> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://distance.gitbook.io/distance/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://distance.gitbook.io/distance/getting-started/call-forwarding.md). # Call forwarding ### **Introduction** By forwarding calls instead of replacing your phone system, Distance works alongside tools like Podium, Dialpad, Grasshopper, and RingCentral. Your VoIP provider continues to control call routing, while Distance handles calls that reach its number, ensuring coverage, consistency, and visibility without changing how your phone system is structured. *** ### **Why call forwarding matters** **Ensure calls are answered**. Forwarding calls to Distance prevents missed calls when your team is unavailable, busy, or outside business hours. **Extend your existing phone system**. Keep your current VoIP provider while adding AI Voice coverage without migrating numbers or workflows. **Capture conversations automatically**. Calls answered by Distance can be transcribed, recorded, and logged for visibility and follow-up. **Support overflow and fallback routin**g. Use Distance as a backup when internal users do not answer, ensuring callers always reach someone. **Create actionable follow-ups**. Calls handled by Distance can generate tickets and capture caller details, helping your team respond faster and more consistently. *** ### **How call forwarding works in Distance** Call forwarding is configured entirely within your VoIP provider. Distance does not control routing logic and only receives calls once they are forwarded. Each VoIP provider supports call forwarding differently. Some allow direct forwarding to an external number, while others use call queues, call groups, or fallback rules based on business hours or ring duration. Once a call is forwarded to your Distance phone number, the assigned AI Voice agent answers the call. If configured, the conversation is transcribed, caller details are captured, and a ticket can be created for follow-up. Calls that do not successfully reach Distance, such as missed calls or voicemails handled by your VoIP provider, are not logged in Distance. *** ### **Supported VoIP providers** Distance supports call forwarding from multiple VoIP systems. Each provider has its own setup process and routing options. Use the guides below to configure call forwarding for your provider: * Forwarding calls from Podium to Distance * Forwarding calls from Dialpad to Distance * Forwarding calls from Grasshopper to Distance * Forwarding calls from RingCentral to Distance Each guide walks through provider-specific steps, recommended routing patterns, and testing instructions to ensure calls reach Distance correctly. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://distance.gitbook.io/distance/getting-started/call-forwarding.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.