Getting Started

Welcome to Answring! This guide will help you set up your AI receptionist and start handling calls in minutes.

1Create Your Account

Sign up at answring.com using your email or Google account.

2Set Up Your First Client

Click the + button to create a new client. Fill in your business details:

• Business Name — How your AI will identify your business
• Phone Number — The number callers will reach (Twilio number)
• Industry — Helps optimize AI responses
• Greeting — Custom message when calls are answered

3Connect Your Calendar

In client settings, click "Connect Google Calendar" to allow Answring to book appointments on your behalf. See the Calendar Integration section for detailed setup instructions.

4Start Receiving Calls

Forward your business line to your Answring number, or use the provided number directly. Your AI receptionist is now live!

Call Forwarding Setup

Keep your existing business phone number and forward calls to your Answring AI receptionist. No need to change your number — your customers call the same number they always have.

Two Forwarding Modes

🔀 Unconditional Forwarding (All Calls)

Every call to your business number goes directly to your Answring AI receptionist. Best for:

• After-hours coverage (enable at end of day, disable in the morning)
• Businesses that want AI to handle all calls
• Vacation / out-of-office mode

📵 Conditional Forwarding (No Answer / Busy)

Calls only forward to Answring when you don't pick up or your line is busy. You answer when you can — the AI catches everything else. Best for:

• Businesses that want to answer calls personally when available
• "Safety net" mode — never miss a call again
• Small offices with occasional high call volume

iPhone & Android Settings

You can also set up forwarding directly in your phone's settings:

iPhone

1. Go to Settings → Phone → Call Forwarding
2. Toggle on and enter your Answring number
3. Note: This is unconditional forwarding only. Not available on all carriers (works on GSM/T-Mobile/AT&T, not Verizon CDMA).

Android

1. Open Phone app → ⋮ Menu → Settings → Calls → Call Forwarding
2. Choose: Always forward, When busy, When unanswered, or When unreachable
3. Enter your Answring number

Google Voice

1. Go to voice.google.com/settings
2. Under "Calls", find "Call forwarding"
3. Add your Answring number as a forwarding number

Business VoIP Systems

If your business uses a VoIP phone system, you can forward calls to Answring through your admin portal. Here are instructions for the most common platforms:

RingCentral

1. Log in to admin.ringcentral.com
2. Go to Phone System → Users → [Select User]
3. Click "Call Handling & Forwarding"
4. Under "Call Forwarding", choose:
   • "Always" for unconditional forwarding
   • "When Busy" or "When Unanswered" for conditional
5. Enter your Answring number
6. Set ring delay (recommended: 20-30 seconds for conditional)
7. Save changes

Vonage Business

1. Log in to Vonage Business Portal
2. Go to Features → Call Forwarding
3. Choose forwarding type:
   • "Forward All Calls" (unconditional)
   • "Forward When Busy" or "Forward When No Answer" (conditional)
4. Enter your Answring number
5. For conditional, set ring time (20-30 seconds recommended)
6. Click Apply

Grasshopper

1. Log in to grasshopper.com
2. Go to Settings → Call Forwarding
3. Select your main number
4. Add Answring number to forwarding list
5. Choose simultaneous ring or sequential ring
6. For conditional: set ring order and delays
7. Save settings

Ooma Office

1. Log in to office.ooma.com
2. Go to Extensions → [Your Extension]
3. Click "Call Forwarding"
4. Enable forwarding and enter Answring number
5. Choose: Always, No Answer (set delay), or Busy
6. Save changes

8x8

1. Log in to 8x8 Manager
2. Go to Phone System → Extensions
3. Select your extension → Call Forwarding
4. Configure:
   • "Forward All Calls" (unconditional)
   • "No Answer" or "Busy" (conditional)
5. Enter Answring number
6. Set ring duration for conditional (20-30 sec)
7. Apply settings

Generic VoIP / PBX

If your system isn't listed:

1. Look for "Call Forwarding" or "Call Routing" settings
2. You need either "Unconditional Forward" or "Forward on Busy/No Answer"
3. Contact your VoIP provider's support - they can set it up remotely
4. Tell them: "Forward calls to [Answring number] when unanswered after 20 seconds"

Testing VoIP Forwarding

1. Set up forwarding in your VoIP admin panel
2. Call your business number from a cell phone
3. For conditional: Let it ring past your ring time (don't answer)
4. You should be connected to Answring AI
5. For unconditional: AI should answer immediately

Testing Your Setup

1. Set up forwarding using one of the methods above
2. Call your business number from a different phone
3. You should hear your Answring AI receptionist answer
4. To disable, use the disable code or toggle off in settings

Configuration

Answring provides extensive configuration options to customize your AI receptionist's behavior, voice, and capabilities.

Client Settings

Each client can be configured independently with these settings:

Identity Settings

• Business Name — Your business name
• Phone Number — Twilio number assigned to this client
• Calendar ID — Google Calendar ID for scheduling
• Active Status — Enable or disable call handling

AI Configuration

• LLM Model — GPT-4.1-mini (optimized for fast, natural conversations)
• STT Model — Deepgram Nova-3 (best-in-class speech recognition)
• TTS Provider — Cartesia (low-latency, natural voice synthesis)
• TTS Voice — Specific voice preset for your brand

Behavior Settings

• System Prompt — Define AI personality and instructions (see Prompting Guide)
• Initial Greeting — First message spoken to callers
• Enabled Tools — Which features are available (calendar, booking, etc.)

Voice Selection

Answring uses Cartesia for text-to-speech, providing low-latency, natural-sounding voices optimized for phone conversations.

Available Voices

Choose from 19 professional voice presets:

• Professional voices — Cindy (Receptionist), Kevin (Executive)
• Friendly voices — Sarah (Cheerful), Emily (Warm)
• Authoritative voices — David (Professional), Marcus (Deep)

AI Model

All tiers use GPT-4.1-mini by OpenAI — the best balance of speed, quality, and cost for real-time phone conversations. LLM cost is less than 1% of total call cost, so every plan gets the same high-quality AI.

Calendar Integration

Answring integrates with Google Calendar to provide real-time appointment scheduling. The system supports three authentication methods.

Authentication Methods

Method 1: OAuth 2.0 (Recommended)

OAuth provides secure, user-friendly calendar access with one-click authorization.

Prerequisites

• Google Cloud Project with Calendar API enabled
• OAuth 2.0 credentials configured

Setup Steps

1. Create Google Cloud Project
   • Go to Google Cloud Console
   • Create new project: "Answring Calendar"
2. Enable Calendar API
   • Navigate to APIs & Services → Library
   • Search "Google Calendar API" and enable it
3. Configure OAuth Consent Screen
   • Go to OAuth consent screen
   • Select External, add app information
   • Add scopes: .../auth/calendar and .../auth/calendar.events
   • Add your email as test user
4. Create OAuth Credentials
   • Go to Credentials → Create OAuth Client ID
   • Application type: Web application
   • Add redirect URI: https://yourdomain.com/api/calendar/oauth/callback
   • Copy Client ID and Client Secret
5. Configure Environment Variables

   GOOGLE_OAUTH_CLIENT_ID="your-client-id.apps.googleusercontent.com"
   GOOGLE_OAUTH_CLIENT_SECRET="your-client-secret"
   CALENDAR_CREDENTIALS_ENCRYPTION_KEY="generate-32-byte-hex-key"
   BASE_URL="https://yourdomain.com"

6. Authorize in Dashboard
   • Navigate to client settings
   • Click "Authorize Google Calendar"
   • Complete OAuth flow in popup
   • Set your Calendar ID (from Google Calendar settings)

Method 2: Service Account Upload

Service accounts provide advanced users with full control over calendar credentials.

Setup Steps

1. Create Service Account
   • Go to Google Cloud Console → Credentials
   • Create Credentials → Service Account
   • Name: "answring-calendar-{client-name}"
2. Download JSON Key
   • Click on service account
   • Keys tab → Add Key → Create new key
   • Select JSON format
   • Download and keep secure
3. Share Calendar
   • Copy client_email from JSON file
   • Go to Google Calendar settings
   • Share calendar with service account email
   • Grant "Make changes to events" permission
4. Upload in Dashboard
   • Navigate to client settings
   • Upload Service Account section
   • Select JSON file and upload
   • Set Calendar ID

Scheduling Features

Once calendar integration is configured, your AI receptionist can:

• Check Availability — Real-time calendar slot checking
• Book Appointments — Create calendar events during calls
• Reschedule — Move existing appointments
• Cancel — Remove appointments with confirmation
• List Appointments — Show upcoming bookings to callers
• Time Preferences — Filter by morning/afternoon
• Smart Scheduling — Avoids double-booking, respects working hours

Features

Core Features

🎙️ Real-Time Voice Conversations

Natural phone interactions powered by state-of-the-art AI:

• Real-time STT — Deepgram Nova-3 for accurate speech transcription
• Context-aware responses — GPT-4.1-mini maintains conversation context
• Natural voice synthesis — Cartesia TTS with 19 voice presets
• Voice customization — Professional, friendly, and authoritative options
• Low latency — WebSocket-based audio streaming

📞 Twilio Integration

Enterprise-grade telephony:

• Inbound call handling
• Multiple phone numbers (one per client)
• Call routing based on phone number
• Call quality monitoring

Conversation Management

Intelligent Response System

• Context awareness — Remembers caller information across calls
• Past reference — References previous appointments
• Proactive suggestions — Based on caller history
• Action narration — Announces actions before performing them

Conversation Tracking

• Full transcripts with timestamps
• Speaker identification (user/assistant/tool)
• Tool call logging
• Duration tracking
• Searchable history

Smart Scheduling

• Availability checking — Real-time calendar slot checking
• Appointment booking — Create new calendar events
• Rescheduling — Move existing appointments
• Cancellation — Remove appointments with confirmation
• Time preferences — Morning/afternoon filtering
• Buffer time — Automatic spacing between appointments
• Working hours — Respects configurable business hours

Multi-Client Platform

• Client isolation — Complete data separation
• Per-client configuration — Independent settings
• Per-client phone numbers — Unique Twilio numbers
• Per-client calendars — Separate calendar integrations
• Per-client billing — Independent usage tracking

Prompt Engineering Guide

Your system prompt defines your AI receptionist's personality, behavior, and capabilities. A well-crafted prompt is essential for providing excellent caller experiences.

Prompt Structure

Effective prompts follow this template:

[System Identity]
Who the AI is and its role

[Caller Context]
How to use caller information

[Communication Style: Narrate Actions]
How to keep callers engaged

[Protocol: Task Name]
Step-by-step workflow

[Protocol: Closing]
How to end calls gracefully

System Identity

Define who the AI is in 2-3 sentences:

[System Identity]
You are Front Desk, an AI receptionist for Acme Corp. 
You are professional, efficient, and naturally conversational. 
Your goal is to help callers schedule appointments and answer questions.

Caller Context

Explain how to use context provided at call start:

[Caller Context]
The first message is "CALLER CONTEXT:".
- **Name:** Greet by name if provided. If "New caller", ask for name 
  and call `save_contact_name`.
- **Existing Bookings:** Reference future appointments to assist 
  proactively.

Action Narration (Critical)

Always tell callers what you're doing before performing actions:

[Communication Style: Narrate Actions]
**IMPORTANT:** Tell callers what you're doing BEFORE tool calls.

Examples:
- "Let me check the calendar for available times..."
- "I'm booking that for you now..."
- "One moment while I look up your appointments..."

This creates natural conversation flow and avoids awkward silence.

Protocol Design

Create step-by-step workflows for common tasks:

[Protocol: Scheduling (New Booking)]
1. **Get the Day:** Ask "What day works best?"
2. **Get Time Preference:** Ask "Morning or afternoon?"
3. **Check Availability:** Say "Let me check the calendar..." 
   then call `get_available_slots(date=..., time_range=...)`.
4. **Offer Slots:** Read available times clearly.
5. **Book:** Say "I'm booking that for you now..." 
   then call `book_appointment`.
6. **Confirm:** "Your appointment is booked for [day] at [time]."

Industry Examples

Medical Office

[System Identity]
You are Front Desk, an AI receptionist for [Clinic Name]. 
Be professional, compassionate, and maintain patient confidentiality.

[Important Guidelines]
- NEVER give medical advice
- Direct clinical questions to healthcare providers
- Be sensitive to patient privacy

[Protocol: Urgent Matters]
If caller mentions pain, emergency, or urgent symptoms:
"For urgent medical matters, please dial 911 or go to the 
nearest emergency room."

Restaurant Reservations

[System Identity]
You are the AI receptionist for [Restaurant Name], known for 
[cuisine/specialty]. You're enthusiastic about food and committed 
to excellent service.

[Protocol: Reservations]
1. **Party Size:** "How many in your party?"
2. **Date and Time:** "What day and time would you like?"
3. **Check:** "Let me check availability..." call `get_available_slots`
4. **Special Requests:** "Any dietary restrictions or special occasions?"
5. **Book:** "I'm reserving that table..." call `book_appointment`
6. **Confirm:** "You're all set! Party of [n] on [date] at [time]."

Spa/Salon

[System Identity]
You are the AI receptionist for [Spa Name], a luxury wellness center. 
You embody calm, professionalism, and genuine care.

[Communication Style]
- Speak calmly and deliberately
- Use soothing language
- Emphasize relaxation and self-care

[Protocol: Booking Services]
1. **Service Type:** "Which service are you interested in?"
2. **Practitioner Preference:** "Do you have a preferred therapist?"
3. **Preparation:** Provide preparation instructions if needed
4. **Policies:** Mention cancellation policy

Best Practices

• Be specific — Define exact behaviors, not general guidelines
• Include action narration — Always tell callers what you're doing
• Define clear protocols — Step-by-step workflows for each task
• Set boundaries — Be clear about what AI cannot do
• Match your brand — Align personality with your business
• Test edge cases — Handle no availability, errors, unclear requests

Billing

How Billing Works

Answring uses a subscription-based billing system with included monthly minutes.

• Included minutes — Each plan comes with a monthly minute allowance
• Precise tracking — Call duration counted from answer to hangup
• Real-time deduction — Minutes deducted as calls happen
• Low balance alerts — Notifications when minutes are running low

Pricing Plans

Annual billing saves ~17% (2 months free). All plans include the same AI quality — GPT-4.1-mini, Deepgram Nova-3, and Cartesia voices.

All Plans Include

• 24/7 AI receptionist
• Custom greeting and system prompt
• Full call transcripts
• Custom voice selection

Usage Tracking

Monitor your usage in real-time:

• Dashboard — Current balance and recent usage
• Call history — Per-call duration and costs
• Analytics — Monthly trends and projections
• Invoices — Detailed billing statements

API Reference

Answring provides a complete REST API for programmatic access to all platform features.

Base URL

Production: https://yourdomain.com
Development: http://localhost:8000

Authentication

All API endpoints (except webhooks) require JWT authentication.

Headers

Authorization: Bearer <jwt_token>
Content-Type: application/json

Getting an Access Token

POST /auth/google/callback
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "code": "google_oauth_authorization_code",
  "state": "state_token"
}

Response:

{
  "access_token": "eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9...",
  "token_type": "Bearer",
  "expires_in": 3600,
  "user": {
    "id": "uuid",
    "email": "[email protected]",
    "name": "John Doe"
  }
}

Key Endpoints

Clients

Calendar

Conversations

Monitoring

Error Responses

All errors follow this format:

{
  "detail": "Error message here"
}

HTTP Status Codes

• 200 — Success
• 201 — Created
• 400 — Bad Request (validation error)
• 401 — Unauthorized (missing/invalid token)
• 403 — Forbidden (insufficient permissions)
• 404 — Not Found
• 500 — Internal Server Error

WebSocket

Call audio streams use WebSocket connections:

WS /ws/{client_id}/{caller_phone}

Bidirectional audio stream for Twilio calls using Twilio Media Stream JSON format.

Rate Limiting

Recommended limits (not currently enforced):

• API requests — 100 per minute per user
• WebSocket connections — 10 concurrent per client

Privacy Policy

Last Updated: March 22, 2026

This Privacy Policy describes how Answring ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, and protects your information when you use our AI phone answering service.

1. Information We Collect

Call Data

When you use Answring to handle your business calls, we collect and process:

• Call audio: Real-time audio is processed by our AI but is not stored. We only retain the resulting transcript.
• Call transcripts: Text transcriptions of conversations, generated using speech-to-text technology.
• Call summaries: AI-generated summaries of call content to help you quickly understand what was discussed.
• Caller information: Phone numbers, caller names (if provided), and any information shared during the call.
• Appointment data: Booking details, dates, times, and preferences when callers schedule appointments.
• Messages: Voicemail content, caller messages, and message metadata.

Account Information

• Email address, business name, phone numbers
• Billing and payment information (processed securely via Stripe)
• Account settings and preferences

Usage Data

• Call duration, frequency, and patterns
• Feature usage and configuration settings
• Performance and error logs

2. Third-Party Services

To provide our AI phone answering service, we work with trusted third-party providers who may process your data:

• OpenRouter / OpenAI: AI-powered call summarization and conversational intelligence
• Deepgram: Speech-to-text transcription services
• Cartesia / Grok: Text-to-speech voice generation for AI responses
• Twilio: Telephony infrastructure for call handling and routing
• Stripe: Secure payment processing and subscription management
• Supabase: Database hosting and authentication services

3. Data Retention

• Call audio: Processed in real-time and not stored.
• Call transcripts and summaries: Retained for 90 days, then automatically deleted.
• Account data: Retained until you delete your account or request removal.
• Payment records: Retained according to Stripe's retention policy and tax/legal requirements.

4. Data Security

• All data is encrypted in transit (TLS/HTTPS) and at rest.
• Access to customer data is restricted to authorized personnel only.
• We regularly review and update our security practices.
• Payment processing is handled entirely by Stripe — we never see or store your full credit card information.

5. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access your data: View call logs, transcripts, and account information from your dashboard.
• Delete your data: Request deletion of your data at any time by contacting [email protected].
• Export your data: Download call transcripts and conversation logs from your dashboard.
• Opt out: Cancel your subscription and delete your account at any time.

6. Caller Disclosure

When your customers call, they are informed that:

• Their call is being answered by an AI assistant.
• Call audio is processed in real-time by AI systems.
• Transcripts may be summarized using third-party AI services for your business records.

You are responsible for ensuring compliance with local recording and consent laws in your jurisdiction.

7. Children's Privacy

Answring is not intended for use by individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by email or through your account dashboard.

9. Contact Us

Need Help?

Can't find what you're looking for?

• Email: [email protected]
• Bug Report: Report an issue