What is Answering Service?

An answering service is a third-party service that answers a business's calls when it can't, usually taking messages and passing them on.

Traditional answering services use call-centre agents who follow a script, record the caller's details and forward a message by email, SMS or app. Pricing is commonly per minute or per call.

AI answering services perform the same role with voice AI and can also complete tasks such as booking appointments or qualifying leads, typically on a flat monthly plan.