Option 1: Call Forwarding (Most Common)
Call forwarding sends incoming calls from your existing business number to your unique Abby Assigned Phone Number.
When someone dials your business line:
Your carrier forwards the call.
Abby answers on your behalf.
Call handling follows your portal configuration.
This allows you to keep your current number while Abby handles incoming calls.
Best For:
Businesses that want to keep their existing number
Clients who want minimal disruption
Quick go-live setup
Enable call forwarding using your Abby Assigned Phone Number (found in your Dashboard). Most carriers allow you to turn on forwarding through their app, online account, phone system settings, or by dialing a short code like *72.
➡️ See detailed setup instructions here:
Common Carrier Forwarding Instructions
Forwarding Google Voice Phone Numbers
Option 2: Porting Your Number to Abby
Porting transfers ownership of your existing phone number to Abby’s carrier.
Instead of forwarding calls, your number becomes directly hosted by Abby.
Best For:
Clients experiencing forwarding issues
Businesses moving away from another answering service
Situations where forwarding is unreliable
Porting typically takes 2–4 weeks and requires documentation.
➡️ View the full porting guide here:
Phone Number Porting
Option 3: Publish Your Abby Assigned Number
You may choose to use your Abby Assigned Phone Number directly on:
Your website
Business cards
Online listings
Marketing campaigns
In this setup, callers dial Abby directly without forwarding or porting.
Best For:
New businesses
Marketing campaigns
Secondary lines
Businesses that don’t need to preserve an existing number
Your Abby Assigned Phone Number is located in your Dashboard under:
Abby Assigned Phone Number(s)
How to Choose the Right Option
If you already have an established business number, forwarding is typically the fastest and easiest solution.
If forwarding does not work reliably, porting may be recommended.
If you are launching a new number or campaign, publishing your Abby number directly may be the simplest option.
If you’re unsure which path is right for you, contact our Tech Team before making changes.
Before You Go Live
After setting up forwarding, porting, or publishing your Abby number:
Place a test call from another phone.
Confirm Abby answers.
Review call handling and routing behavior.
Make adjustments in your portal if needed.
Once Abby answers your test call, you’re live.