# Phone number and voice

Pick a local number for the AI receptionist, choose the name and voice it uses on calls, and forward your business line to it.

Updated Oct 28, 2026. Source: https://smallbusinesschatbot.com/docs/user-guides/voice-agent/number-and-voice

## What this does

The AI receptionist in Small Business Chatbot answers calls on a phone number you pick. You choose the area code, the name it gives and one of eight voices. It answers every call to that number at any hour, so calls after hours and at weekends get answered too. Callers reach it by dialling the number, or through your existing line once you forward it. [Greeting and call rules](https://smallbusinesschatbot.com/docs/user-guides/voice-agent/greeting-and-call-rules) covers what it says on a call.

## Get a number

1. **Open the panel**

   In the app, open **Voice Agent › Settings**. Before you have a number, the panel shows a **Get Started** button. Click it.

2. **Search an area code**

   Under **Select an area code for your voice agent**, type a three-digit area code and click **Search**. The app lists up to 10 local numbers that take both calls and texts.

3. **Pick the number**

   Under **Choose a phone number for your voice agent**, click a number. The button asks **Proceed with this number?** Click the check mark to take it, or the cross to choose again.

4. **Copy your number**

   The panel now opens on the card **This is your voice agent's number**. Click **Copy number** to copy it for your carrier's forwarding or your website.

   ![The number card headed 'This is your voice agent's number' with a masked phone number and a Copy number button](https://smallbusinesschatbot.com/static/images/docs/user-guides/number-and-voice-number-card-2026-10-28.webp)
   *Voice Agent › Settings, October 2026*

Each account has one number. Texts go out from it too, as [How texting works](https://smallbusinesschatbot.com/docs/user-guides/texting/how-texting-works) explains.

## Forward your existing line

Callers who dial your new number reach the voice agent. To make it the AI answering service for your existing business line too, set call forwarding to your voice agent's number with your phone carrier. Forward all calls, or only the calls you don't pick up. Your carrier's forwarding decides which calls the voice agent gets, and your existing number stays with your carrier.

## Settings

These fields sit under the number card. After a change, click **Save** at the bottom of the panel. The app shows **Voice agent saved!** and the next call uses the change.

### Assistant Name

The name the voice agent gives on calls. It is separate from the name set for the chat widget in **Chat Widget › Look and Feel**.

### Company Name

The business name the voice agent uses on calls and in the booking-link text it sends. It starts as your chat widget's company name when you pick the number.

### AI Speaker

The voice it speaks with. The list has eight voices: shimmer, ash, ballad, coral, sage, verse, alloy and echo. The default is **sage**. AI calls placed by your workflows use the same voice.

> **Tip:** To hear a voice, pick it, click **Save**, then call your number.

## Release the number

Click the **×** at the top right of the number card (**Release number**). The app asks **Permanently delete this number?** Once you confirm, calls and texts to that number stop reaching the app. Your other voice settings stay, and **Get Started** lets you pick a new number.

> **Careful:** Releasing a number is permanent. The number is also released when a subscription is cancelled or a payment is disputed, as [Cancel and number release](https://smallbusinesschatbot.com/docs/user-guides/account/cancel-and-number-release) explains.

## If something goes wrong

| What you see | Why | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| **Enter a valid 3-digit area code** | The box needs exactly three digits. | Type the three digits with no spaces or brackets. |
| **Sorry, no numbers available for that area code.** | No local numbers are free in that area code. The search covers US numbers only. | Try a neighbouring area code. |
| **Failed to purchase number** | The purchase didn't go through. | Search again and pick another number. |
| Calls to your old line don't reach the voice agent | Forwarding isn't on at your carrier. | Call your voice agent's number directly to check it answers, then check the forwarding with your carrier. |