Where numbers live
Your numbers are listed in the dashboard under Settings → Phone numbers. You can also list, search, rent and release numbers with the Phone Numbers API.
You don't need a number to test a Finn. Test → Phone call rings your phone without one. You need a number to deploy.
The numbers table
| Column | Shows |
|---|---|
| Number | The number. |
| Allocated to | The Finn and direction (Inbound or Outbound) of the deployment using it, or Unassigned. |
| Status | Live once active. Pending while the purchase or assignment is in progress. |
| Health | The number's 7-day health band. See spam-labeling. |
| Capabilities | Voice and SMS support. A dash means unknown. See number-capabilities. |
| Rented since | When the number was added. |
| Rent | The monthly rent. |
Numbers you rent but haven't deployed are also listed under Unassigned numbers.
The row menu has Configure, Set custom provider, Copy number and Remove number.
Before you rent: compliance
Renting a number is refused until your workspace has an approved compliance application. Workspaces registered in India submit it under Settings → Compliance, with the Certificate of Incorporation and GST Certificate; the tab lists your applications and their status. Browsing Indian numbers also needs approval.
If renting is refused with a compliance message and you can't submit an application, contact support.
Rent a number
- Go to Settings → Phone numbers and click Rent a number.
- Select country. For India, choose the Carrier (Plivo or Exotel) and optionally a Series (080 Bengaluru, 022 Mumbai). Other countries use Twilio.
- Pick a number. Filter by digits, and tick Show only SMS-capable numbers if you need SMS. Each number shows its rent per month.
- Confirm & pay. The amount is deducted from your wallet after the purchase succeeds.
The number appears in the table once the carrier has provisioned it.
The countries in the list are the ones Finn can rent in. Indian numbers can't send SMS; see number-capabilities.
To rent from code, use GET /phone_numbers/available and POST /phone_numbers. See api-phone-numbers.
Assign a number to a Finn
A number is assigned by deploying a Finn with it. There is no separate assign setting.
| To | Do this |
|---|---|
| Answer calls with a Finn | Create an inbound deployment of the Finn on the number. See inbound-routing. |
| Call contacts from the number | Select it in an outbound deployment. See outbound-campaigns. |
While a deployment uses a number, the number can't be used by another deployment of the same direction. Stopping the deployment frees it.
Configure a number
Configure in the row menu opens settings for that number only:
| Field | Use |
|---|---|
| Label | A name for the number, for example Support line. |
| Caller ID name | A free-text name you keep for the number. Finn does not register it with carriers. |
| Notes | Internal notes. |
Set custom provider makes calls from the number use your own carrier credentials. See byo-numbers.
Health and rotation
The Health column scores each number on its last 7 days of calls. Click a number's health badge to open its drawer, where you can:
| Action | Effect |
|---|---|
| Pause / Resume | Marks the number as paused. The Deploy dialog warns you if you pick a paused number. |
| Isolate | The number can't be picked in the Deploy dialog until you release it from the drawer. |
| Rotate number | Opens the rent flow for a replacement. The old number is released once the new one is live. |
See spam-labeling.
Remove a number
Remove number in the row menu releases the number back to the carrier and stops inbound calls to it immediately.
- A number attached to an active deployment can't be removed. Force remove stops that deployment first.
- Removal can't be undone. Released numbers usually can't be recovered.
- Through the API, releasing gives no refund. See api-phone-numbers.
Not available
Finn has no number porting, no SIP trunk setup, and no caller ID or CNAM registration. To use a number you already own, see byo-numbers.
What goes wrong
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Renting fails with a compliance message | Your workspace has no approved compliance application. Check Settings → Compliance, or contact support. |
| A number can't be picked when you deploy | It is in use by another deployment of the same direction, or isolated. |
| Inbound calls aren't answered by a Finn | The number has no live inbound deployment. See inbound-routing. |
| Answer rates drop on one number | Carriers may be labeling it. Check its Health. See spam-labeling. |
| Remove number is refused | The number is attached to an active deployment. Stop it or use Force remove. |
See also telephony-overview and troubleshooting.