To ring several phones from one business number in India, put the number on a cloud call-forwarding service. A normal SIM's call divert only sends calls to one other number. With a virtual number and forwarding rules, each incoming call can ring a list of phones all at once or one by one, with screening, a backup number and call logs. On Edesy it costs Rs 1.00 per minute plus number rental.
Set it up today: Open the Call Forwarding portal, pick a number and add your team's phones.
Why SIM call divert isn't enough
Every Indian mobile SIM supports call forwarding (divert): always, when busy, when unanswered or when unreachable. But it has limits for a business:
| SIM call divert | Cloud call forwarding | |
|---|---|---|
| Phones it can ring | One | Up to 5 per rule (ring all, or one by one) |
| Order and ring time per person | No | Yes |
| Screening (press a key to accept) | No | Yes |
| Repeat caller to the same person | No | Yes (sticky agent) |
| Caller ID choice | Network decides | Caller's number or your business number |
| Call log and recordings | No | Yes |
| Change from a dashboard | Dial codes on the phone | Web portal or API |
| Who pays for the forwarded leg | Usually the SIM owner, at operator rates | Per-minute forwarding rate |
If one person answers all calls, SIM divert may be all you need. Once two or more people share the line, cloud forwarding is the practical choice.
How it works
- A customer calls your business number (a virtual number on Edesy).
- Your forwarding rule decides who rings: everyone at once, or one by one in order.
- The first person to accept is connected. With screening on, they press a key first, so a voicemail can't take the call.
- If nobody answers, the call goes to backup numbers or is declined.
- Every call is logged with who answered, duration and the recording (if recording is on for the number).
Your team uses their normal phones. No app, no desk phone, no new SIM.
Step-by-step setup
1. Create an account and complete KYC. Numbers in India need KYC. On Edesy you choose your business type (individual, sole proprietor, partnership, private limited, public limited or LLP) and upload PAN and Aadhaar. Review takes about 24 hours.
2. Get a number. Search by region, type or digits:
| Number type | Monthly rental (plus GST) | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile or 92-series | Rs 499 | Looks like a regular number; works for most businesses |
| Landline | Rs 449 | City-based business that wants a local landline |
| Toll-free | Rs 999 | Customer support where callers shouldn't pay |
Setup is Rs 0. Or use a number you already own.
3. Create a forwarding rule. On the Call Forwarding portal, add your team's numbers (up to 5 per rule) with labels.
4. Choose a ring strategy.
- Ring all at once: the fastest person answers. Best for sales and small teams.
- One by one: each person in order, with ring time per person (set in the number's Call handling card in the Voice app, or through the API). Best for owner-first or tiered teams.
The trade-offs are in simultaneous vs sequential call forwarding.
5. Set the options.
- Call screening on (default), so personal voicemail can't take the call. See press a key to accept.
- Caller ID: the customer's number or your business number.
- Hold music or your own hold audio, if you want callers to hear something other than ringing.
- Sticky agent on one-by-one rules only, so repeat callers reach the same person (also in the Call handling card or the API). See sticky agent routing.
- Fallback: a backup number or decline.
6. Test it. Call the number from a phone that isn't on the list. Check who rings, in what order, and what your team sees.
7. Publish the number on your website, Google Business Profile, invoices and ads.
Keeping your existing number
If customers already know a number, you don't have to change it. You can use a number you already own on Edesy. If that number is a regular mobile SIM, a common approach is to set the SIM to always divert calls to your Edesy number, so the forwarding rule takes over from there. Your operator may charge for the diverted leg; check with them.
What it costs, worked out
Forwarding is Rs 1.00 per minute, plus number rental, plus 18% GST.
Example (illustrative): a five-person shop on a mobile number with 1,000 forwarded minutes in a month.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Number rental | Rs 499 |
| Forwarded minutes: 1,000 x Rs 1.00 | Rs 1,000 |
| Subtotal | Rs 1,499 |
| GST at 18% | Rs 269.82 |
| Total | Rs 1,768.82 |
Your own minutes will differ; the call log shows them as you go. You pay from a prepaid INR wallet topped up with Razorpay and get GST invoices with your GSTIN for input tax credit. There's no per-user seat fee: adding a sixth phone to the list costs nothing extra. See call forwarding pricing.
When you need more than forwarding
| You need | Use |
|---|---|
| "Press 1 for sales, 2 for support" | IVR Studio with forwarding |
| Queues, agent status, live monitoring | Cloud contact center |
| Calls answered by an AI agent after hours | AI voice agent |
| Hide customer and staff numbers from each other | Number masking |
For the bigger picture, see virtual number vs cloud PBX vs IVR.
Checklist
- KYC done and number active
- Team numbers added and labelled
- Strategy chosen and ring times set
- Screening on, caller ID chosen, fallback set
- Test call made from an outside phone
- Number published everywhere customers look
All features are listed on the call forwarding features page, and the API is in the call forwarding docs.
Forward your business number to your team, or talk to us if you also need an IVR menu.