

  1. Ring desk phone for 15 seconds
  2. If no answer, ring mobile phone for 15 seconds
  3. If no answer, forward to team member
  4. Finally, send to voicemail

Find Me / Follow Me

Ring multiple devices simultaneously or in sequence to ensure you never miss important calls. Ideal for executives and remote workers.

Geographic Routing

Route calls to different offices or agents based on caller's geographic location (area code or country code).

Troubleshooting

Issue: Calls not forwarding

  • Verify the forwarding rule is enabled
  • Check destination number format (include country/area codes)
  • Ensure sufficient account balance for external forwarding
  • Review firewall settings for SIP traffic

Issue: Forwarding loops

  • Avoid forwarding to numbers that forward back
  • Set maximum hop count limit
  • Use loop detection features in advanced settings

Issue: Delayed forwarding

  • Reduce the ring timeout duration
  • Check network latency and jitter
  • Optimize SIP trunk configuration

Best Practices

Do's

  • Test all forwarding rules regularly
  • Document your call flow design
  • Set reasonable ring timeouts (15-20s)
  • Use descriptive rule names
  • Keep emergency numbers accessible
  • Review and update rules quarterly

Don'ts

  • Don't create circular forwarding loops
  • Don't forward to unreliable numbers
  • Don't set excessive timeout periods
  • Don't ignore call quality issues
  • Don't forget to update on-call schedules
  • Don't use forwarding as a substitute for proper system design

Need Additional Help?

Our technical support team is available 24/7 to help you configure and optimize your call forwarding rules.

Related Articles

Configuration

Setting Up Auto-Attendant Features

8 min read
Configuration

Managing Voicemail Settings

5 min read
Advanced

Creating Call Queues for Teams

12 min read