How to Add a Business Line to Your Cell Phone

To add a business line to your cell phone, install the Telonium app on the phone you already have and sign in. Your business number rings there, calls you make show the business number, and your personal number stays private. No second phone or second SIM card is needed.

Most small business owners are not at a desk all day. You are at a job site, a client's office, the bank or your kid's game. Customers still call the business line, and you still want to answer. Here is how to set it up and get the most out of it.

Can You Have Two Phone Numbers on One Phone?

Yes. Your personal number keeps working in the phone's regular dialer, and your business number works in the Telonium app. When someone calls your business number, the app rings. It can ring at the same time as your desk phone and the app on your computer, so you answer wherever you are. Business and personal voicemail stay separate too: business messages arrive in your email with the recording attached.

Do You Need a Second SIM or eSIM?

No. The app works over any high-speed internet, including Wi-Fi and your phone's cell signal (4G or 5G), so it does not need its own SIM card or plan.

• A strong cell signal usually sounds great.
• Weak public Wi-Fi can be worse than cell data. If a call sounds choppy, turn Wi-Fi off.
• Keep the app updated, and allow notifications, or you may miss calls.

Will Customers See My Personal Number?

No. When you call a customer from the app, they see your business number, not your personal cell. They call you back on the business line, and your personal number stays personal.

Outbound calls carry Verified Caller ID, signed as really from you (the industry name is STIR/SHAKEN), which helps them show up as legitimate. If your calls have been flagged, our post on calls showing Spam Likely explains more.

A good habit: return business calls from the app, not your phone's regular dialer. It keeps the call in your business call log.

Can Employees Share One Business Number on Their Cells?

Yes. Put everyone in a call group, which rings all their phones at once, and whoever is free answers. That is handy for small teams where everyone covers for each other. Contractors and agents use this constantly; see how it works for home services companies.

How Do I Stop Business Calls at Night?

Each number's weekly schedule decides where calls go outside your hours. Set the days and times calls should ring you, and the "at all other times" route sends the rest to voicemail, the on-call person or a closed greeting instead of your cell. Add holidays and days off to the number's holiday hours ahead of time, and they switch on and off by themselves. You can also use your phone's focus or do-not-disturb settings for the app.

Can I Transfer Calls from the App?

Yes. Transfer to a colleague, to voicemail or to an outside number. A customer who reaches you while you are driving can go straight to the office to book. Practice once with a coworker so the first real transfer goes smoothly.

If you use the app away from the office, set your location in the app. That street address goes to 911 with the call.

Setup Checklist

• Install the Telonium app from the App Store or Google Play and sign in.
• Allow notifications and microphone access.
• Make a test call out and check the caller ID shows your business number.
• Call your business number and check that the app rings.
• Check your number's schedule and holiday hours.
• Practice a transfer and set your 911 location.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Cheapest Way to Get a Business Number on My Cell?

With Telonium, one user is $24.95 a month plus taxes and fees, with unlimited calling in the lower 48 states and parts of Canada, the app and a phone number included. See pricing.

Do I Need a Second Phone for Business Calls?

No. The app keeps business calls on your existing phone, separate from your personal calls and voicemail.

Can I Use the App and a Desk Phone Together?

Yes. Both ring on the same line. Questions? Support is available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern.