Android Phone

Forwarding calls on your Android phone is usually pretty straightforward! The exact steps might vary slightly depending on your phone's manufacturer and Android version, but here's a general guide:

Using the Phone App's Settings:

1. Open the Phone App: This is the app you use to make calls. Look for the phone icon (usually on your home screen or in the app drawer).
2.  Access Settings: Tap the three dots (menu icon) usually located in the top right corner, or sometimes a settings gear icon.
3.  Go to Call Settings: Look for an option like "Settings," "Call Settings," "Calling accounts," or something similar.
4.  Find Call Forwarding: Within the call settings, you should see an option for "Call forwarding." Tap on it.
5. Choose When to Forward:You'll typically see a few options:
   • Always forward:All incoming calls will be immediately forwarded to the number you specify.
   • Forward when busy: Calls will be forwarded only if you are already on another call.
   • Forward when unanswered: Calls will be forwarded if you don't answer within a certain number of rings.
   • Forward when unreachable:Calls will be forwarded if your phone is turned off, has no signal, or is otherwise unable to receive calls.
6. Enter the Forwarding Number:Tap on the option you want (e.g., "Always forward") and enter the phone number you want your calls to be forwarded to.
7. Enable Forwarding: Tap "Turn on," "Enable," or "OK" to activate call forwarding. You might see an icon in your notification bar indicating that call forwarding is active.

iphone

Through Settings:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap Phone.
3. Tap Call Forwarding.
4.  Slide the Call Forwarding switch to the on position (it will turn green).   
5.  Tap Forward To and enter the phone number where you want your calls to be forwarded.   
6. Tap Back. The Call Forwarding icon will appear in the status bar to indicate that call forwarding is active.   

Using a Dial Code (may vary by carrier):

1. Open the Phone app and go to the Keypad.
2.  Dial *72 followed by the 10-digit phone number you want to forward calls to (e.g., *72-908-123-4567).   
3. Tap the Call button. You might hear a confirmation tone or message.

To turn off call forwarding using a dial code:

1. Open the Phone app and go to the Keypad.
2. Dial *73.
3. Tap the Call button. You might hear a confirmation tone or message.

Google Voice

This  help section explains how to forward calls received by your Google Voice number to your Markate virtual business number using your phone's built-in call forwarding feature. This method is necessary because Google Voice cannot be directly linked with Markate's virtual numbers.

Important Note: The exact steps and menu names might vary slightly depending on your phone's manufacturer (e.g., Samsung, Apple, Google Pixel) and operating system version (Android or iOS).

Step 1: Obtain Your Markate Virtual Number

Make sure you have your Markate virtual business phone number readily available. You'll need to enter this number in your phone's call forwarding settings.

Step 2: Access Your Phone's Call Forwarding Settings

You can usually find call forwarding options within your phone's calling app settings. Here's a general guide for both Android and iOS:

On Android:

1. Open your phone's Phone app (the app you use to make calls).
2. Tap the three dots (menu icon) usually located in the top right corner.
3. Select Settings.
4. Look for options like Call forwarding, Supplementary services, or Calling accounts. Tap on the relevant option.
5. You might see different call forwarding options like:
   • Always forward: All incoming calls will be forwarded immediately.
   • Forward when busy: Calls will be forwarded only if you are on another call.
   • Forward when unanswered: Calls will be forwarded if you don't answer within a certain time.
   • Forward when unreachable: Calls will be forwarded if your phone is off or has no signal.

On iOS (iPhone):

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap Phone.
3. Tap Call Forwarding.
4. Toggle the Call Forwarding switch to on (it will turn green).
5. Tap Forward To.

Step 3: Enter Your Markate Virtual Number

1. In the call forwarding settings, you'll find a field to enter the number you want to forward calls to.
2. Carefully enter your Markate virtual business phone number, including the area code.
3. Tap Enable, Turn On, OK, or a similar button to save your settings.

Step 4: Choose Your Forwarding Condition (Optional but Recommended)

Consider which call forwarding condition best suits your needs:

• Always forward: This is the simplest option and ensures all Google Voice calls are immediately sent to your Markate number.
• Forward when unanswered: This can be useful if you want your personal phone to ring first and only forward to Markate if you don't pick up. This requires you to answer calls promptly if you don't want them forwarded.
• Forward when busy: This is helpful if you want Markate to handle calls when you're already on another line.

We generally recommend using "Always forward" for seamless call handling by your Markate business.

Step 5: Verify Call Forwarding

To ensure call forwarding is working correctly:

1. Ask a friend or colleague to call your Google Voice number.
2. Confirm that the call rings on your Markate virtual business number.

Step 6: Disabling Call Forwarding

When you no longer want calls to be forwarded to your Markate number, you can disable call forwarding by following these steps:

On Android:

1. Go back to Phone app > Menu > Settings > Call forwarding.
2. Tap on the forwarding option you enabled (e.g., Always forward).
3. Select Disable or Turn Off.

On iOS (iPhone):

1. Go to Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding.
2. Toggle the Call Forwarding switch to off (it will turn gray).

OpenPhone

TalkRoute

Landline

Setting up call forwarding from a landline typically involves using specific codes dialed from your phone. However, the exact steps and codes can vary depending on your landline service provider. Here's a general guide and some common methods:   

General Method Using Star Codes:

This is the most common method for traditional landlines:

1. Lift your landline handset and listen for a dial tone.
2. Dial the activation code for call forwarding. The most common code is *72. However, some providers might use 72# or other codes. Check with your provider if *72 doesn't work.   
3. Wait for a dial tone or a confirmation tone. You might hear a stutter dial tone followed by a regular dial tone.
4. Enter the 10-digit phone number (including area code) where you want your calls to be forwarded. For long-distance numbers, you might need to dial 1 followed by the 10-digit number.
5. Wait for another confirmation tone or message. Some systems might call the forwarded number briefly to confirm activation. If someone answers at the forwarded number, the feature is usually activated.   
6. Hang up. Your calls should now be forwarded to the number you entered.

Deactivating Call Forwarding:

To turn off call forwarding, you'll usually dial a different code:

1. Lift your landline handset and listen for a dial tone.
2. Dial the deactivation code. The most common code is *73. Some providers might use 73# or other codes. Check with your provider if *73 doesn't work.
3. Wait for a confirmation tone or message. You might hear two short tones followed by a regular dial tone.   
4.  Hang up. Call forwarding should now be deactivated.   

Other Call Forwarding Options (May Vary by Provider):

Some landline providers offer different types of call forwarding:

• Call Forwarding Busy Line (*90 or other codes): Forwards calls only when your line is busy.
• Call Forwarding No Answer (*92 or other codes): Forwards calls if you don't answer after a certain number of rings.
• Selective Call Forwarding (*62 or other codes): Allows you to forward calls from specific numbers to another number.

You'll need to contact your specific landline provider to inquire about the availability and activation codes for these conditional forwarding options.