General Questions:
What is RingBranch?
It is an ad supported Personal Switchboard and Call-Connection service that is a companion to your existing phone service. Just pick up your phone, call a RingBranch access number, listen to a couple of ads related to your interests and be connected to your contacts. There is no special software to download. All you need is a phone and a dial tone to use RingBranch.
How much does the RingBranch service cost?
It is FREE! We do not charge you to use our service.
How does the RingBranch service work?
We provide you with a RingBranch access phone number You call a RingBranch access number from any phone, and through the Personal Switchboard and call forwarding service that we provide, you are able to talk to any of your contacts within the domestic US and Canada.
What is a Personal Switchboard?
Your Personal Switchboard contains all of your contacts and their phone numbers. You maintain the contacts in your Personal Switchboard through our website, by logging in with your username and password. You connect to the people in your Personal Switchboard by calling into a RingBranch access number and entering your security PIN. When you call into RingBranch, you can reach anyone that you have listed in your Personal Switchboard. Each contact is assigned a speed dial number/extension. The Personal Switchboard stems from the notion of a Company Switchboard. Most of us have called into a company’s main number and been prompted to enter the extension of the person that you are trying to reach. Well, instead of you calling into a company’s main number to call someone, you call into your own main number to then reach one of your own contacts.
Can I call into my Personal Switchboard from any phone?
Yes. That’s one of the benefits of using our service. You can make a phone call to any of your contacts from any phone by calling into your Personal Switchboard. So that we more quickly identify you, we ask that you register at least 1 and up to 3 of your phone numbers (for example, your cell, home, and work number). When you register these numbers and call into RingBranch from 1 of these phone numbers, we can more quickly get your call placed. You designate these numbers and are able to change them at any time from “My Profile”.
I understand that I can make calls. But can I also use the RingBranch service to receive phone calls?
Yes, we provide you with the ability to make and receive phone calls. To receive a phone call, you can give one of the RingBranch access phone numbers to your contacts. They can call you on this number and reach you on your phone. If you are not available, they will just get your regular voice mail.
But won’t my contacts reach my Personal Switchboard if they are calling into the same RingBranch access number(s) as me?
No. We are able to identify if it is you calling into RingBranch to make a call. Or, if it is someone else calling into RingBranch so that you can receive a call from them.
How can RingBranch help me save money?
If you are 1 of the 150 million people that still use a landline and are paying for long distance, then we typically can help save you money. By using RingBranch in conjunction with the local access number that we provide, you can turn a long distance call into a local call. You should always confirm charges and your rate plan with your telecom provider but our landline users have consistently been able to use RingBranch to eliminate their long distance costs. Additionally, certain mobile phone users are able to save money by using RingBranch. If you are on a mobile plan like T-Mobile’s MyFaves®, Alltel’s Circle of Friends™, you could use RingBranch to expand the number of people that you can call for free. Call 100 people instead of the 5 or 10 people your plan allows.
Do you offer access numbers in my local calling area?
Possibly! Presently, we have local access numbers in 50 cities throughout the United States and chances are we’ve got you covered.
Technical Questions:
I want to use RingBranch to make a call. Could you walk me through the process of exactly how this will work?
You dial one of the RingBranch access phone numbers. If you call into a RingBranch access number from 1 of the 3 phone numbers that you registered as belonging to you, then we will simply request your security PIN after the call is answered. After you correctly enter this, you will hear the auto-attendant that prompts you to enter the speed dial number of the person you are trying to call, followed by the # sign, OR to press * for a dial by name directory. If you are calling from a phone other than 1 of the 3 that you registered, then you will first be asked to key in a registered phone number and then your security PIN. After you correctly enter both of these, you can then select the person that you wish to call.
Can you be certain that others won’t be able to access my personal contact list and my contacts?
Nothing in life is certain but we have tried to design a secure service. The RingBranch service is PIN protected so you have to enter a security PIN each time you call in. You control your PIN number by logging into your account from our website and making the changes under the “My Profile” section.
If I call into a RingBranch access number and connect to one of my contacts, will my contact see the RingBranch access number or my regular phone number on his/her Caller ID?
You are able to select how you want this to show up. You make this choice from within the “My Profile” section of this website. Some of our users like his/her actual phone number to show up and others prefer for his/her actual number to remain anonymous. Either way is possible and you can change back and forth as you use our service.
If someone calls me on my RingBranch number, will I still be able to see my contact’s caller-id?
You are able to select how you want this to show up. You make this choice from within the “My Profile” section of this website.
What kind of phone number will I get as my RingBranch number?
You will receive a standard shared U.S. based phone number in the format (area code)-xxx-xxxx. The number will be shared by many RingBranch users. However, it will operate very similar to a unique dedicated telephone number.
Do I need any special type of phone or phone service to use RingBranch?
No, nothing special! Just a dial tone and a phone.
I understand that I can make a call to anyone that I have listed in my Personal Switchboard. Are there geographical restrictions or any other types of restrictions on the types of calls that I am able to make?
As long as the phone number that you want to connect to is within the contiguous 48 states or Canada, we should be able to connect your call. However, we cannot connect calls to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, any other US territories, or to any other number that is domiciled outside of the contiguous 48 states or Canada. Additionally, we cannot make calls to any 900 number, 411 information number, or 911.
What about international calls?
At present, RingBranch users may not make international calls except for Canada. However, RingBranch users may receive calls from anywhere in the world. Additionally, we plan to offer calling to select international cities beyond Canada in the future.
How will the connection quality compare to the quality of a call if I just dialed my contact directly?
It should be the same.
How do I change the phone numbers from which I can most quickly reach my Personal Switchboard?
Log into your account. Then go to “My Profile”. Edit the phone numbers under “Making calls to your friends”. Hit save.
How do I change my PIN security for my RingBranch number?
Simply log into your account and visit “My Profile.” Under the section “Making calls to your friends”, you will see the option of editing your PIN. Make your change and then hit “save.”
I have lost or forgotten my password. How can I retrieve it?
Go to http://www.ringbranch.com/login.aspx and click the Forgot Password utility.
I have lost or forgotten the RingBranch access phone numbers. How can I retrieve them?
Log into your account with your username and password. Once you are logged in, you will see a tab on the navigation menu called “RingBranch Access Numbers” on the top of the screen. Just click this link to visit our access number list and find the number that is associated with your city.
Do I need any special software to manage/update my extensions?
No, all you need is a fairly up to date web browser and connection to the Internet.
I am having trouble using the dial by name directory since I use a Blackberry phone. Can you help?
Yes, please visit read this post on our blog for more info on how to use RingBranch with a Blackberry phone.
Advertising Questions:
Why does your service contain audio ads?
It’s how we make money, as we are providing a free service that has real costs associated with providing it. You get free long distance call time. In exchange, you agree to listen to ads from our sponsors.
How many ads will I need to listen to when I call into RingBranch to make a call?
This will vary as we learn more and more about this business. Presently, when you call into a RingBranch access number in order to make a free call, you will hear 1 or 2 “in-call” audio ads before your call is connected. The time duration of each ad will vary but typically should not exceed 30 seconds.
How long can my call be? Will you insert audio ads during the phone call?
Calls can be of unlimited duration but since we have real and significant costs of picking up the costs of your call, we reserve the right to gently interrupt your call with a sponsor advertisement lasting no more than 30 seconds at various time durations during the phone call. In the event that we insert an audio during the phone conversation, we will provide an audible warning (such as a “beep”) prior to the call interruption so parties will know the ad is about to be inserted. Some times, your call may go 15 minutes before an interruption. Other times, we may interrupt it after just 5 minutes.
If I like the RingBranch service but don’t like hearing the ads, can I upgrade to an ad-free service plan?
Not currently. But we do plan on offering this upgrade in the future.
Will people calling me via my RingBranch number hear advertisements?
Yes. This is how we make money and provide you with a free service. Before we connect the call from your contact to you, we will play 1 or 2 “in-call” advertisements.