Your number stays exactly where it is
RingDesk does not move, port, or transfer your phone number. Your number remains registered with your existing telecoms provider (BT, EE, Sky, Vodafone, or whoever you use today) and your account with them is completely unaffected.
What RingDesk does instead is set up a call forward — also called a call divert — on your number. When a call arrives, your provider automatically routes it to your RingDesk line, where the AI agent answers it.
How the call flow works
- Caller dials your normal business number
- Your telecoms provider receives the call
- The provider instantly diverts it to your RingDesk number (takes less than a second)
- Your AI agent answers, handles the enquiry, and takes a message or booking if needed
- You receive a notification with a summary
From the caller's perspective, they dialled your number and it was answered. They never see or hear anything about RingDesk.
What types of divert can I use?
You can choose how aggressively calls are diverted:
- Unconditional — every call goes straight to the AI agent
- Divert on no answer — the AI answers only if you don't pick up within a set number of rings (great for overflow)
- Divert on busy — the AI handles calls when your line is already engaged
- Divert on unavailable — covers no-answer and busy together
Most businesses start with "divert on no answer" so the AI acts as a backstop, then switch to unconditional once they're confident in it.
Does anything change with my existing provider?
No. Your contract, pricing, and relationship with your telecoms provider are untouched. You are simply activating a call divert feature that is built into every UK phone line as standard.
Related articles
- Setting up call forwarding - Does forwarding calls to RingDesk cost anything extra? - Porting your number to RingDesk - Your number ownership — frequently asked questions - Can I send several phone lines to the same desk?