Answering Service

Live call answering for small and large businesses

Virtual receptionists answer business calls for the clients of this company, which trades online as AnsweringService.com. It stresses that its receptionists are based in the United States, and that a caller is greeted by a live person using the business name and a greeting chosen by the client. The process it describes has four steps: the customer's call is diverted to the service, the call is answered with the client's greeting, it is handled the way the client's business requires, and the details are sent by email, text message or both.

What the receptionists do

Calls can be transferred to the client wherever the client is, passed to different staff members or departments, or taken as messages. Appointment scheduling is among the tasks mentioned, and clients can choose how and when messages reach them. Phone assistants can also take on more complex work, such as taking payments and entering data into a CRM. Answering takes place around the clock, including weekends and holidays, and the company says calls are picked up in under ten seconds on average, or about three rings.

AI answering with a person behind it

An AI call answering option is offered as well, and the company says every call has human backup.

Tools around the call

A message center lets clients change settings instantly, sending calls to any number, taking messages or sending a text. Text-to-speech lets a client call in and hear messages read aloud. The service can use the business's own number or supply a local number, and further options include toll-free numbers, custom IVR, call diversion and voicemail-to-email. Clients can block unwanted numbers, and the company says it does not charge for telemarketing calls.

Why the company says it matters

The company argues that people prefer to speak to another person and that a real voice builds a reputation for reliability and warm customer care. It estimates that clients save more than ten hours a month by handing calls over. It offers a free seven-day trial and no minimum contract period, and its packages are scaled for businesses from small to large.

Answering Service, which trades online as AnsweringService.com, supplies virtual receptionists who answer business calls around the clock. Callers hear a live person using the client's greeting, and the details of each call are sent on by email, SMS or both.

What Answering Service does

• Live call answering: receptionists answer 24/7, including weekends and holidays, and handle each call as the business requires.
• AI call answering: an automated answering option with human backup on every call.
• Call transfers and messages: calls passed to staff members or departments wherever they are, or taken as messages.
• Virtual assistants: phone assistants who can handle more complex tasks such as taking payments and CRM data entry.
• Local numbers: a local phone number can be provided instead of the client's existing line.
• Message centre: settings that can be changed at any time, plus a feature that reads messages aloud by phone.

Clients

The company offers packages for small through to large businesses that want every call answered by a person.

Key facts

• Staff location: receptionists based in the United States
• Speed: answers calls in under 10 seconds on average
• Delivery: call details by email, SMS or both