If you have a landline, you might feel restricted by it. You can never step away from it for too long because you could miss an important call. In such an irritating scenario, you might consider switching your line to a smartphone. Another reason for switching to a smartphone is, according to reports, a median of 89% of the world’s adult population owns a smartphone.
However, that may require you to change all your marketing material to update your contact information, including your telephone number. Moreover, you may lose contacts if they’re unaware of this change. That’s where the forwarding calls method comes in.
In this blog, we’ll explore the three ways you can forward calls from your landline to your smartphone.
By learning how to divert a landline to a mobile number, you can keep your previous setup and guarantee you receive all your calls.
Understanding Call Diversion
Call diversion, also known as call forwarding, is a feature that allows you to redirect incoming calls from your landline to another phone number, such as a mobile phone or another landline number. This feature is particularly useful when you’re unable to answer calls on your primary phone line or device or need to route them to a different location or colleague. By setting up call diversion, you can ensure that important calls are not missed, even if you are away from your landline.
Most landline phones, including Virgin Media landlines, support call diversion. You can activate this feature using a specific code or through your service provider’s online portal. This flexibility makes call diversion a convenient option for managing your incoming calls effectively.
Benefits of Diverting Calls to Mobile
Diverting calls to your mobile phone offers several significant benefits:
- Increased Flexibility and Mobility: With call diversion, you can receive calls on your mobile phone, allowing you to stay connected and responsive no matter where you are. This is especially beneficial for professionals who are frequently on the move.
- Improved Customer Service: By ensuring that you never miss an important call from a client or customer, call diversion can enhance your customer service. You can address inquiries and issues promptly, leading to higher customer satisfaction.
- Enhanced Communication Efficiency: Call diversion helps streamline your communication by allowing you to receive calls on a single device. This reduces the need to check multiple phones or voicemail systems, making your communication more efficient.
- Better Responsiveness: With calls diverted to your mobile phone, you can respond to calls in real-time. This immediate responsiveness can improve your overall communication and ensure that you are always available for important calls.
3 Ways to Divert Calls from a Landline to a Mobile
When you need to keep receiving calls when you’re away from the office on your landline, you can use the following ways:
To activate call divert, you can use specific codes provided by your service provider or access the service provider’s online portal. This straightforward and flexible service is useful for both landlines and mobile phones, especially for business owners who need to ensure they never miss important calls.
1. Use a Receptionist
Traditionally, you would use a receptionist to forward a call. It’s a manual method that comes with additional features such as:
- Screening Calls: Your receptionist can verify the identity of the caller, and the purpose of the call, and refuse the call if needed.
- Prepare You for a Call: Before they forward a call, they can alert you to what the caller wants and their mood.
- Take Messages: They can write down messages from callers for you to read at a later time.
- Redirect a Call: If the caller is meant to reach someone else, the receptionist can divert the call to the right person.
Additionally, an answering service can provide personalised call handling and efficient communication management, ensuring that clients can manage their communications even when they are busy or unavailable.
2. Use a Star Code
The second way you can forward a call is by using a star code. Usually, pressing *21 will allow you to forward a call. If it doesn’t work, you may need to contact your phone service to learn which code you should use.
Star codes are a type of divert codes used for activating call forwarding features.
Here’s how to divert a landline to a mobile with a star code:
- *Press 21: To activate the call forwarding feature on your landline, you should first press *21 or your specific forwarding star code.
- Press Your Phone Number: After dialing *21*, enter the full phone number you want to divert calls to, followed by #.
- Press Call: Now that you’ve pressed your phone number, you should call. There should be an update saying it will now forward your calls.
- *Press 21: When you wish to stop the call forwarding, you should press *21 or your specific code. You’ll also receive an update saying that your landline won’t forward calls anymore.
Since you only need to dial and press a few buttons, you don’t need to spend any more than what you already did to receive your phone services. Additionally, this method seamlessly transfers all your calls with near-sero mistakes.
Then again, it requires you to set it up every time you wish to forward your call while other methods allow you to set it up once only. Furthermore, its automatic nature makes it possible to disturb your private time. While a receptionist could ensure your calls don’t disturb your break times, this method will transfer the call regardless of whether you’re busy unless you turn it off. Moreover, since there’s no screening function, it will also divert calls to you meant for your coworkers.
3. Use a Virtual Phone System
Lastly, you can divert calls from a landline to a mobile with a virtual phone system. This is a service you can use to manage calls and other communication systems such as texts and emails. It uses either the internet or carrier networks. Yet unlike with the star code method, once you’ve set it up once, you’ll no longer need to configure it.
Virtual phone systems allow you to divert calls to any mobile number, providing greater flexibility.
In addition, this method costs £10 – £40 a month per user. Since this method is less secure than the others, you may need to spend even more to strengthen the security of your account and your communication system.
Call Diversion Costs and Plans
The cost of call diversion can vary depending on your service provider and the specific plan you’re on. Some providers, like Rydal Comms, include call diversion as part of their standard service package, while others may charge an additional fee for this feature. It’s essential to check with your service provider to understand the costs associated with call diversion.
When choosing a plan, consider your specific needs and usage patterns. If you frequently need to divert calls, it might be worth investing in a plan that includes this feature at no extra cost. For example, Rydal Comms Landline users are not charged for diverted calls; it’s included in the monthly subscription. On the other hand, if you only need to use call diversion occasionally, a pay-per-use option might be more economical. Understanding the costs and available plans will help you make an informed decision that fits your budget and requirements.
Troubleshooting Call Diversion
If you’re experiencing issues with call diversion, note that there are several troubleshooting steps you can take:
- Check Your Call Diversion Settings: Ensure that you’ve set up call diversion correctly and that the feature is activated on your landline phone. Double-check the instructions provided by your service provider to confirm that you’ve followed the correct steps.
- Verify Your Mobile Phone Number: Make sure that you’ve entered the correct mobile phone number to divert calls to. A simple typo can prevent the call diversion from working properly.
- Check for Conflicts with Other Calling Features: Some calling features, such as call waiting or voicemail, may conflict with call diversion. Review your calling features to see if there are any conflicts and adjust the settings as needed.
- Contact Your Service Provider: If you’re still experiencing issues with call diversion, contact your service provider’s technical support team for assistance. They can help diagnose the problem and provide solutions to ensure that your call diversion works smoothly.
By following these troubleshooting steps, you can resolve common issues with call diversion and ensure that your calls are forwarded correctly.
Which Call Forwarding Option Is Right for You?
Since each method has drawbacks and benefits, the option you should use depends on your situation. For example, if you have a large team of employees, a virtual phone system may be the most functional and cost-effective option. However, if you receive few calls in general or need higher security, hiring a receptionist may cost less. Similarly, if you’re in a zone with a poor internet connection, using a receptionist or a star code may be the only viable option for high sound quality.
It’s also important to consider the benefits and potential costs associated with diverted calls. Understanding how different service providers handle charges for diverted calls can help you make an informed business decision and avoid unexpected expenses.
Here’s a table detailing the differences between these call-forwarding options for you to make your decision:
| Differences | Receptionist | Star Code | Virtual Phone System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Cost per Year | £38,274 | £0 | £120 – £360 (per user) |
| Security | High | High | High |
| Sound Quality | High | High | High |
| Message Feature | Yes | No | Yes |
| Screening | Yes | No | Yes |
| Suitability for Large Teams | Medium | Low | High |
| Suitability for Large Call Volume | Medium | Medium | High |
Conclusion
Now you know how to divert a landline to a mobile using a receptionist, a star code, or a virtual phone system. Each method offers unique features to enhance your call management. For instance, a receptionist can not only forward your calls but also provide details about the caller’s purpose and mood. The star code feature allows you to receive calls seamlessly at any time of the day. On the other hand, a virtual phone system extends capabilities further by enabling you to receive texts and emails, making your communication even more versatile. Each method ensures that no diverted call is missed, enhancing overall communication efficiency.
Overall, the method you choose should depend on the number of people in your communication system, the sensitivity of your calls, whether you have access to a good internet connection, and your budget.