AI Receptionist for your DIDcomms number

DIDcomms AI Receptionist answers callers' questions using the business information and greeting saved by the customer.

How the conversation works

1. Listen to the caller. Callers speak naturally rather than choosing answers from a keypad menu. Vapi converts their speech into text for the assistant to understand.
2. Find an answer in your information. The assistant uses your saved business information to answer the question and can respond to follow-up questions during the conversation. It should not invent details that you have not supplied.
3. Reply in a spoken conversation. The answer is converted back into spoken audio for the caller. Your saved greeting is used at the start, and the receptionist identifies itself as AI.

The current DIDcomms service is configured for English with a preconfigured voice. Customer-selectable voices and languages are not available in this version.

Questions your callers can ask

Examples, not recordings of real calls. The relevant answers must be included in your saved business information.

• What time do you open on Saturdays?
• Where are you based, and is there parking?
• Which services do you offer?
• Which areas does your business cover?
• What are your published prices?
• How can I contact your team?

Prepare your business information

• A short welcome greeting and your business name.
• Opening hours, including any exceptions or holiday closures.
• Your address, directions, parking and the areas you serve.
• The services you provide and any services you do not offer.
• Published prices, policies or instructions you want callers to hear.
• A phone number or email address for questions the AI cannot answer.

Supply a short greeting, opening hours, location, service area, a clear list of services, any published prices or policies you want repeated, and contact details for questions the assistant cannot answer. Do not include passwords, payment details or private customer records. This version does not connect to your calendar, CRM, order system or website for live information. Add accurate business details yourself and keep them up to date; the assistant cannot check live availability or order status. When information is missing, the assistant is instructed not to guess and to direct the caller to the business's published contact details instead. Include those details in your business information and test common and unexpected questions before relying on it.

Pricing

Free standard setup. No monthly AI fee. 25p/min with a 25p minimum per answered AI call, covering the first 60 seconds. Billed per second thereafter. The AI charge starts when the AI answers; calls that never reach the AI have no AI charge. Number rental and normal incoming or forwarding call charges apply separately. Included telephone minutes do not cover AI usage. AI usage is debited from the same existing call-credit balance as a separate charge from normal telephone usage.

• 1 minute: 25p AI usage
• 4 minutes: £1 AI usage
• 10 minutes: £2.50 AI usage

Who can use it

The self-service AI Receptionist is for retail customers with an eligible active DIDcomms number, not wholesale accounts. At least 25p of available call credit is required. Calls last up to 10 minutes and may be shortened to fit available credit. Usage settles after each call; simultaneous calls can take the balance below zero, so this is not a hard spending cap.

What it does not do

This version answers business questions. It does not take messages, book appointments, make payments or transfer calls. Calls are processed by Vapi. Call recordings and transcript storage are disabled in this service configuration.

How to set it up

1. Sign in to your retail account. Use your existing DIDcomms retail login. Wholesale accounts are not eligible.
2. Select an active number. Choose the eligible DIDcomms number you want the AI Receptionist to answer.
3. Enter your business details. Add your business name, a greeting and the information callers usually ask about.
4. Save your setup. Saving stores your details only. It does not change routing or start charging.
5. Accept the usage charges. Confirm the 25p/min AI usage rate, with a 25p minimum covering the first 60 seconds and per-second billing thereafter.
6. Activate the service. DIDcomms configures the inbound Vapi SIP connection for you. You need no Vapi account, API key or SIP address.
7. Make a test call after sync. Once the phone system has synced, call your number to hear the greeting and check the answers.

Pause restores the number's original routing after the next phone-system sync. Saving business information alone does not activate the service.

Sign in to set up AI Receptionist, get a DIDcomms number or see call costs.