How AI phone answering works
When someone calls your business, your phone carrier sends the call to FrontDesk Talk. That happens through call forwarding, which you turn on with a short code or a setting, or by porting your number to us.
The AI picks up, greets the caller with your business name, and has a real conversation. It listens, understands what the caller wants, and answers from what you’ve told it about your business. It can take a message, book an appointment on the Real Talk plan and up, or transfer an urgent call to your cell.
When the call ends, you get a Talk Note, the summary by text and email. Nothing changes for your customers. They dial the same number and simply get an answer.
You stay in control of what it says. Update your hours, prices, or answers in FrontDesk Talk, and the next caller hears the change.
What it does on the line
Picks up on the first ring
No ringing out to voicemail and no phone tree to press through.
Understands plain speech
Callers talk normally. No keywords, no “press 1.”
Answers from your details
The hours, prices, services, and FAQs you set up.
Takes action
Books, takes a message, or transfers, depending on the call.
Many calls at once
Every caller gets answered, even at your busiest hour.
English and Spanish
It follows the caller’s language.
Pick how calls reach it
Your carrier decides how forwarding is turned on. Our guides walk you through it.
Forward all calls
Every call goes straight to FrontDesk Talk. Best if you never want to answer yourself.
Forward when busy or unanswered
Your phone rings first. It only picks up when you’re busy or don’t answer.
Forward after hours
Turn forwarding on when you close and off when you open.
Port your number
Move your number to FrontDesk Talk entirely. Callers dial the same number as always.
AI phone answering plans
AI phone answering starts at $99 a month for 200 minutes of Talk Time on Small Talk. Real Talk adds calendar booking and texting for $199, and Big Talk adds outbound calls and up to 3 numbers for $399. Extra Talk Time is $0.45 a minute.
Small Talk
Answers every call, 24/7.
Billed monthly
For owners who can’t always get to the phone.
- Answers every call, 24/7
- Talk Notes by text and email after every call
- Answers your FAQs, hours, and prices
- Transfers urgent calls to your cell
- Keep your current number
Real Talk
RecommendedAnswers, books appointments, and texts back.
Billed monthly
For businesses that run on appointments.
- Everything in Small Talk
- Books into Google or Outlook Calendar
- Talk Back texts every caller you missed
- Two-way texting with customers
- Call recordings and transcripts
Big Talk
Adds outbound calls and up to 3 lines.
Billed monthly
For teams ready to call customers back.
- Everything in Real Talk
- Outbound call campaigns
- Up to 3 numbers or locations
- Custom AI voice
- Priority support
Extra Talk Time is $0.45 a minute. We text you before you reach your limit, so there are no surprises on your bill.
Running a healthcare practice? FrontDesk Care adds HIPAA compliance, a signed BAA, and EHR connections. Visit FrontDesk Care
What changes when AI answers instead of voicemail
Your phone setup stays the same. What the caller gets is completely different.
AI phone answering for
Questions
Does it work with my phone carrier?
It works with any phone carrier that supports call forwarding. You can also port your number to us. Our guides cover AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Comcast Business, Spectrum Business, RingCentral, Google Voice, and landlines.
Do I need new phones or equipment?
No. FrontDesk Talk works through forwarding or porting. There’s nothing to install.
Can it answer only some calls?
Yes. Use busy and no-answer forwarding so your phone rings first, or forward only after hours.
What does the caller hear?
A natural voice that greets them with your business name and helps with what they need. It tells callers it’s an AI assistant when asked.
How fast can I be live?
Setup takes about 10 minutes, and turning on forwarding takes about a minute.
Can it handle several calls at once?
Yes. It answers many calls at the same time, so callers never hear a busy signal.
Does it work for more than one location?
Big Talk covers up to 3 numbers or locations. Small Talk and Real Talk cover one.
Is it for healthcare?
No. FrontDesk Talk isn’t for health information. Healthcare practices should use FrontDesk Care.
Keep reading
Stop paying for voicemail.
Setup takes about 10 minutes. Cancel anytime.