“We would like to have a main phone number and multiple phone lines to call.” Can a request like this to your phone company get any simpler than that?
You’d be surprised how many different ways a phone company can set up your lines. And each solution has its own set of pros and cons.
Over-lines, hunt-groups, roll-over lines, pilot number, actual number are the common terms to look out for here.
Overlines: There is a main number or pilot number that is the first line, and then there are overlines or additional lines. Each line physically connected to your phone system to give you multiple lines to dial.
For example, if you need three lines to come into your office, then the request would be for a main number or pilot line and 2 additional lines or you can call it a one plus two additional line system.
If you need 4 lines to come in, then the request would be for 1 main or pilot line and 3 additional lines, ie one top line system plus three.
Each of the top lines are separate phone lines, with the same phone number attached, i.e. the primary or pilot phone number for your business.
The over-line system ensures that when your first line is busy, the next incoming call will ring on the next over-line line, until all your lines are busy.
And, most importantly, you’ll make sure each of them displays your PRIMARY phone number as caller ID when you call.
This is not the case with the hunt group or multi-line system.