Beside includes a traditional voicemail feature: callers hear a recorded greeting and can leave a voicemail. Your voicemail greeting plays only when a caller is not handled by your AI Receptionist, based on your settings (caller type, business hours, missed-call rules, etc.).
If the AI Receptionist is configured to handle a caller, the AI Receptionist will answer instead of your voicemail.
How voicemail works
Your voicemail greeting is a recorded message that callers hear when you don't answer and the AI Receptionist is not active for that caller. It can be:
A Default greeting - Beside announces your number
A Custom greeting - you record your own message
Set up your voicemail greeting
Open the Beside mobile app
Go to Settings
Select your line
Under Phone, tap Traditional Voicemail
You'll see two options:
Use the default greeting
Plays a simple, generic message asking the caller to leave a voicemail after the tone
No recording required
Record a custom greeting
If you want to personalize your message:
Tap Custom
Tap Record
Clearly speak your greeting into the microphone
Tap Stop when you're done
Tap Play to preview
Tap Save to apply your new greeting
Your custom greeting will play for callers whenever you don't pick up and the AI Receptionist is not active for them.
FAQ
When does voicemail play instead of the AI Receptionist?
When does voicemail play instead of the AI Receptionist?
Voicemail plays when you don't answer and the AI Receptionist is either turned off or not configured to handle that specific caller. If the AI Receptionist is active for a caller, it will pick up instead of voicemail.
Can I have different voicemail greetings for different lines?
Can I have different voicemail greetings for different lines?
Yes. On a 👥 Business plan, each line has its own voicemail greeting. Go to Settings, select the specific line, then configure its Traditional Voicemail.
Where do I find my voicemails?
Where do I find my voicemails?
Voicemails appear in the conversation thread with the caller in your Inbox tab. You can play them directly from there.
What's the difference between the AI Receptionist and voicemail?
What's the difference between the AI Receptionist and voicemail?
The AI Receptionist is an interactive assistant that can answer questions, take messages, book appointments, and qualify leads. Traditional voicemail simply plays a greeting and records a message. You can use both - the AI Receptionist handles callers you configure it for, and voicemail catches the rest.