Conditional Vs Unconditional Call Forwarding: What’s the Difference?

One of the crucial aspects of contemporary telecommunication is call forwarding.

Most users, however, are unaware of its relevance because we are accustomed to answering the phone directly.

But if you lose a critical call from your work, or if you’ve already relocated and someone dials your old home number? This is when call forwarding proves to be handy.

Although the concept of call forwarding is simple, many people are unaware of what it is and how it works.

If you don’t want to be bothered with missed calls, you’ve come to the perfect spot.

This article will explain what call forwarding is and how to set it up on your different phones along with conditional vs unconditional call forwarding (call forwarding unconditional) differences.

So, without further delay, let’s get right into the central part of this post.

What is Call Forwarding?

You may not have noticed, but most such answering machines make considerable use of this call function.

Even as the name indicates, call forwarding is the process of moving or forwarding a call from one number to another without the call being dropped. This functionality is also known as ‘call divert.’

Forwarded calls are usually the result of an unanswered, inaccessible, or busy line call. Another cause might be that the number has been abandoned, and a call diverted from such an old phone to a present, the prior user set up an active one.

In these circumstances, It is a beneficial function.

There are two forms of call forwarding in the conditions indicated above unconditional and conditional.

A call immediately redirected to another number is known as unconditional call forwarding. On the other hand, It is a call made when a phone number is unanswered, inaccessible, or busy.

What Is the Purpose of Call Forwarding?

Call forwarding is a call management feature, which helps to divert or forward your phone calls to another number. So the main purpose of call forwarding is to receive all the phone calls to a different number when your primary number is unable to receive the calls. Here are some amazing benefits of using the call forwarding feature.

1. Increased Human-to-Human Interaction

Let’s face it, we’re all sick of those automated answering machines, and we’d rather not hear the voicemail prompt, too. Call divert allows you to forward your inquiries to a live person.

This is critical in maintaining human relationships, particularly in small firms and corporations.

2. Immediate Availability

Call divert can assist you in shifting calls from your phone service to your cellular telephone when you’re away from home. In this manner, the caller may contact you from any location without the call being dropped.

This function is extensively used by businesses to speak with customer support representatives without waiting hours.

3. Better Reception on Other Numbers

Network coverage on your primary phone might be weak and irregular at times, especially in places with obstacles. Or it’s possible that VoLTE coverage isn’t yet provided in your area. Call divert can in helpful in these circumstances.

If your secondary phone has more excellent signal coverage and your primary phone’s call diversion option is turned on, you should be able to receive the call on it.

4. Multitasking

We all have demanding schedules in our different offices, and we frequently get calls one after another. This allows employees to multitask while still maximizing availability for customer problems.

Call divert can assist reroute a conversation that is intended for you all to another open line without losing the call if your line is busy while speaking to an important client.

How to Set Up Call Forwarding on Android Devices?

It’s as simple as pie to set up call forwarding on any Android smartphone and tablet. Setting up this function may be done in two ways: through your Android phone’s settings or using dial codes.

Setting Up Call Forwarding Using the Settings

1. Choose the Mobile app on your phone.

2. The three-dot or three-bar indicator, usually seen in the upper-right corner of your screen, should be tapped.

3. Select “Settings” from the drop-down menu.

4. “Call Forwarding” should now be open.

5. Toggle on “Always forward,” then input the phone number to which calls should be transferred.

You can also choose to reroute your calls in certain circumstances.

You have three options: busy forwarding, unanswered forwarding, and inaccessible forwarding.

Choose the criteria and provide the phone that will accept the redirected calls to turn them on.

How to Set Up Call Forwarding on iOS Devices?

Call divert is very simple to set up on iOS devices. On the contrary, some complicated features are not immediately available in the phone’s ‘Settings’ menu.

Setting Up Call Forwarding Using The Settings

As a result, to enable this feature for your iPhone, you must utilize dial codes.

1. Go to “Settings” and then “Phone.”

2. Select “Call Forwarding” from the drop-down menu.

3. On “Call Forwarding,” toggle it on.

4. Select “Forward To” and enter the number to which the calls should be redirected.

5. At the top-left, press the “Call Forwarding” button.

After you’ve entered your phone number, there is no “OK” or “Done” option. When you return to the “Call Forwarding” menu, this option is already active. A call diverts call forwarding logo should appear on the top of your screen. 

The specified number should also show after returning to the caller’s phone number. Toggle off “Call Forwarding” within settings to turn off.

What is Conditional Call forwarding?

Conditional call forwarding is a telecommunication feature that allows you to automatically redirect incoming calls to another phone number based on specific conditions or criteria. With conditional call forwarding, you can set up different forwarding scenarios to ensure that calls are redirected in specific situations.

Some common conditions for call forwarding include:

• Busy: Calls are forwarded when your phone line is busy, and you are unable to answer the incoming call.
• Unanswered: Calls are forwarded if you do not answer the incoming call within a specific number of rings or a designated time period.
• Unreachable: Calls are forwarded when your phone is out of coverage, turned off, or experiencing network issues.
• No Answer/Unavailable: Calls are forwarded if you are not available to take the call, which can include being busy, unreachable, or not answering within a set timeframe.

It’s perfect for forwarding rejected phone calls to various numbers rather than going to voicemail. Most individuals don’t want all calls sent, but they choose if their line is busy or no answer. Some carriers provide this service for free, some demand a premium.

What is Unconditional Call forwarding?

Call Forwarding Unconditional (CFU) is a telecommunication feature that immediately forwards all incoming calls to another phone number without allowing the device to ring under any conditions or restrictions.  When you activate this feature, calls to your phone number will be automatically redirected to the designated forwarding number, regardless of whether your phone is busy,  unanswered, turned off, or signal issue.

Unconditional call forwarding is a convenient tool that ensures you never miss important calls, even if you are unable to answer them directly. It offers flexibility and ensures that calls can be seamlessly directed to an alternative number of your choice. This feature is especially useful in situations where you might be temporarily unavailable or prefer to have calls forwarded to another device or colleague.

It’s important to note that unconditional call forwarding may incur additional charges, depending on your phone service provider and the specific terms of your plan. It’s advisable to check with your provider to understand any potential costs associated with this feature.

Conditional Vs Unconditional Call Forwarding: What are the Differences?

Is Conditional and Unconditional Call Forwarding Still Effective?

When forward while busy, forward when ignored, or forward when unavailable is selected, “Conditional Call Forwarding Active” appears. You’d have to deactivate the three forwarding possibilities in their settings to get rid of the notice.

It’s perfect for forwarding unanswered calls to a different phone number rather than going to voicemail.

Most individuals don’t want all calls forwarded, but they choose if their line is busy or there is no answer.

What are the common uses for Conditional and Unconditional Call Forwarding?

While you use conditional call forwarding (also known as No Answer/Busy Transfer), you may direct incoming calls to different phone lines when using your wireless device. Without allowing the handset to ring, Call Forwarding Unconditional (CFU) instantly redirects all calls to different numbers.

Some common uses for Conditional and Unconditional Call Forwarding are:

• Busy 
• Unanswered 
• Inaccessible 

Is Call Forwarding Free?

You might be concerned that forwarding calls would result in additional charges because your diverted calls will be forwarded to a different number.

Is call forwarding, however, free?

Most carriers now provide this feature for free. However, You will get a bill for such airtime used. Verizon, for example, includes call divert as part of much of its plans. If you have, though, an earlier project, you may be charged for it. 

AT&T, on the other hand, charges its users for the duration of their call forwarding calls, albeit specific cellular plans do not. T-Mobile also includes the service in its plans for free.

Limitations

• Billing Details

There’s no monthly price if you’re on a present plan. There may be a cost for some discontinued projects. Check the Call Forwarding page of your account to see if Call Forwarding is part of your plan. 

Despite the calls being routed to a landline, all forwarded calls are subject to airtime costs. If you have a plan that covers long-distance, You will not be billed for it. 

Forwarded calls may incur additional per-minute rates.

• Common Troubleshooting

Even the easiest of projects can become a stumbling block. Even if it is enabled, a caller may receive a busy signal while dialing your number.

Verify that the desired forwarding number was input correctly. It’s simple to press an additional button while building up the service, and the number won’t be recognized if that happens.

How to turn off conditional forwarding?

When ” Conditional Call Forwarding Active ” appears when forward when busy, Forward when unanswered, or when inaccessible is selected, “Conditional Call Forwarding Active” appears.

To remove the notice, you’d have to disable the forwarding options in their settings.

Disable Call Forwarding:

1. Tap “Menu” > “Settings”
2. Click “Call forwarding.”
3. Select the forwarding option to turn off and tap “Disable.”

📖 Read Also: Call Forwarding Vs Call Transfer: What are the differences?

What are the call forwarding costs while on international roaming?

There is no fee if you have conditional forwarding to mail when on international roaming.

The daily cost will not be triggered if you’re on $5 Roaming and forwarding calls to voicemail.

Retrieving voicemail messages will incur fees.

You’ll be charged both for calls from Australia to a country you’re in and the passage back to Australia If you already have conditional forwarding to a phone that isn’t your voicemail, and you’re visiting in a country having a Pay When You Go system Roaming rates.

If you already have conditional forwarding either to phone other than mail and are on $5 Roaming, you will be billed as if you’re in Australia, extra the $5 daily rate.

There is no fee if you have unconditional call forwarding for all calls.

Call Catcher is not available when traveling internationally.

To summarize, Types of call forwarding: conditional and unconditional

Conditional forwarding comes in three flavors. 

• When a phone ring goes unanswered for a specified number of rings, the call is forwarded.
• The call is forwarded via a second type.
• When your phone is not linked to the network, a third type forwards (IE, it is turned off, or you are out of the signal area).

Take, for example, KrispCall, which allows you to manage your call logs with ease. Its consolidated callbox tracks and controls incoming and outgoing business calls, recorded conversations, messages, and voicemails.

Each of these conditional forwards may be separately engaged and deactivated, and each can be routed to a different number.

FAQs

Arun Chaudhary

Arun is SEO Analyst at KrispCall. He has written in extensively in the field of cloud telephony and call center solutions.