Most VoIP phone systems let you choose what happens to calls nobody answers. Instead of voicemail, send them to your TextbackFast number. Your phones ring exactly as they do today, and every caller you miss gets a text.
The numbers behind missed calls
Sources: 411 Locals study; CallRail 2025 survey.
Forward on no answer, not always. Your phones still ring first.
The one setting you need
Look for the setting that controls unanswered or missed calls, usually under call handling, call forwarding or answering rules. Set it to forward to an external number, and enter your TextbackFast number. Do not use "forward all calls".
Generic steps for most VoIP systems
- Sign in to your provider's web portal or app as the user or admin for your main number.
- Open call handling, call forwarding or answering rules for that number, or for the main greeting or menu that callers reach.
- Find what happens to unanswered calls.It is often set to voicemail.
- Change it to forward to an external number and enter your 10-digit TextbackFast number.
- Set the ring time before forwarding, if offered.Four to six rings (about 20 to 30 seconds) works for most businesses.
- Save, then test by calling your main number and letting it ring out.
RingCentral
RingCentral documents this directly. In the RingCentral app, open Settings, then the call handling or call forwarding settings. Under Unanswered calls or Missed calls, choose Forward to number or Forward to external number and enter your TextbackFast number (RingCentral support). If calls come in through a company menu or call queue, set it on that extension too.
Hear it for yourself
Call our demo line, let it ring, and get a text back in seconds.
Nextiva, Ooma, Grasshopper and others
These systems all have call forwarding and missed-call routing, but the menu names change often and can differ by plan. Look for the unanswered or no-answer option for your main number and point it at your TextbackFast number. If you only see "forward all calls", ask your provider's support for no-answer forwarding to an external number. We are writing a step-by-step guide for each system, checked against each provider's own help pages.
Google Voice
Google Voice works differently. It rings your linked phones, and calls nobody answers go to Google Voice voicemail. Google does not document a setting that sends unanswered calls to an outside number (Google Voice help). Ask us about the best setup if your business number is on Google Voice.
Desk phones and star codes
Many hosted systems also support star codes on the desk phone. For example, Verizon Business Digital Voice uses *92 + number + # for no answer and *90 + number + # for busy, with *93 and *91 to turn them off (Verizon Business Digital Voice). Codes vary by provider, so check your provider's feature code list first.
Test it
- Call your main number from a cell and do not answer.
- You should get your TextbackFast text within seconds.
- No text?Check that the forward goes to an external number, that it is your TextbackFast number, and that no "forward all" rule is on.
Questions, answered.
Will my team's phones still ring?
Yes. No-answer forwarding only applies after your normal ring time, so calls you answer work exactly as before.
What if my system uses an auto-attendant menu?
Set the unanswered-call forwarding on the extension or queue where calls end up, so callers who choose an option and get no answer are forwarded too.
Can I keep voicemail?
Callers who reach TextbackFast get a text instead of voicemail. Most callers prefer replying to a text, and you see the reply right away.