Call management & routing

Live answering service

A professional team answers your business calls in real time – 24/7 if needed – ensuring no caller is left on hold or directed to voicemail.

Virtual receptionist

A remote human receptionist who answers calls using your custom scripts, handles transfers, takes messages, routes calls, and schedules appointments – just like on-site support.

Call diversion

Automatically routes calls to the correct person, department, or service based on factors such as time or availability settings.

Assigned DID

Your Assigned DID (Direct Inward Dialing) is the local or toll-free number you select to be allocated to your account when signing up to a ReceptionHQ virtual reception service. To have our virtual receptionists answer your calls, you can either advertise your Assigned DID as your business number or ensure calls made to your existing advertised business number are forwarded to it.

Call forwarding

How you send your calls to ReceptionHQ – whether immediately, only if they are not answered in-house within a certain timeframe or only if there’s a busy signal on your line. We have a step-by-step call forwarding guide to follow based on your preferences and telecommunications provider.

Call overflow

When your in-house lines are full or busy, overflow calls are diverted to ReceptionHQ, so callers are always attended – even during peak times.

After-hours answering

Covers calls outside standard business hours – weekends, evenings, holidays – to maintain responsiveness and protect your reputation.

Temporary / short-term reception coverage

Ideal for holidays, staff leave, or sudden call spikes – ReceptionHQ seamlessly steps in to cover these periods.

Bilingual coverage

Receptionists answer your calls with your preferred greeting (in English unless you’ve requested a dedicated Spanish line). If a non-bilingual receptionist answers in English and the caller speaks in Spanish, they will be asked to hold briefly. The call will then be transferred to a Spanish-speaking receptionist.

Dedicated Spanish line

Every call that comes in on this line will be automatically answered in Spanish by a receptionist who is fluent in the language.

Virtual reception features

Personalized / customized greeting

The specific greeting your receptionist uses (for example, “Thank you for calling [Business Name]. How may I help?”).

Call screening

Receptionists use discretion and context to screen calls, helping prioritize those most relevant to you.

Message taking (instant emails or texts)

Every call answered is summarized and delivered immediately at the end of each call via email and/or SMS – depending on what you prefer.

Warm transfers (call patching)

The receptionist connects callers to you or team members with context, introducing the caller and why they’re calling to guarantee a smooth handoff – and allow you to reject the transfer if you wish to.

Custom call scripts

Tailored directions guide receptionists on tone, phrases, and responses – ensuring consistent brand voice across all calls. Our team can work with you to create a script that fits your business needs.

Order taking

A process in which the receptionist assists the caller in placing an order for your products or services.

Lead management & scheduling

Lead qualification / capture

Receptionists gather critical info – as specified as required to be collected – before passing validated leads on to your or your team.

Appointment scheduling / booking (calendar management)

Receptionists can book, reschedule or cancel appointments in your online calendar or scheduling software, plus manage waitlists.

Software & technology

CRM / webform input

Receptionists can input new client information, contact details or responses directly into your CRM in real time or via web forms.

Interactive Voice Response (IVR)

Automated “Press 1 for…” menus route callers before reaching a receptionist – ideal for busy or multi-branch businesses.

Porting

The ability to transfer responsibility for a local or toll-free number over to ReceptionHQ – or away from ReceptionHQ to another phone service provider.

Online portal

Access and manage greetings, receptionist instructions, call transfer availability and more in real-time on desktop, laptop or cell phone via our online client portal.

Support

Customer service

Our US-based customer service team is able to assist with free trial setup, onboarding, account updates, billing-related inquiries and general customer service issues. Simply phone (866) 883-3499 or email support@receptionhq.com.

Acronyms & jargon

IVR

Interactive Voice Response (see above).

CRM

Customer Relationship Management software – your system of record for customer data.

The good news? You have options. And we’re here to help make the transition seamless – including handling your Skype Number transfer for you. It’s the perfect opportunity to upgrade your call handling while keeping your familiar number.

What’s happening to your Skype Number?

If you’re using a Skype Number for business calls, it’s possible to port the number to a new service provider. But you’ll need to make arrangements before May 2025.

Microsoft’s announcement on February 28, 2025, stated that:

• The Skype app retirement will impact both free and paid users, but not Skype for Business customers
• Any existing Skype Number subscriptions will automatically renew until April 3, 2025
• After May 2025, the Skype Dial Pad will be available only to remaining paid users via the Skype web portal and within Teams Free
• If you want to port your Skype Number you need to contact your new provider to initiate this

Porting a number essentially means transferring it from one provider (in this instance, Skype) to another (such as ReceptionHQ), which allows you to continue to receive calls on that number.

Keep your Skype Number – with our help

Imagine keeping your familiar business number while upgrading to a more comprehensive communication solution. That’s exactly what ReceptionHQ offers.

We’ll handle the process of porting your number from Skype

Switching providers sounds complicated, but we make it simple:

• No technical expertise is required on your part
• Our team will manage the porting process from start to finish
• You keep your existing Skype Number with zero downtime

Choose how calls are handled

What if you could customize exactly how your calls are managed? With ReceptionHQ, you can:

• Have our team of virtual receptionists answer calls in your company name
• Set up call diversions to your cell phone or fixed line, whether 24/7 or on a schedule

Why choose ReceptionHQ for your Skype Number transfer?

By porting your Skype Number to ReceptionHQ, you have the advantage of being able to access professional call handling that can help your business thrive.

Our live receptionist services provide the personalized touch that builds customer trust.

We can help with:

• 24/7 call answering
• Call screening
• Message taking
• Answering common questions
• Quoting fees
• Taking payments
• Submitting leads
• Scheduling appointments

Also, until the end of April 2025, you can get up to 20% off our call answering services for 3 months by quoting code SPRING when talking with our team.

FAQs about porting your Skype Number

How long does the porting process take?

Typically between 5-15 business days, depending on your current provider.

Will my callers experience any disruption?

With proper planning, we ensure zero downtime during the transition.

Can I keep my existing voicemail messages?

Microsoft recommends exporting Skype data before porting, as call recordings and other files typically don’t transfer between providers.

What happens if I miss the May 2025 deadline?

You risk losing your number permanently. We recommend starting the porting process well in advance.

Take action now

Don’t wait until the last minute when everyone will be rushing to port their numbers. Here’s what to do:

1. Contact our friendly team today
2. We’ll explain the simple porting process
3. Choose your preferred call handling solution
4. Relax knowing your business communications are in expert hands

Don’t let Skype’s retirement impact your business. Contact ReceptionHQ today and ensure your customers can always reach you without interruption.