As a business owner, you take important phone calls at the office. But you’re not always in the office. You’re meeting clients, attending events, and ducking out for lunch at school with the kids.
So what do you do when an important call comes in on your business phone system but you’re not there to take it?
Believe it or not, business owners have plenty of options in this situation. Most offices have a landline, and most business owners or managers have a smartphone. You can easily connect the two to create a simple system that keeps you reachable no matter where you are.
Having a landline at home might seem outdated now. More than half of Americans have switched to wireless-only households, and that trend is still growing. As you might guess, most people who still have landlines at home are older and often empty-nesters. Interestingly, many boomerang kids — young adults who moved back home after college — also live in homes with landlines.
Despite slowly going extinct in use, it’s still possible for your business to receive phone calls from landlines. In this article, we’ll teach you 3 possible ways to forward a landline call to your cellphone. Let’s start!
Keeping Up With Technology
Getting rid of landlines might be common at home, but it’s a different story for businesses. Chances are, some offices still have a dedicated phone or phone system with its own number — and for good reason.
For one, call quality matters. If you rely on three-way calls or hold important meetings over the phone, a solid connection can make a big difference. Plus, having a dedicated business number can help your company look more professional and trustworthy.
When people can tell that your business relies on cell phones for communication, they might make assumptions. Some may think you’re part of a big corporation, while others may see you as a tech-focused company. If neither of those sounds like you, it can feel a bit off.
On top of that, some businesses just feel more secure knowing their calls go through a landline, especially when privacy is a concern.
Because of these reasons, landlines can still be a good choice as a phone system for your small business. But they can be tricky when you’re often on the go.
If you’re running things solo, managing a virtual team, or spending a lot of time in meetings, you’re probably out of the office a lot. That makes it important to have your calls forwarded to your cell phone so you don’t miss anything important.
3 Ways You Can Forward Landline Phone Calls to Your Cell Phone Number
So what are the ways you can forward your landline phone to your cell phone? Here are three good ones!
1. A Receptionist Can Forward the Calls By Hand
You could hire a full-time receptionist to answer your office phone and forward calls to your cell phone the old-fashioned way when you’re out of the office.
Pros of the Traditional Receptionist Model
A receptionist can be a helpful point of contact for both customers and team members in a small business. They manage several tasks that keep things organized and running smoothly. This includes answering the phone, opening the mail, and greeting guests.
They also manage files, handle administrative duties, and schedule meetings. In addition to these tasks, a receptionist can forward calls when you’re unavailable, making sure no important messages are missed. They can also screen calls by providing details about who called, when they called, and why.
If a caller sounds upset, the receptionist can give you a heads-up before you take the call.
Cons of the Traditional Receptionist Model
Running a front desk with a traditional receptionist may seem like the obvious choice, but it’s not always the most practical one.
Hiring a full-time receptionist can be costly, and many small businesses may not have the budget for it. While a skilled receptionist can provide valuable support, their salary, insurance, and paid time off can quickly add up— often exceeding $27,000 per year.
Although they can help with tasks like transferring calls and managing communication, those benefits don’t always justify the cost.
Fortunately, many receptionist tasks can now be automated. From answering calls to scheduling meetings, technology can handle these duties efficiently.
If you still need personal phone greetings, concierge services, or office management support, you may find it more affordable to assign these tasks to another employee or outsource them. This can save money, especially if your business doesn’t handle a large number of calls.
As a business owner, you may also find that your budget is better spent on areas like sales, marketing, product development, financial management, or custodial services rather than investing in a full-time receptionist.
2. Use the Star Code Option
A star code makes it easy to forward calls from your landline to your cell phone automatically. By dialing a specific code, usually *72, you can turn on call forwarding and send calls straight to the number you choose.
If you’re away from your office and forgot to set it up, you can even activate call forwarding remotely.
Pros of the Star Code Option Model
The star code option model offers several benefits. It’s easy to use since you can enter the numbers on the dial pad in less than a minute and be on your way. It’s also automated, making it unlikely to fail while keeping costs low — in many cases, it’s free.
Another advantage is that the caller never knows the difference. The phone doesn’t announce that it’s forwarding the call to a different number; it simply connects them without any noticeable change.
Cons of the Star Code Option Model
One downside of the star code option model is that you may forget to turn off call forwarding, which could leave you receiving calls at inconvenient times — whether you’re on vacation, relaxing on the weekend, or busy with other tasks.
Another drawback is that the landline can only forward to one cell number, meaning you may end up getting calls meant for your colleagues or team members.
While this method can work well for a one-person operation, it quickly becomes difficult to manage once you add a second staff member, even a part-timer, making it less suitable for growing businesses.
3. Use a Virtual Phone System
What is a virtual phone system? It’s a cloud-based telecommunications system that lets you make or receive calls from anywhere using nothing more than your personal laptop or mobile device.
Pros of the Virtual Phone System Model:
Virtual phone systems offer you a myriad of benefits, such as:
Flexibility and Mobility
A virtual phone system offers flexibility that a landline can’t match. Your phone will ring no matter where you are, so you don’t have to set up call forwarding every time you leave the office or remember to turn it off when you return.
Text Messaging and Email Support
A virtual phone system allows you to send and receive text messages, emails, and phone calls. Since many customers now prefer to text vendors rather than call for minor concerns, this feature makes communication easier while letting you manage everything through your business number.
Supports Personal Devices
Many employees prefer to use their own phones for work, including those in sales, banking, retail, healthcare, hospitality, and real estate. A virtual phone system allows them to do this without compromising professional communication.
No Additional Hardware Needed
A virtual phone system works with your existing mobile, home, and office phones. There’s no need to buy, install, or maintain expensive equipment since everything operates virtually.
Clear Sound Quality
While internet-based calls once suffered from poor sound quality, that’s no longer an issue. Modern virtual phone systems offer clear, reliable audio for smooth conversations.
24/7 Customer Support
With a virtual phone system like Talkroute, you can get support whenever you need it. There’s no need to contact a managed service provider or hire a specialist — just reach out for help directly.
Separate Business and Personal Numbers
A virtual phone system allows you to keep your business number separate from your personal number while still directing both to the same phone. This makes it easy to tell business calls from personal ones without juggling multiple devices.
No Long-Term Commitments
A virtual phone system offers flexible, month-to-month payments with no contracts. You can stop the service whenever you choose without worrying about early termination fees.
Cons of the Virtual Phone System Model
Some virtual phone systems rely entirely on your internet connection. If your internet service is strong, the phone system is reliable, but poor internet can cause issues.
Talkroute works differently by connecting calls through carrier networks, so it doesn’t depend on internet speeds. This means your calls will have consistent quality and clarity no matter how fast or slow your internet is.
Virtual phone systems can be more vulnerable to hacking than traditional landlines. If your business handles sensitive information, it’s a good idea to speak with your technology-focused managed service provider, such as Talkroute, about additional cybersecurity measures. Unless you work in one of the few specific verticals, this consideration will not be an issue.
For most business owners, a virtual phone system will provide the best quality service at the most affordable price, making phone calls easy to route and manage. But how do you use a virtual phone system?
How to Get Started Using a Virtual Phone System
Start by signing up with a virtual phone system like Talkroute. You can either keep your current business number or choose a new one from our inventory of numbers. This number becomes your main business line, but calls will go straight to your cell phone.
Your personal number stays private. When you make outgoing calls, your business number appears on the caller ID — not your personal one.
You can also create a separate business voicemail and text service based on the number your customers dial. To make your phone sound even more professional, you can add features like a call menu or hold music. That way, customers won’t know they’re reaching your cell phone.
In short, you’ll manage your business from your personal phone without anyone knowing. Pretty smart, right? We think so, too.
Recommended reading:
Best Call Forwarding Service for Business: Top Choices Reviewed
How to Create Your Own After-Hours Phone Service
Get Rid of Your Landline And Switch to Smarter Phone System With Talkroute
For many businesses, having a landline can feel necessary to look professional and keep business calls separate from personal ones. But with a virtual phone system like Talkroute, you don’t need a landline at all.
Talkroute gives you a business number that works through your cell phone. You can share this number with customers and clients while still using your personal device. Incoming and outgoing calls will show as either your personal or business number, depending on what you choose.
Once you also compare the costs of your monthly phone bill, you may find that skipping a landline leads to more savings than expected.
As a small business owner, responding quickly to clients is key. A system like Talkroute helps you stay professional and connected, whether you hire a receptionist, use automated call forwarding, or rely on Talkroute’s smart features to manage your calls.
- Call forwarding and routing – Forward calls to your cell phone, office phone, or desktop app. You can control when and where calls go to keep things organized.
- Business texting – Send and receive text messages using your business number, making it easy to connect with clients.
- Video meetings – Host video calls with up to 100 participants, giving you more ways to connect with team members or clients.
- Voicemail management – Access voicemail from your email, browser, or Talkroute app. You can even receive voicemail transcriptions for easier follow-up.
- Custom menus and extensions – Route calls to the right team member or department to keep things running smoothly.
Smarter calls, stronger connections. Switch from your landline with a free trial.
FAQs About How to Forward a Landline to A Cell Phone
Why is *72 not working to forward calls?
If 72 isn’t working to forward landline calls, there could be a few reasons. First, check if your landline service provider includes the call forwarding feature in your plan. Some providers may require you to activate it before use. Also, make sure you’re dialing the correct sequence: dial 72, then enter the cell phone number where you want to receive your incoming calls. If the feature still doesn’t work, your landline phone may not support this option, or your provider may have different steps for activating call forwarding. Contact your landline service provider for help.
How do you divert a landline to a mobile phone?
To forward landline calls to your mobile device, pick up your landline phone and dial *72, followed by your cell phone number. Wait for a confirmation tone or message before hanging up. This should redirect incoming calls from your landline number to your mobile device. If this method doesn’t work, your landline service provider may require a different process. Some VOIP services and digital phone systems may have online portals where you can manage call forwarding settings.
Can I transfer a landline to a cell phone?
Yes, you can transfer landline calls to your cell phone using the call forwarding feature. Dial *72 on your landline phone, enter your cell phone number, and listen for a confirmation tone before hanging up. This method should send your incoming calls directly to your mobile device. If your landline service provider has a different process or if your landline number is on a VoIP service, you may need to adjust settings through their platform.
What is *73 on your phone?
Dialing *73 on your landline phone cancels call forwarding. Once you dial this code and hear a confirmation tone, your landline number will start receiving calls again. If your landline service provider uses a different code to disable call forwarding, check their instructions to avoid missing incoming calls.
Stephanie
Stephanie is the Marketing Director at Talkroute and has been featured in Forbes, Inc, and Entrepreneur as a leading authority on business and telecommunications.
Stephanie is also the chief editor and contributing author for the Talkroute blog helping more than 200k entrepreneurs to start, run, and grow their businesses.
