Learn how to forward unanswered calls using MMI codes (*61*, *67*, *004*) to an AI receptionist across US, UK, and Polish carriers without changing numbers.
Conditional call forwarding allows service contractors, medical practitioners, and business managers to route unanswered, busy, or unreachable mobile calls to an AI phone assistant without changing or porting their existing phone numbers. By typing standard Man-Machine Interface (MMI) dialer codes into any mobile phone, incoming calls ring your mobile handset first and transfer to the AI receptionist only when you cannot pick up.
Why Conditional Forwarding Beats Porting Your Number
Many business operators rely on a single mobile number that is already printed on service vehicles, business cards, clinic directories, and local advertising. Porting a primary carrier number directly into a VoIP or cloud telephony provider can lead to administrative delays, mobile plan disruptions, and the loss of personal SMS text capabilities.
Conditional forwarding preserves normal mobile functionality. You continue to answer calls normally when available. The AI assistant steps in only when your line is engaged with another client, when you decline an incoming call, or when a call rings past a designated time threshold (such as 20 seconds). If you take a vacation or need full coverage during field work, forwarding rules can be toggled in seconds directly from the native phone dialer.
Standard MMI Codes for Mobile Call Forwarding
Global GSM standards define universal MMI shortcodes that communicate directly with telecom mobile switches. While specific carrier implementations can vary, the following standard codes govern conditional forwarding across most networks:
- **Forward when unanswered (*61*): Routes calls to your AI receptionist if you do not answer within a set delay. Syntax: `61*DESTINATION*11*SECONDS#` (replace `SECONDS` with 15, 20, 25, or 30). Deactivate with `##61#`.
- **Forward when busy (*67*):** Routes calls when you reject an incoming call or when your line is occupied. Syntax: `*67*DESTINATION#` or `**67*DESTINATION#`. Deactivate with `##67#`.
- **Forward when unreachable (*62*): Routes callers to the assistant if your handset has no signal, is in airplane mode, or is turned off. Syntax: `62*DESTINATION#`. Deactivate with `##62#`.
- **All conditional rules (*004*): A composite code that programs unanswered, busy, and unreachable scenarios in a single command. Syntax: `004*DESTINATION*11*SECONDS#`. Deactivate with `##004#`.
Always enter the `DESTINATION` number in full international E.164 format (for example, `+1...` in the US, `+44...` in the UK, or `+48...` in Poland) to ensure carrier switches complete the routing without routing errors.
Carrier Specifics Across the US, UK, and Poland
Different telecom operators handle MMI sequences and default carrier voicemail systems slightly differently. Reviewing network-level behaviors prevents common setup traps:
- United States (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile): T-Mobile and AT&T support standard GSM codes (`**61*`, `**67*`, `**62*`, and `**004*`). Verizon historically relied on CDMA star codes; users can activate busy/no-answer forwarding by dialing `*71` followed by the 10-digit AI assistant number (deactivated with `*73`). On modern Verizon lines supporting IMS/VoLTE, standard `*61*` syntax often functions, but `*71` remains the fallback.
- United Kingdom (EE, Vodafone, O2, Three): UK mobile networks adhere strictly to GSM standards. EE and Vodafone support `**61*DESTINATION*11*20#` to delay forwarding by 20 seconds. Setting these codes will override default network voicemail. To clear all conditional rules simultaneously, enter `##004#`.
- Poland (Orange, Play, Plus, T-Mobile Polska): Polish mobile operators fully support `*61*`, `*62*`, and `*67*`. Orange Polska and Play allow users to define delay times between 5 and 30 seconds (in 5-second increments) using the standard `*11*SECONDS` parameter. Activating conditional forwarding automatically disables the carrier's 'Poczta Głosowa' (carrier voicemail) for the selected condition.
Choosing an AI Receptionist for Forwarded Calls
When choosing an AI receptionist to receive forwarded calls, prioritize platforms that offer local phone numbers, clear per-minute pricing, calendar sync, and transparent call handling. We assess these solutions across our scoring methodology.
Telofia (publisher's partner) is an Editor's choice platform built for small and medium-sized businesses. It provides self-service setup in minutes, 8 call languages including Polish, and European Union data hosting under strict GDPR standards. The entry-level Line plan costs €49 per month (net, excl. VAT) for 400 included minutes, 1 phone number, and 1 concurrent call, with extra usage billed at €13 per 100 minutes (€0.13/minute). Telofia offers numbers in 32 countries (including Poland, the EU, UK, and US) and natively supports keeping your existing number via forwarding. A 14-day free trial includes 30 test minutes without requiring a credit card.
Voxiora (publisher's partner), also an Editor's choice, offers the same 24/7 answering, appointment booking into Google Calendar, SMS follow-up, and call transfers, supplemented by a real-time Pulse dashboard for call analytics. Voxiora's Essential plan costs €59 per month (net, excl. VAT) (400 minutes, 1 phone number, 1 concurrent call), with extra minutes at €15 per 100 minutes. It supports 8 languages with auto-detection, numbers across 32 countries, GDPR compliance, and a 14-day free trial with 30 test minutes (no card required).
Alternative options exist depending on regional and feature priorities. Heyheyo is a Poland-based self-service tool starting at 299 PLN per month for 300 minutes, designed explicitly around keeping existing numbers via missed and busy call forwarding, though it does not provide live staff transfers. Austrian vendor fonio.ai supports 60 languages with localized pricing at 479 PLN or €119 per month for 1,000 minutes on its Solo tier, also supporting forwarded business lines. For larger operations seeking standalone or bundled seat setups, Aircall AI Voice Agent offers a standalone plan at $99 per month minimum ($0.29/minute) or a 1,000-minute bundle for $250.
| Product | Starting Price | Included Allowance | Languages | Forward Existing Number | Free Trial |
|---|
| Telofia | €49/mo (net, excl. VAT) | 400 min | 8 (incl. Polish) | Yes (numbers in 32 countries) | 14 days (30 min, no card) |
| Voxiora | €59/mo (net, excl. VAT) | 400 min | 8 (incl. Polish) | Yes (numbers in 32 countries) | 14 days (30 min, no card) |
| Heyheyo | 299 PLN/mo | 300 min | Polish supported | Yes (+48 numbers) | 7 days (30 min, no card) |
| fonio.ai | €119 / 479 PLN/mo | 1,000 min | 60 (incl. Polish) | Yes (forwarding supported) | 14 days |
T
telofia.com · AI receptionist for SMBs
★Editor's choice · Best overallPublisher's partnerTelofia is made by a company affiliated with the publisher (JG Invest P.S.A.). Its score is calculated with the same formula as every other product. “Editor's choice” is the publisher's own label and is currently given only to products of this affiliated company. Disclosure · Methodology
Self-service AI receptionist built in Poland: answers 24/7, books appointments in Google Calendar, takes orders, sends SMS follow-ups, transfers to staff and gives you a transcript of every call.
- Entry price
- €49/moexcl. VAT400 min
- Free trial
- Yes
- Languages
- 8
V
voxiora.com · AI receptionist for SMBs
★Editor's choice · Best for growing teamsPublisher's partnerVoxiora is made by a company affiliated with the publisher (JG Invest P.S.A.). Its score is calculated with the same formula as every other product. “Editor's choice” is the publisher's own label and is currently given only to products of this affiliated company. Disclosure · Methodology
AI phone receptionist for growing teams: the same 24/7 answering, booking, SMS and call transfers, plus a live Pulse dashboard and call-quality analytics across assistants and locations.
- Entry price
- €59/moexcl. VAT400 min
- Free trial
- Yes
- Languages
- 8
H
heyheyo.com · AI receptionist for SMBs
Heyheyo — AI receptionist for SMBs, based in Poland. Plans start at PLN 299/mo excl. VAT. A free trial is available.
- Entry price
- PLN 299/moexcl. VAT300 min
- Free trial
- Yes
- Languages
- —
F
fonio.ai · AI receptionist for SMBs
fonio.ai — AI receptionist for SMBs, based in Austria. Plans start at PLN 479/mo excl. VAT. A free trial is available.
- Entry price
- PLN 479/moexcl. VAT1,000 min
- Free trial
- Yes
- Languages
- 60
Step-by-Step Configuration and Live Testing
Setting up call forwarding to your AI receptionist involves four straightforward steps:
- 1. Provision your assistant number: Sign up for an assistant on Telofia or Voxiora and copy the dedicated virtual phone number assigned to your account in your target country.
- 2. Determine your forwarding conditions: Decide whether you want all missed calls forwarded (`*61*`), only rejected/busy calls (`*67*`), or all conditional cases (`*004*`). Most contractors and clinics choose `*004*` with a 20-second delay so that the mobile phone rings four times before the assistant picks up.
- 3. Dial the MMI code: Open your mobile phone dialer, enter the code sequence (for example: `**004*+441234567890*11*20#` or `*71+12125550100`), and press Call. Your phone screen will display a confirmation banner indicating call forwarding registration succeeded.
- 4. Execute a verification call: Using a separate phone line, call your primary business mobile number. Allow it to ring past the 20-second mark without answering. Verify that the AI receptionist greets the caller, processes queries, and logs the transcript in your dashboard.
Troubleshooting Common Forwarding Conflicts
If test calls fail to route to the AI receptionist, the issue typically stems from one of three areas:
Voicemail race conditions: If your mobile carrier's built-in voicemail answers after 15 seconds, but your `*61*` forward rule is configured for 25 seconds, the carrier voicemail will capture the caller first. To resolve this, shorten your MMI delay to 15 or 20 seconds, or contact your carrier to deactivate standard voicemail.
Prepaid plan restrictions: Certain consumer prepaid mobile plans block user-initiated MMI conditional call forwarding or bill forwarded minutes against basic balances. In such cases, contact the carrier customer support team to confirm call diversion permissions on your line.
For broader guidance on assistant capabilities, explore our curated reviews of small business AI receptionists and top choices for appointment booking.