How you keep your number with an AI receptionist
You keep your business number when you add an AI receptionist, because Flowly AI uses conditional call forwarding instead of porting. Your phone rings as usual, and calls you do not take are forwarded to the receptionist.
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Last updated 13 November 2026
What conditional call forwarding means
Conditional forwarding passes a call along only when a condition is met, such as no answer or a busy line. It is a setting with your phone carrier. Your number, your carrier and your phone bill stay where they are. Callers dial the number on your truck and your Google listing.
Turning it on takes about two minutes. We walk you through it on the setup call and place a live test call with you.
| Porting a number | Conditional call forwarding | |
|---|---|---|
| Who holds the number | Moves to a new provider | Stays with your carrier |
| Time to set up | Depends on the carriers | About 2 minutes |
| Turning it off | Port the number back | Switch forwarding off with your carrier |
| Used by Flowly AI | No | Yes |
How voicemail fits in
Forwarding takes the place voicemail used to fill. A call that would have gone to your mailbox goes to the AI receptionist. If forwarding does not seem to work, the usual cause is the carrier's own voicemail picking up first. Your carrier can confirm how its forwarding and voicemail settings interact on your plan.
How to turn it off
You switch forwarding off with your carrier, and calls ring only your phone again. Nothing about your number changes when you start, pause or cancel. To cancel the service itself, email us. There is no cancellation fee.
Who pays carrier fees
Any fee your carrier charges for call forwarding is yours. That is set out in section 7 of our Terms. Flowly AI does not charge a setup fee. Ask your carrier whether forwarding is included in your plan before you turn it on.
Questions
Do I have to change my business number to use an AI receptionist?
No. You keep the number customers already call. Flowly AI uses conditional call forwarding, and there is no porting.
Does my phone still ring first?
It can. Conditional forwarding sends on the calls that meet the condition you set with your carrier, such as no answer. We confirm the behaviour with a live test call during setup.
How long does forwarding take to set up?
About two minutes. The agent itself is built and tested in 48 to 72 hours before you turn forwarding on.
How do I turn forwarding off?
You switch it off with your carrier. Calls then ring only your phone, and your number is unchanged.
Why would forwarding fail?
The usual reason is the carrier's voicemail answering before the forward. Your carrier can confirm the settings on your plan, and we test with you on the setup call.
Are there carrier fees for forwarding?
There may be, and they are the customer's responsibility under section 7 of the Terms. Ask your carrier whether forwarding is included in your plan.