Senior Writer: Paras Kela
Date: August 28, 2023Call forwarding is a go-to feature for enterprises that allows you to forward or redirect incoming calls from your landline to your cell phone. This is especially useful if you often travel or want to ensure you receive all important calls while away from your office.
In fact, according to a recent survey, more than 65% of people use their cell phones as their primary mode of communication, and they rely on call-forwarding services to ensure they never miss a call.
This blog will discuss 3 ways to forward landline calls to a cell phone, how to set up call forwarding with CallHippo, and the benefits of call forwarding.
But before we look at the ways how to forward landline calls to cell phones, let’s first look at the benefits of call forwarding to understand why you need to forward calls in the first place!
The Benefits of Forwarding Calls
Call forwarding can be a valuable feature for businesses as it enables them to redirect incoming calls to the right person/department, even when they are not physically in the office. This can help improve customer service and ensure that no calls are missed or left unanswered.
Below listed are some of the key benefits of call forwarding for businesses:
1. Improved mobility
Employees can use the call forwarding feature for forwarding calls to their cell phone or another team member. This will allow them to work remotely or be more flexible.
For example, employees can forward calls to their cell phone while on the go, ensuring that no important calls are missed. This is especially advantageous for companies with employees who travel frequently or work off-site most of the time.
2. No missed opportunity
No business wants to miss out on a potential opportunity due to a missed phone call, right? Because if a prospective customer calls and cannot reach anyone, they may choose a competitor instead. However, with call forwarding, they can ensure that no calls are missed or left unanswered, potentially resulting in missed opportunities. This will eventually assist businesses in capturing more leads and increasing revenue.
3. Productivity boost
Forwarding landline calls to a cell phone eliminates the need to constantly check for voicemails or missed calls. This will allow you to concentrate more on critical work tasks and be more productive. For example, employees who aren’t constantly interrupted by phone calls can finish their work faster and move on to the next task. This can improve the overall efficiency of the business.
4. Enhanced customer experience
Businesses can ensure that calls are answered as quickly as possible and that customers receive the immediate assistance they require by forwarding calls to the appropriate team member or department.
For example, suppose a customer calls with a pricing question. In that case, their call can instantly be routed to the sales department without switching back and forth between departments. This can help improve overall customer experience and customer loyalty in the long run.
5. Cost savings
Understandably, call forwarding can be less expensive than having multiple phone lines or hiring staff to answer calls. This can assist businesses in saving money on communication costs. For example, businesses can use the call forwarding feature to redirect calls to a single phone number rather than paying for a separate phone line for each employee.
Overall, call forwarding can assist businesses in improving customer service, increasing flexibility and productivity, lowering missed calls, and saving money.
3 Ways to Divert Calls from Landline to Mobile
There are several methods for forwarding landline calls to cell phones, including using the star code, manual forwarding, and a virtual phone system. Let’s discuss each of these methods explaining how to divert calls from landline to mobile in detail.
Method 1: Manual Call Forwarding (Via Receptionist)
The first way to forward landline calls to a cell phone is to manually transfer the call to the cell phone number. This is the most common method. In this method, you hire a receptionist to answer your business calls. They receive the calls and forward them to your cell phone number.
This method is ideal for small businesses with a low daily call volume. However, when the organization is large and receives hundreds of calls per day, this model does not work. Also, if the receptionist is on leave or unavailable for any reason, the entire operation will come to a halt, and you may lose some potential opportunities.
For all of these reasons, manual call forwarding with the help and support of a receptionist is an impractical and out-of-date call forwarding technique in the modern era.
Advantages of Manual Call Forwarding (Via Receptionist)
- Manual call forwarding through receptionists is highly advantageous for startups and small businesses as it is cost-effective.
- Receptionists play the role of a connecting bridge between customers and team members.
- Apart from forwarding calls, receptionists can handle a lot of administrative tasks as well.
- Screening callers before forwarding is an important task that a receptionist can conduct, which saves an ample amount of time for the team members.
- Only the right calls get forwarded; as a result, it positively affects the team’s performance and productivity.
Disadvantages of Manual Call Forwarding (Via Receptionist)
- Many start-ups and SMEs don’t possess the budget to hire an experienced receptionist.
- The majority of the tasks performed by the receptionist are prone to automation.
- Also, these tasks can be outsourced, which can be far more budget-friendly than a full-time receptionist.
Method 2: Call Forwarding Via Star Code
Another popular method for forwarding landline calls is to use a star code. This technique is simple to learn and apply. Here’s a step-by-step guide for enabling call forwarding with a star code method:
Step 1: Dial the star code on your phone. The most common star code for call forwarding is *72. However, some phone service providers may also use a different code. So you should confirm the correct code with your provider.
Step 2: Enter the phone number to which you want your calls forwarded. Note that, you must enter the complete phone number, including the area code.
Step 3: Press the call button to initiate the call forwarding request.
Step 4: Wait for a confirmation dial tone or message. Some phone systems will provide a confirmation tone or message to inform you that the call-forwarding service has been activated.
Step 5: Test the call forwarding feature by dialing your phone number. If the call is forwarded to the specified phone number, call forwarding has been activated.
This is how you set up call forwarding from your landline to your cell phone. Similarly, you can disable call forwarding using the same star code method. Let’s find out how.
Advantages of Call Forwarding via Star Code
- It is one of the simplest methods of call forwarding that ever existed.
- The best thing about this method is that it’s automated, so there is little to no scope for errors.
- It’s highly cost-effective and the best for every kind and size of the organization.
- Calls can be forwarded easily without any hassle, and it can be so quickly there is hardly any waiting time for customers.
Disadvantages of Call Forwarding via Star Code
- As it is automated, team members might get called on their cell phones frequently post office hours.
- Calls are forwarded on a single cell phone from a landline, so often, the calls will be transferred to a different member.
- This is one of the best methods for a process to be operated by a single person; once the team is extended, the possibility of encountering errors will increase.
How To Deactivate Call Forwarding Using Star Code?
To deactivate call forwarding on your phone, follow the steps outlined below:
Step 1: Dial *73 on your phone. Note that, this is the most common star code for deactivating call forwarding.
Step 2: Next, press the call button to initiate the call.
Step 3: Wait for the call to connect and for the call forwarding service to be deactivated.
Step 4: Test the call forwarding with some fake calls to ensure it has been deactivated.
(To do this, call your phone number from a different phone. If call forwarding is deactivated, the call should be received on your phone and not be forwarded to a previously designated number.)
Note: If the *73 star code does not work for deactivating call forwarding on your phone, you may need to check with your phone provider to confirm the correct code.
Method 3: Call Forwarding Via Virtual Phone System
The third method for call forwarding is to use virtual phone systems, which leverage internet service to make and receive calls. Although each virtual phone system provider has a different method for activating call forwarding service, it largely remains the same.
To activate call forwarding using a virtual phone system, follow these generic steps:
Step 1: First, log in to your virtual phone system account using credentials.
Step 2: Next, navigate to the phone settings section of the account dashboard and then to the call forwarding settings.
Step 3: Now, enter the phone number that you want to forward your calls to in the designated field.
Step 4: Save the changes.
Step 5: Test the call forwarding to ensure it has been activated.
Advantages of Call Forwarding via Virtual Phone System
- A virtual phone system’s ease and flexibility are practically impossible to achieve in a landline-based system.
- Team members can attend calls wherever they are and from their preferred devices.
- Settings enabling the call forwarding options are not to be configured repeatedly as the system auto-detects.
- In addition to phone calls, texts and e-mails can be sent and received from the systems.
- Business numbers can be used without buying additional SIM cards or landlines.
- Personal devices like mobile phones, tablets, and laptops can be used as the phone system can be logged in and operated from any device.
- No hardwiring of ant devices is required, which enables an organization to save a lot on the procurement of devices.
- 24/7 customer support is offered, due to which complaints and queries are resolved in no time.
Disadvantages of Call Forwarding via Virtual Phone System
- There are very few providers that allow operating via a carrier network. The majority of them require a stable and fast internet connection.
- Privacy and security are at stake as the system is completely virtual and operated via the internet, so there are chances of it getting hacked.
- Downtime in comparison to the landline system is high, which is a major drawback.
How to Set Up Call Forwarding With CallHippo?
As previously stated, each virtual phone system has its own set of steps for activating call forwarding. To better understand how to forward landline calls to cell phones using a virtual phone system, in this section, we will discuss call forwarding steps of one such leading virtual phone system- CallHippo.
To set up call forwarding on CallHippo virtual phone system:
Step 1: Go to the “Users” tab on the dashboard.
Step 2: Find the user you want to enable call forwarding for and click on the settings icon next to their name.
Step 3: On the Settings screen, turn on the “Forward-to-device” option by toggling the button.
Step 4: Enter the cell phone number to which you want calls to be forwarded in the designated field.
Step 5: Save the changes to your account settings.
Once you have completed these steps, all the calls to the user’s phone number will be forwarded to the specified phone number.
This brings us to the end of our article on forwarding landline calls to cell phones. We hope that this information has broadened your understanding of the subject.
The Bottom Line: Call forwarding allows you to redirect incoming calls from your landline phone to your cell phone, ensuring that you never miss an important call. There are several methods for forwarding landline calls to a cell phone, including using the star code, manual forwarding (via receptionist), and a virtual phone system. Some of the leading service providers such as CallHippo offer an easy and efficient way to set up call forwarding for your business, allowing you to work remotely or be more mobile.
FAQs
How to unforward landline calls to a cell phone?
To unforward (deactivate) landline calls to a cell phone, use the star code or turn off the call forwarding feature in your phone settings. The specific steps for unforwarding calls will vary depending on how you set up call forwarding.
How much does it cost to divert landline to mobile?
The cost of forwarding landline calls to a mobile phone is determined by your phone provider and the call forwarding plan you select. Some service providers may charge a monthly fee for call forwarding, whereas others may include call forwarding as a free feature with certain plans. Contact your provider for exact information.
Can I forward calls to multiple cell phones at once?
Yes, there is a feature that the virtual phone system offers called simultaneous ring that allows forwarding calls to multiple calls at once.
Will call forwarding affect the quality of the call?
Not at all; in any case, it will have a positive effect as the call forwarded to the right executive will benefit the organization and enhance productivity. Also, accurate call forwarding will enable organizations to achieve the determined goals and objectives.
Paras Kela is a highly skilled SaaS content writer with over 7 years of experience in the IT field. His expertise lies in simplifying complex technical concepts for easy comprehension. With a portfolio of over 100 high-quality blogs covering various SaaS topics, Paras’s writing style is engaging, informative, and SEO-friendly, ensuring maximum effectiveness. He continuously updates his skills and knowledge to stay current with industry trends, making his writing relevant and reliable.
