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How to Forward Calls from Ooma to SkipCalls

Written by Nikita Podelenko

What is call forwarding?

Call forwarding redirects incoming calls from your existing phone number to your SkipCalls AI number. This means your AI receptionist answers calls on your behalf — even when you're busy or unavailable.

You'll need your SkipCalls phone number handy for the steps below. If you don't know it, see How to Find Your SkipCalls Phone Number.

How to forward calls from Ooma Office

The recommended way is through the Ooma End User Portal — you get more control and can see exactly what's configured.

From the Ooma End User Portal (recommended)

  • Log in at office.ooma.com

  • Go to Settings → Call Handling

  • In the "When a call comes in" dropdown, select Forward it immediately

  • In the Forward to dropdown, select My Forwarding number

  • Enter your SkipCalls phone number in the popup

  • In the Show field, select Original caller's number so you can see who's calling

  • Enable Require key press on answer — this prompts you to press 1 to accept a forwarded call. It prevents calls from rolling to your cell voicemail if SkipCalls doesn't pick up in time

  • Save the popup, then save your settings

Forward calls when your Ooma devices are offline

This ensures calls still reach SkipCalls even if your internet or power goes out:

  • Log in at office.ooma.com

  • Go to Settings → Call Handling

  • Enable When all devices are offline, send calls to Forwarding number

  • Enter your SkipCalls number and save

Test your setup

Call your Ooma number from another phone. What should happen:

  • Call immediately forwards to your SkipCalls AI receptionist

  • AI receptionist answers the call

  • No Ooma voicemail intercepts the call

If the call goes to Ooma voicemail instead, check that Require key press on answer is enabled, verify your SkipCalls number is correct, and make sure the forwarding rule is saved and active.

How to stop forwarding

Go to Settings → Call Handling in the portal and change Forward it immediately back to Ring all devices.

Forwarding for specific hours only

Ooma Office supports time-based call routing via the Virtual Receptionist feature in the admin portal. Contact Ooma support or your admin to configure business-hours routing rules.

Last resort: Forwarding from a phone with star codes

If you cannot access the End User Portal, you can enable forwarding directly from your Ooma phone. The portal method above is preferred because it gives you the Require key press on answer option — star codes do not.

  • Pick up your Ooma phone

  • Dial *72

  • Wait for the prompt, then dial your SkipCalls number followed by #

  • You'll hear a confirmation — forwarding is active

Star code reference:

  • *72 — set up forwarding (dial number + #)

  • *73 — disable forwarding and clear the stored number

  • *74 — toggle forwarding on/off without clearing the stored number

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