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Phone Numbers

Table of Contents

  1. Understanding Phone Numbers
  2. Accessing Phone Number Settings
  3. Phone Number Overview
  4. Purchasing Phone Numbers
  5. Searching for Available Numbers
  6. Phone Number Costs
  7. Assigning Numbers to AI Employees
  8. Managing Phone Numbers
  9. Number Status and Lifecycle
  10. Best Practices

Understanding Phone Numbers

Phone numbers enable your AI employees to receive inbound calls and place outbound calls.

Why Phone Numbers Matter

Inbound capability: Contacts can call your AI employee directly using a dedicated number. Caller ID: Outbound calls show your number to recipients. Professionalism: Dedicated numbers project a professional image. Tracking: Separate numbers can track different campaigns or purposes.

Number Types

Local Numbers: Numbers with area codes matching specific geographic regions. Types may vary: Availability depends on region and provider.

Accessing Phone Number Settings

Navigate to the phone numbers configuration page.
  1. Click Settings in the main navigation
  2. Select Phone Numbers from the settings menu
  3. The Phone Numbers page displays

Page Layout

The page shows:
  • Header with title and buy button
  • Maximum numbers limit information
  • List of current phone numbers
  • Status and assignment for each
  • Management actions

Phone Number Overview

View your current phone number inventory.

Numbers Display

Each phone number shows:
  • Number: The actual phone number
  • Friendly Name: Optional display name
  • Status: Current subscription status
  • Location: Region or area code information
  • Monthly Cost: Recurring subscription price
  • Assignment: Which AI employee is using it

Organization Limits

Your organization has a maximum number of phone numbers:
  • Displayed on the page header
  • Prevents purchasing beyond the limit
  • Upgrade account to increase limit if needed

Purchasing Phone Numbers

Add new phone numbers to your organization.

Accessing Purchase

  1. Click Buy Number button
  2. Search dialog opens
  3. Find available numbers
  4. Complete purchase

Prerequisites

  • Available slots (under maximum limit)
  • Valid payment method on file
  • Billing account in good standing

Purchase Process

  1. Open the search dialog
  2. Specify search criteria (location, features)
  3. Browse available numbers
  4. Select desired number
  5. Review pricing
  6. Confirm purchase
  7. Number provisioned and available

Searching for Available Numbers

Find the right phone number for your needs.

Search Criteria

Country: Select the country for the phone number. State/Region: Narrow to specific geographic areas. Area Code: Find numbers with specific area codes. Contains: Search for numbers containing specific digits.

Search Results

Available numbers display with:
  • Phone number
  • Location (city, state)
  • Monthly price
  • Special features

Number Selection Considerations

Geographic relevance: Numbers matching your business location or target market. Memorability: Easy-to-remember patterns if caller ID matters. Price: Costs may vary by location and availability. Availability: Popular area codes may have limited inventory.

Phone Number Costs

Understand the pricing for phone numbers.

Monthly Subscription

Phone numbers have recurring monthly costs:
  • Charged to your billing account
  • Prices vary by number and location
  • Displayed during search and on number list

Typical Pricing

Prices displayed as monthly rates:
  • Standard local numbers at base rate
  • Premium numbers may cost more
  • Exact pricing shown before purchase

Billing

Phone number charges appear on your regular billing:
  • Monthly recurring charge
  • Prorated for partial months
  • Continues until canceled

Assigning Numbers to AI Employees

Connect phone numbers to specific AI employees.

Why Assign Numbers

When a number is assigned to an AI employee:
  • Inbound calls to that number are answered by the employee
  • Outbound calls from the employee show that number as caller ID
  • Clear association between number and purpose

Assignment Process

  1. Locate the phone number in your list
  2. Click the assignment dropdown
  3. Select the AI employee to assign
  4. Assignment takes effect immediately

Unassigning Numbers

To remove an assignment:
  1. Click the assignment dropdown
  2. Select “Unassigned”
  3. Number is no longer linked to an employee

Assignment Rules

  • Each number can be assigned to one AI employee
  • Each AI employee can have one primary number
  • Unassigned numbers are available for assignment
  • Reassignment can be done anytime

Managing Phone Numbers

Maintain your phone number inventory over time.

Viewing Number Details

Click a phone number to see:
  • Full number details
  • Assignment status
  • Call history statistics
  • Subscription information

Updating Friendly Name

Set a friendly name for easier identification:
  1. Access number settings
  2. Edit the friendly name field
  3. Save changes
  4. Name appears in lists and selections

Number Actions

Available actions include:
  • View details
  • Change assignment
  • Edit friendly name
  • Cancel subscription

Number Status and Lifecycle

Phone numbers progress through various statuses.

Pending

Number is being provisioned:
  • Purchase initiated
  • Setup in progress
  • Not yet available for use

Active

Number is fully operational:
  • Ready for inbound and outbound calls
  • Can be assigned to AI employees
  • Subscription is current

Past Due

Payment issue with subscription:
  • May require attention
  • Service could be interrupted
  • Update payment method to resolve

Canceling

Subscription has been canceled:
  • Number will be released at end of billing period
  • Continues to work until release
  • Cannot be undone easily

Released

Number is no longer yours:
  • Returned to available pool
  • Cannot make or receive calls
  • May be purchased by others

Canceling a Subscription

To release a phone number:
  1. Click actions menu on the number
  2. Select Cancel Subscription
  3. Confirm the cancellation
  4. Number cancels at end of billing period
Note: Once released, the number may not be recoverable.

Best Practices

Number Selection

Match your market: Choose area codes familiar to your contacts. Consider caller ID: How will recipients perceive the number? Plan for growth: Reserve capacity for future needs.

Assignment Strategy

Dedicated purposes: Different numbers for different use cases. Clear organization: Assign descriptive friendly names. Document assignments: Record which number serves which purpose.

Cost Management

Monitor usage: Review which numbers are actively used. Release unused: Cancel numbers not providing value. Budget planning: Account for phone number costs in operations.

Transition Planning

Before canceling: Ensure no critical processes depend on the number. Communicate changes: Update materials referencing old numbers. New number setup: Have replacement ready before releasing.

Compliance

Caller ID laws: Ensure caller ID displays accurately. Do Not Call: Respect calling restrictions. Local regulations: Follow regional telephony rules.

Summary

Phone numbers are essential infrastructure for AI employee operations. They enable both inbound and outbound calling, establish professional presence, and provide the foundation for voice communication. Strategic phone number management - purchasing appropriate numbers, assigning them thoughtfully, and maintaining your inventory - ensures your AI employees can effectively serve your communication needs.