> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.sipgate.de/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.sipgate.de/cloud-telefonanlage/en/using-sipgate/telefonie/wie-richte-ich-eine-zentrale-rufnummer-ein-ein-anwendungsbeispiel.md).

# How do I set up a central number? - An example of use

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note:** This feature is available **only available to customers on sipgate classic** available. On sipgate neo, the function is integrated in a different form.
{% endhint %}

Many of our customers receive their incoming calls on a central phone number. This is usually exactly the one important phone number that can be found in the phone book, on the internet, or on business cards – and traditionally this number rings at reception, in the switchboard, or at the front desk.

In all sipgate plans, the central phone number can easily be set up via a group with time profiles. This keeps you flexible if requirements change – for example during the holidays, company vacations, or simply over lunch. The practical thing about sipgate: you do not have to reconfigure your call forwarding in routing for every case.

Suppose you have an agency and your central phone number goes directly to reception, but no one is there at the moment. So what do you do to make sure the call is not lost? Easy: you set up a forwarding to a specific voicemail or to another participant.

## **Set up time-based routing for groups**

1. As an admin, you must first set up a [group with different participants](https://help.sipgate.de/hc/de/articles/4403546991889-So-legen-Sie-eine-Gruppe-an)in the account management, which should receive calls in day-to-day work. In this example, this group is called “Reception”.
2. Go to group routing and click on “Edit routing”. In the next step, you need to select “Add forwarding”. You can now choose between forwarding to a voicemail or to another phone number.

   ![sipgate-help-center-centralphonenumberanexample-grouproutingedit.jpg](/files/055945e65c9376cb2edafc2d9efbf5aa0077ad87)
3. If you have decided to forward to a voicemail, you can now select a greeting. You have the option of creating several individual greetings in which, for example, you can point out your business hours and/or company holidays. You can also record these individual greetings directly over your phone.
4. You have two [time profiles](https://help.sipgate.de/hc/de/articles/4420358805265-Zeitbasiertes-Routing) available. With the different profiles, you have the option of setting additional options within routing so that different forwardings apply at certain times. For example, you can schedule your opening hours and lunch breaks. You can also set up two different voicemails. In the first voicemail, for example, you could activate the answering machine function to take incoming calls. In the second voicemail, you can play a message pointing to the opening hours. You can also choose whether a message can be recorded after the announcement or not.

![sipgate-help-center-centralphonenumberanexample-grouproutingedit-1.jpg](/files/361e69f9502378807408c4ceb0280bc992ba0208)

In our example, calls are forwarded to a voicemail. You also have the option of deactivating forwarding to voicemail to avoid increased message volume during your absence. Alternatively, forwarding to another phone can also be set up. To do this, simply select “Contact, group or phone number” at point 2 instead of forwarding to a “voicemail”, and the incoming call will be forwarded to a free phone or another phone number.

You can change your settings at any time within a few seconds and adapt them to your day-to-day work.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note:** In case your landline devices are offline, it makes sense to set up forwarding to a mobile device. This way you remain reachable even if, for example, your internet connection fails.
{% endhint %}

## **Automatic holiday forwarding for groups**

You can not only set up specific time profiles for groups, but also automatic forwarding on holidays. The already configured time-based routing is retained and automatically used again after the holiday.

With the holiday profile, you can use practical templates for the holidays in your respective federal state to configure routing in advance. This means incoming calls on these days are immediately forwarded to the voicemail with an individual announcement.

As an administrator, you can set up the holiday profile for a group. Proceed as follows: **Group** **➔ Edit routing ➔ Holidays** ➔ **Add holiday profile**.

![sipgate-help-center-holidays-new1.jpg](/files/3ce481ca4cb7217a4be07d8e2e63d95281c1c169)

Then select your federal state from a dropdown menu. The holidays for your federal state for the coming year will be displayed there and updated automatically. If your group should still be reachable on certain holidays, simply remove the checkmark next to the respective day. Click on **Continue**to save the settings.

![sipgate-help-center-holidays-new2.jpg](/files/6fe19dc655028161e12c72537ef0bf9065d5867b)

In the next step, you can define a greeting for voicemail forwarding. You have the option of either using our pre-made greeting templates or uploading your own greeting. You can also define a greeting that applies to all holidays, or you can upload individual greetings for specific holidays – for example, to wish everyone a Happy New Year.

![sipgate-help-center-holiday-profile4.jpg.jpg](/files/cc03f7d3974cbd55a9587c237c0d52d37af43f23)

Save the selected greeting and finish editing. You have now successfully set up a holiday profile for the group. The profile is activated automatically and applies all day, so no further settings are required.

![sipgate-help-center-holidays-new3.jpg](/files/8822a4efd148e2c1df32c2f1008dbd8eeb1079ef)

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note:** At the moment, you cannot set up the holiday profile for individual users, only for groups.
{% endhint %}


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