Ring Strategies

Ring all forward-to numbers at once (first to answer wins) or one by one in list order - how each works and when to use it.

2 min read

A forwarding rule rings its forward-to numbers in one of two ways. Ring all at once rings every number together and connects the first person to answer. Ring one by one rings each number in list order, moving to the next when one does not answer. Ring all at once is the default.

Compare#

Ring all at once Ring one by one
API value simultaneous sequential
Who rings Every enabled number together One number at a time, top of the list first
Who gets the call The first person to answer (and accept, with screening on) The first number in the order that answers
Ring time One ring time for all numbers Each number rings for its own time, or the rule's ring time
Best for Small teams where anyone can take the call A main person with backups, escalation, or a sales-then-support order
Works with sticky agent No (all phones ring together) Yes

Ring all at once#

  1. A call arrives on your number.
  2. All enabled forward-to numbers ring together.
  3. The first person to pick up (and press a key, if screening is on) is connected. The other phones stop ringing.
  4. If nobody answers within the ring time, the call ends.

Ring one by one#

  1. A call arrives on your number.
  2. The first number on the list rings for its ring time.
  3. If it is not answered, is busy or fails, the next number rings.
  4. This continues down the list. When the last number does not answer, the call ends.

To change the order in the portal, edit the list: numbers ring top to bottom. With the API, the order of the targets array is the ring order.

Set it#

In the portal, choose Ring all at once or Ring one by one under Ring behaviour. With the API:

curl -X PATCH https://voice-api.edesy.in/v1/forwarding/rules/RULE_ID \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sk_your_api_key" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{ "strategy": "sequential", "ring_timeout_sec": 20 }'

FAQ#

Which strategy should I pick? Ring all at once gets the call answered fastest. Ring one by one gives you control over who answers first.

Can I ring more than 5 numbers? No. A rule has up to 5 forward-to numbers.

Can I skip a number without deleting it? Yes, with the API: set enabled to false on that target. It stays on the rule but does not ring.

Does ringing several numbers cost more? No. You pay for the one connected call.

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