What is the difference between *71 and *72?

*71 is Conditional Call Forwarding (No Answer / Busy). It rings your mobile phone first for 3 to 4 rings. If you do not answer or decline the call, it automatically routes to your answering service. *72 is Unconditional Call Forwarding, which immediately redirects 100% of calls without ringing your cell phone.

Does call forwarding cost extra on my phone bill?

On virtually all modern postpaid and business plans across Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, basic call forwarding is included as a standard feature and uses your plan's standard airtime minutes (which are typically unlimited). Some prepaid carriers may require calling customer service (dial 611) to activate feature access.

How do I turn off call forwarding?

On Verizon, AT&T, and most regional networks, dial *73 and press Call. On T-Mobile and Metro, dial ##004# or ##21# and press Call.

CONTRACTOR TELEPHONY GUIDE

How to Forward Business Calls on Any Mobile Carrier

The complete reference for trade contractors. Keep your cell number, avoid missed customer leads while on tools, and set up conditional call forwarding (*71, *72, **004*) in under 60 seconds.

1. The Two Types of Call Forwarding

Before entering any dial codes, it helps to understand the difference between Conditional and Unconditional forwarding. Trade contractors almost always prefer conditional forwarding so their own cell phone still rings when their hands are free.

RECOMMENDED FOR CONTRACTORS

Conditional Forwarding (*71 or **004*)

Rings your cell phone first for 3 to 4 rings. If you decline the call or don't answer because you're busy, it automatically forwards to your receptionist. When you aren't working, you answer normally.

ALL-DAY / VACATION

Unconditional Forwarding (*72 or **21*)

Immediately redirects 100% of incoming calls to your receptionist without ringing your cell phone at all. Perfect for focused work days, days off, or family vacations.

2. Carrier Dial Codes Quick Reference

Open the phone dialer app on your smartphone, enter the activation code followed immediately by your 10-digit receptionist or forwarding number, and press the Call button.

Carrier	Conditional (Busy / No Answer)	Immediate (All Calls)	Turn Off / Cancel
Verizon Wireless	`*71[10-digit number]`	`*72[10-digit number]`	`*73`
AT&T Wireless	`71[10-digit number]` or `004*[number]#`	`*72[10-digit number]`	`*73` or `##004#`
T-Mobile / Metro	`*004[10-digit number]#`	`*21[10-digit number]#`	`##004#` or `##21#`
US Cellular	`*71[10-digit number]`	`*72[10-digit number]`	`73` or `710`
Spectrum Mobile	`*71[10-digit number]`	`*72[10-digit number]`	`*73`
Xfinity Mobile	`*71[10-digit number]`	`*72[10-digit number]`	`*73`
Mint Mobile	`*004[10-digit number]#`	`*21[10-digit number]#`	`##004#` or `##21#`
Visible (by Verizon)	`*71[10-digit number]`	`*72[10-digit number]`	`*73`

💡 Pro-Tip for T-Mobile & GSM Users

On T-Mobile, Metro, and Mint Mobile, GSM networks require the trailing # symbol. For example, to forward to 863-802-6000 conditionally, you must dial **004*8638026000#.

3. Step-by-Step Activation Walkthrough

Follow these 4 simple steps to activate call forwarding right now:

Copy your forwarding number: This is your dedicated FieldSmith Pro shop number or your answering service number.
Open your phone app: Go to the regular keypad dialer on your iPhone or Android.
Dial your carrier code: For Verizon/AT&T, type *71 followed by the 10 digits (e.g. *718638026000). For T-Mobile, type **004*8638026000#.
Press Call: Listen for a brief sequence of tones, a stutter tone, or a screen prompt saying "Call forwarding registration was successful." Hang up.

To test: Have a friend call your personal cell number, or call yourself from a landline, and let it ring 4 times without answering. Your receptionist should pick up smoothly!

4. Frequently Asked Questions

What if my carrier says "Feature Not Supported" or gives a fast busy?

A small percentage of consumer prepaid plans have conditional call forwarding turned off by default at the carrier switch. Simply dial 611 on your phone to reach your carrier's customer service and say: "Please enable conditional call forwarding on my line." Carriers do not charge for this feature and it takes 30 seconds for them to toggle it on.

Does forwarding calls use my cellular minutes?

Call forwarding uses your mobile plan's airtime minutes. Because almost all modern cell plans in the US include unlimited nationwide minutes, forwarding calls does not generate additional carrier fees.

How does FieldSmith Pro use call forwarding?

FieldSmith Pro provides an Android companion app that makes this 1-tap simple. When you start your workday, you tap "Forward Calls" in the app, and FieldSmith dials the appropriate carrier code automatically. When you finish work, tap "Stop Forwarding" and calls immediately ring your cell phone again.

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