Contact Methods
The Contact Methods section is where you manage all the ways calls can be handled in your phone system. This includes:
- App configurations for the phone system app
- SIP accounts for VoIP phones and softphones
- PSTN routing for forwarding to regular phone numbers
- External SIP URIs for routing to other VoIP systems
- Email addresses for receiving voicemails and call recordings
Keep in mind once a contact method is configured it can be setup to work without using the panel and/or modules. To setup the App as a contact method you'll need to do this from the user menu.
Common Settingsβ
Inbound Calls Configurationβ
All contact methods (except email) share these common inbound call settings:
-
DID Number: Select which FlyNumber rings to this contact method
warningIf you set a DID number here, you can't use it in a phone number module for call flows. Leave this empty if you want to use the number in a more complex call flow.
-
Internal Number: Set an extension for internal calling
- 1-4 digit number
- Must be unique across your system
- Used for quick internal dialing
-
When unavailable: Choose what happens when calls can't be answered
- Do Nothing: End the call
- Route to Voicemail: Send to voicemail with selected greeting
- Custom handling options may vary by contact method type
-
Voicemail audio: Select greeting for voicemail (if enabled)
- Choose from your uploaded audio files
- Different greetings for different scenarios
- Professional message recommendations
Integration with Call Flowsβ
All contact methods (App configurations, SIP accounts, PSTN routes, and SIP forwarding) can be integrated into your call flows using the Ring Group module. This allows you to:
- Create complex routing scenarios
- Combine with other call handling features
- Set up conditional routing
To use a contact method in a call flow:
- Clear the DID number from the contact method's inbound settings
- Use a Phone Number module connected to a Ring Group
- Add the contact method as a destination in the Ring Group
You can enhance your call flow by adding other modules like:
- Time Router for schedule-based routing
- Voice Menu for interactive menus
- Other modules to build complex call flows
Call Transfersβ
Call transfer functionality allows callers to transfer calls to other numbers using feature codes. This applies to both SIP Accounts and PSTN Routes (regular phone number forwarding). When "Allow Call Transfer" is enabled in the contact method settings, callers can perform call transfers during a call.
To configure call transfers, you need to:
- Enable Allow Call Transfer in the settings of your SIP Account or PSTN Route
- Ensure the appropriate feature codes are set up in Settings β Feature Codes
There are two types of transfers available, here's how it could work:
1. Attended Transferβ
- Press *11 during the call (using our example)
- Enter the destination number in E.164 format (without +) followed by #
- The system announces "Transfer"
- Speak with the new recipient first
- Complete the transfer after confirmation
- Return to the original caller if needed
Perfect for when you need to:
- Confirm recipient availability
- Provide context before transfer
- Ensure a proper handoff
2. Unattended Transferβ
- Press *22 during the call (using our example)
- Enter the destination number in E.164 format (without +) followed by #
- The system announces "Transfer"
- The call transfers immediately
- The original caller connects directly to the destination
Ideal for:
- Quick transfers
- Known recipients
- Routine call routing
Enabling call transfers may incur additional per-minute charges for the transferred calls.
App Configurations π±β
The App Configurations tab shows all users who have the phone system app configured. Here you can manage app settings like inbound/outbound calling options and recording preferences. Once configured, these app configurations can be used as destinations in your call flow with-in the ring group module.
Unlike other contact methods which can be added directly in the Contact Methods menu, app configurations must be set up through the Users menu. See App Integration in Users for details.
There are two ways to set up app configurations:
-
For New Users:
- Create a new user in the Users menu
- Enable "Configure application line in the next step"
- Complete the app configuration setup
- User will receive an email with activation instructions
-
For Existing Users:
- Ensure the user has an email address
- Go to the Users menu
- Use "Send invite to app" from the Actions menu
- See Sending App Invitations for step-by-step instructions
The interface displays key information for each app user:
Field | Description |
---|---|
User | Name of the app user |
Number | Assigned FlyNumber for inbound calls |
Internal number | Extension for internal calling |
When unavailable | Action taken when user can't answer |
Enable external outbound calls | Whether external calling is allowed |
Caller ID(s) | Numbers used for outbound calls |
Caller ID name | Display name for outbound calls |
Internal caller ID | Identity for internal calls |
Inbound internal | Call recording setting for internal incoming calls |
Delivery Method | Where call recordings are sent |
Inbound external | Call recording setting for external incoming calls |
Outbound internal | Call recording setting for internal outgoing calls |
Outbound external | Call recording setting for external outgoing calls |
On demand | Whether manual call recording is enabled |
You can drag columns left or right to rearrange them in any order you prefer. This helps you focus on the most important information for your needs.
Click the download icon in the top right corner to export all app configurations to a CSV file. This can be useful for backup purposes or bulk review of settings.
Managing App Settingsβ
To modify an app user's settings:
- Click the Actions menu (three dots) for the user
- Select "Edit"
- Adjust the configuration options:
Call Settingsβ
Outbound Calls
- Enable external outbound calls: Toggle ability to make external calls
- Caller IDs: Choose which numbers to use for outbound calls
- Caller ID name: Set the display name for outbound calls
- Internal Caller ID: Set identity for internal calls
- Announcements: Configure audio for internal/external calls
Call Recordingβ
Configure recording settings:
- Delivery Method: Where recordings are sent (Email, Dropbox, FTP, SFTP, Google Drive, OneDrive, or Cloud Storage)
- Call Types to Record:
- Inbound Internal
- Inbound External
- Outbound Internal
- Outbound External
- Record on Demand: Enable manual recording during calls
Call recordings are:
- Sent immediately after each call ends
- Not stored on phone system servers
- Subject to email server file size limits (approximately 7MB per hour)
In addition to the standard delivery methods, you can optionally configure cloud storage integration (AWS, Azure, or MinIO) through Settings β Cloud Storage Integrations. This provides an alternative way to store and manage your recordings.
To remove an app device, you'll need to do this from the Users section under App Devices.
SIP Accounts πβ
SIP accounts provide an alternative way to use your phone system with any SIP-compatible client. Instead of using the phone system app, you can configure your preferred SIP client (like Zoiper or Groundwire) using credentials provided by the system. Once configured, these SIP accounts can be used as destinations in your call flow with-in the ring group module.
For simple use cases, you can set up a SIP account here for inbound and outbound calls without needing to set up call flow logic. Just configure the account settings and start using it with your SIP client right away. For more complex scenarios, you can integrate the SIP account into your call flows using ring groups.
The SIP Accounts interface displays:
Field | Description |
---|---|
ID | Unique identifier for the SIP account |
User | Name of the user assigned to this account |
Number | FlyNumber assigned for inbound calls |
Internal number | Extension for internal calling |
When unavailable | Action taken when user can't answer |
Allow Call Transfer | Indicates if call transfer is enabled |
Enable external outbound calls | Whether external calling is allowed |
Caller ID | Number used for outbound calls |
Caller ID name | Display name for outbound calls |
Internal caller ID | Identity for internal calls |
Delivery Method | Where call recordings are sent |
Inbound internal | Call recording setting for internal incoming calls |
Inbound external | Call recording setting for external incoming calls |
Outbound internal | Call recording setting for internal outgoing calls |
Outbound external | Call recording setting for external outgoing calls |
Record on demand | Whether manual call recording is enabled |
You can drag columns left or right to rearrange them in any order you prefer. You can also download your SIP account configurations by clicking the download icon in the top right corner.
Creating a SIP Accountβ
To create a new SIP account:
- Click the + button in the bottom right corner
- Configure the following sections:
General Settingsβ
Select the user who will own this SIP account. The user's settings and permissions will apply to this account.
Call Settingsβ
Outbound Calls
Set up outgoing call options:
- Enable external outbound calls: Toggle ability to make external calls
- Caller ID: Choose which number to use for outbound calls
- Internal Caller ID: Set identity for internal calls
- Announcements: Configure audio for internal/external calls
Call Recordingβ
Configure recording settings:
- Delivery Method: Where recordings are sent
- Call Types to Record:
- Inbound Internal
- Inbound External
- Outbound Internal
- Outbound External
- Record on Demand: Enable manual recording during calls
Call recordings are:
- Sent immediately after each call ends
- Not stored on phone system servers
- Subject to email server file size limits (approximately 7MB per hour)
In addition to the standard delivery methods, you can optionally configure cloud storage integration (AWS, Azure, or MinIO) through Settings β Cloud Storage Integrations. This provides an alternative way to store and manage your recordings.
Advanced Settingsβ
Configure technical settings:
Allowed IPs
- Enable to restrict registration to specific IP addresses
- Support for both IPv4 and IPv6
- CIDR notation allowed for IP ranges
Codecs
- OPUS
- G722
- PCMU
- PCMA
- G729
- GSM
- telephone-event (required for interactive menus and feature codes)
Media Types
- RTP (default)
- SRTP-SDES
- SRTP-DTLS
Transport Protocol
- TCP
- UDP
- TLS
- WSS
Encrypted media types (SRTP) and transport protocols (TLS) are disabled by default. Contact support to enable these features.
SIP Credentialsβ
After saving, click the edit button (three dots on the right) to view the SIP credentials needed for your client:
If you added this SIP account to a ring group, you can click the gear icon of the ring group module, then the edit icon on the SIP account destination to also view the SIP credentials.
PSTN Routes (phone number forwarding) πβ
PSTN Routes allow you to forward calls from your FlyNumber to any regular phone number. Once you setup a route, you can then use the "contact method" anywhere in your call flow with-in the ring group module.
For simple forwarding needs, you can configure everything right here without creating complex call flows on the panel itself. Just select your FlyNumber and enter the destination phone number to get started.
There is a phone system specific per-minute rate when forwarding calls to regular phone numbers.
The PSTN Routes interface displays:
Field | Description |
---|---|
Destination Number | The phone number receiving forwarded calls |
User | Name of the user this route is assigned to |
Number | FlyNumber used for inbound calls |
Internal number | Extension for internal calling |
When unavailable | Action taken when destination is unreachable |
Allow Call Transfer | Indicates if call transfer is enabled |
You can drag columns left or right to rearrange them in any order you prefer. You can also download your PSTN routes configuration by clicking the download icon in the top right corner.
Creating a PSTN Routeβ
To create a new PSTN route:
- Click the + button in the bottom right corner
- Configure the following settings:
General Settingsβ
Configure the basic settings:
- User: Select the user who will own this route
- Phone number: Enter the destination number in E.164 format:
- No + symbol, 011, or 00 prefix
- Include country code and full number
- Examples:
- UK: 44405551212
- USA: 12125551212
- Allow Call Transfer: Enable to allow callers to transfer calls
warning
Enabling call transfers may incur additional per-minute charges for the transferred calls.
SIP Forwarding βͺοΈβ
The SIP Forwarding tab allows you to set your FlyNumber to ring directly to an external SIP address or URI. This can be an external VoIP provider or your own VoIP solution (Asterisk, FreeSwitch, 3CX, etc.). Once configured, these SIP forwarding rules can be used as destinations in your call flow with-in the ring group module.
General Settingsβ
Configure the connection details for your SIP system:
- User: Select the user who will own this configuration
- Username: Your SIP username
- Domain: The SIP domain or IP address
- Port: The port number for SIP communication
- Network Protocol: Choose from:
- IPv4 Only
- IPv6 Only
- Dualstack
- IPv4 Preferred
- IPv6 Preferred
- Process 30X redirects: Enable/disable SIP redirect handling
You can use SIP forwarding with various SIP-enabled systems and software including:
- Asterisk
- FreePBX
- FreeSwitch
- 3CX
- Any SIP-compatible PBX or provider
IP Whitelistingβ
If your SIP system or provider uses IP-based security, you'll need to whitelist our IP ranges:
46.19.208.0/21 (46.19.208.0 - 46.19.215.254) - for incoming and outgoing traffic
For RTP media, allow the following port range:
16384-32767
If your system accepts traffic from all IPs, whitelisting is not required (though not recommended for security reasons).
This is different from traditional call forwardingβinstead of forwarding calls, you're configuring the number to connect directly to your SIP-enabled system or provider. Check out our blog post on Forwarding Calls vs Setting Calls.
Email Contact Methods π©β
The Email tab allows you to configure email addresses that will receive system notifications, voicemails, and call recordings. These email contact methods are used throughout the system whenever you need to send notifications or recordings to users.
The Email interface displays:
Field | Description |
---|---|
User | Name of the user this email is assigned to |
The email address for notifications | |
Status | Verification status of the email address |
Creating an Email Contact Methodβ
To add a new email contact method:
- Click the + button in the bottom right corner
- Configure the settings:
- User: Select the user who will own this email contact
- Email: Enter the email address that will receive notifications
After saving, a verification email will be sent to the provided address. The email contact method must be verified before it can receive notifications.
Domain Verificationβ
For organizations adding multiple email addresses under the same domain, you can verify the entire domain instead of verifying each email individually. This is configured in Settings β Domains.
- Validate an entire domain once
- Skip individual email verifications
- Streamline adding new users
- Perfect for larger organizations
To verify a domain:
- Go to Settings β Domains
- Enter your domain name
- A TXT record will be generated
- Add the TXT record to your domain's DNS settings
- Click Verify to complete the process
DNS changes may take some time to propagate. If verification fails initially, wait a few minutes and try again.
Once a domain is verified:
- All email addresses from that domain are automatically verified when created
- No need for individual verification emails
- Faster setup for new users
Domain verification is optional. You can still verify email addresses individually if preferred.