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Before you can make calls, your account needs at least one phone number. Numbers are provisioned directly inside Alva — there’s no separate phone system to set up — and each number doubles as a caller ID for outbound calls and a line that prospects can call back on.

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Enabling calling

An admin enables calling once for the whole account from Settings → Telephony. Click Enable Telephony and Alva sets up everything needed behind the scenes, including a default set of call outcomes and your first calling settings.
Only admins can enable calling, add or release numbers, and change call settings. Once calling is enabled, everyone on the team can use the dialler.

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Adding a number

Go to Settings → Telephony → Phone Numbers and click Add Number.
1

Choose a country

Select the country you want a number in. Alva shows the countries available to your account.
2

Set an optional area code

Enter an area code (for example 020 for London) if you want a number from a specific locality. Leave it blank to see numbers from anywhere in the country.
3

Search and pick a number

Alva lists available numbers with their locality and region. Choose the one you want and click Provision.
Your first number is automatically set as the default — the caller ID used for outbound calls unless you pick a different one. You can add as many numbers as you need; when you make a call you choose which number to call from.
A local area code lifts answer rates — prospects are far more likely to pick up a number that looks local to them. If you call several regions, provision a number for each.

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Managing your numbers

Each number in the list shows its full number, a friendly name, and a Default badge where applicable. From here you can:
  • Forward incoming calls — see below
  • Release a number you no longer need
Releasing a number is permanent. Once released, the number is gone and cannot be recovered — you’d need to provision a new one, which may not be the same number.

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Forwarding inbound calls

When a prospect calls one of your Alva numbers back, you can have that call ring straight through to your mobile or office line. On each number, set Forward incoming calls to with the destination number in full international format (for example +447812345678). Inbound calls are then forwarded silently — the caller simply hears it ringing — and your Alva number is shown as the caller ID for the best chance of connecting. Leave the field blank to switch forwarding off.
Forwarding sends the call to your chosen line so you never miss a callback. Inbound calls are not recorded, transcribed, or added to the call log — only the outbound calls you place through Alva are.

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Billing

Each active number is charged as a small monthly add-on on your subscription, alongside the per-minute cost of the calls themselves. Releasing a number removes its add-on from your next bill. You can see calling costs broken down in Settings → Usage.