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Purchasing Phone Numbers

Your AI assistant needs a phone number so customers can call in. This guide will walk you through purchasing your first phone number step-by-step.

Why You Need a Phone Number​

Before your AI assistant can answer calls, you need to purchase a dedicated phone number. This number will be:

  • Dedicated to your business - Only your AI assistant uses this number
  • Available 24/7 - Customers can call anytime
  • Professional - Choose a local area code or toll-free number
  • Flexible - You can purchase multiple numbers for different purposes

Step-by-Step: Buying Your First Number​

Video Tutorial Available

Video ID: VIDEO-PHONE-001 Title: Purchasing Your First Phone Number Duration: 3-4 minutes Description: Step-by-step guide to searching for and purchasing a phone number Status: 🔴 Not recorded yet

Step 1: Navigate to Phone Numbers​

  1. Log in to your Voka AI dashboard at voice.vokaai.com
  2. Click Phone Numbers in the left sidebar
  3. You'll see a list of your phone numbers (empty if this is your first time)

Phone Numbers page showing list of numbers and Buy Phone Number button

Step 2: Start the Purchase Process​

  1. Click the "Buy Phone Number" button at the top of the page
  2. A search window will appear

Buy Phone Number dialog with search filters

Step 3: Choose Your Number Preferences​

You'll see several options to help find the perfect number:

Country Code​

Select where you want your number to be from:

  • United States (most common for US businesses)
  • Canada
  • United Kingdom
Choose a Local Number

Select a country that matches where most of your customers are located. This builds trust and may reduce calling costs for your customers.

Number Type​

Choose what type of number you want:

  • Local - A regular phone number with a local area code (like 212, 415, etc.)

    • Best for: Local businesses, professional services, retail
    • Example: (555) 123-4567

  • Toll-Free - A 1-800, 1-888, or similar number

    • Best for: National businesses, customer service lines
    • Example: 1-800-555-1234

  • National - Standard national number

    • Best for: General business use

  • Mobile - Mobile phone number format

    • Best for: SMS-heavy businesses
Recommended for Most Businesses

We recommend Local numbers for most small businesses. They feel more personal and trustworthy to customers.

Area Code (Optional)​

If you selected "Local" number type, you can specify an area code:

  • Enter your preferred area code (e.g., 212 for New York City, 415 for San Francisco)
  • Leave blank to see numbers from any area code

City (Optional)​

Narrow your search to a specific city:

  • Enter the city name (e.g., "New York", "Los Angeles")
  • This helps find numbers in your exact location

Step 4: Search for Available Numbers​

  1. Click the "Search" button
  2. Voka AI will search for up to 20 available phone numbers matching your criteria
  3. This usually takes just a few seconds

Step 5: Review Available Numbers​

You'll see a list of available phone numbers. Each listing shows:

  • Phone Number - The actual number (e.g., +1 555-123-4567)
  • Region - Where the number is registered
  • Monthly Cost - How much this number costs per month
Screenshot Needed

Screenshot ID: PHONE-003 Filename: PHONE-003_available-numbers-list.png Description: Search results showing 10-20 available phone numbers with region and cost Status: 🔴 Not started

Choose a Memorable Number

Look for numbers that are easy to remember or have a pattern (like repeating digits). This makes it easier for customers to remember and dial.

Step 6: Purchase Your Number​

  1. Review the number you want
  2. Check the monthly cost
  3. Click "Purchase Selected Number"
  4. Confirm your purchase

Step 7: Confirmation​

You'll see a success message confirming your purchase. Your new number will appear in your Phone Numbers list with:

  • A green "Active" status badge
  • The purchase date
  • Monthly cost
  • Number type

Phone Numbers list showing purchased active number

What Happens Next?​

After purchasing your number:

  1. ✅ Your number is immediately active
  2. 🎯 Next step: Assign this number to an AI assistant
  3. 📞 Then: Test your assistant by calling your new number
Number Not Working Yet?

A phone number alone won't answer calls. You must assign it to an AI assistant before it will work. See Creating an AI Assistant to get started.

Understanding Phone Number Costs​

Each phone number has a monthly cost that varies based on:

  • Number type (local numbers are typically less expensive than toll-free)
  • Location (different regions have different rates)
  • Features (voice + SMS capability)

Typical costs:

  • Local numbers: $1-5/month
  • Toll-free numbers: $2-10/month
Call Usage Costs

The monthly number fee is separate from call usage costs. You'll also pay for:

  • Minutes of call time
  • SMS messages sent/received

See our Pricing Guide for complete details.

Managing Your Phone Numbers​

View Your Numbers​

All your purchased numbers appear in the Phone Numbers page, showing:

  • Phone number
  • Status (Active, Pending, Suspended)
  • Type (Local, Toll-Free, etc.)
  • Country
  • Monthly cost
  • Tags (optional labels you can add)
  • Purchase date

Sync Your Numbers​

Click the "Sync Numbers" button to ensure your number assignments are up to date with the system.

Release a Number​

If you no longer need a number:

  1. Find the number in your list
  2. Click the trash icon (🗑️)
  3. Confirm you want to release it
Cannot Undo

Releasing a number is permanent. The number will become available to other customers and you cannot get it back. Make sure you don't need it before releasing!

Purchasing Additional Numbers​

You can purchase as many numbers as you need. Common scenarios:

  • Different departments - Sales, support, and scheduling each get their own number
  • Multiple locations - Each branch or office has a local number
  • A/B testing - Test different assistants with separate numbers
  • Backup numbers - Have extra numbers ready for peak seasons

Simply repeat the purchase process for each additional number.

Troubleshooting​

If your search returns no results:

  1. Widen your search criteria

    • Try a different area code
    • Remove the city filter
    • Choose a different number type

  2. Try a different region

    • Some area codes have limited availability
    • Consider a nearby area code

  3. Contact support

"Purchase failed"​

If your purchase fails:

  1. Check your payment method - Ensure your payment information is current
  2. Verify account limits - Some plans have number limits
  3. Try a different number - The number may have been claimed by someone else
  4. Contact support - We'll help resolve the issue

Next Steps​

Now that you have a phone number:

  1. Create an AI Assistant - Build your virtual receptionist
  2. Assign the number - Connect your number to your assistant
  3. Test it out - Make sure everything works perfectly

Need Help?​