What is the difference between call forwarding, call forking, simultaneous call, sequential calls, and find me/follow me?

Stan George • Nov 22, 2023

The TeliDesk call features enable business to operate without boundaries, allowing business calls to reach them whenever, wherever, and however they need them.

While call forwarding, call forking, simultaneous calls, sequential calls, and "Find Me/Follow Me" share similarities in terms of managing incoming calls, there are nuanced differences in how they operate.


Let's break down each term:


  1. Call Forwarding:
  • Description: Call forwarding is the process of redirecting incoming calls to another destination. This destination could be another phone number, voicemail, or another extension.
  • Use Case: When a user is unable to answer calls on their primary phone, they can set up call forwarding to ensure that calls are redirected to an alternative number or voicemail.
  1. Call Forking:
  • Description: Call forking allows an incoming call to be simultaneously sent to multiple devices or destinations. The call is sent to all specified locations simultaneously, and the first device to answer "wins," terminating the ringing on other devices.
  • Use Case: This is useful when you want to ensure that incoming calls are distributed to multiple devices, improving the chances of prompt answerability.
  1. Simultaneous Calls:
  • Description: Simultaneous calls refer to the capability of handling multiple calls at the same time. It allows a user to receive and manage multiple calls concurrently.
  • Use Case: In a business setting, simultaneous calls enable users to handle multiple customer inquiries or requests simultaneously, improving efficiency.
  1. Sequential Calls:
  • Description: Sequential calls involve routing an incoming call through a predefined list of destinations in a specific order. If the first destination doesn't answer, the call is forwarded to the next in line.
  • Use Case: This is beneficial when you want calls to follow a sequence of phone numbers or extensions, ensuring that if the primary destination is unavailable, the call is routed to the next available option.
  1. Find Me/Follow Me:
  • Description: "Find Me/Follow Me" is a feature that allows users to create a list of phone numbers where they can be reached. The system will attempt to reach the user at each number in sequence until the call is answered or reaches voicemail.
  • Use Case: If a user is constantly on the move, this feature ensures that calls can "find" them by attempting multiple phone numbers in a specified order.

In summary:

  • Call Forwarding redirects calls to another destination.
  • Call Forking sends calls to multiple devices simultaneously.
  • Simultaneous Calls allow for the handling of multiple calls at once.
  • Sequential Calls route calls through a predefined sequence of destinations.
  • Find Me/Follow Me attempts to reach a user at a series of specified phone numbers until the call is answered or goes to voicemail.

These features provide flexibility in call management, catering to different user preferences and business needs.


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