No more busy signals. Every caller gets their turn.
When calls come in faster than your team can answer, Talkroute holds callers in line with music or your own message, then connects them in the order they called. It works even if you run your business from a single phone, with no extra lines to buy.
Why switch
A busy signal is a lost customer.
A regular phone line
- Two calls at onceThe second caller hears a busy signal or voicemail
- Busy hoursCallers hang up and try a competitor instead
- More capacityPay for and install extra phone lines
- While they waitRinging that ends in voicemail, or nothing at all
- Who answers nextWhoever happens to call back first
Talkroute call stacking
- Two calls at onceThe second caller waits on hold for the next free phone
- Busy hoursEvery caller stays in line and gets answered
- More capacityNo extra lines. It works even from a single phone
- While they waitHold music or your own message
- Who answers nextCallers are connected in the order they called
Call stacking is already on for every Talkroute plan. There’s nothing to install or turn on.
At a glance
Handle every call, even the busy ones.
0busy signals
Callers wait in line
New callers hold for the next free phone instead of hearing a busy signal
1phone is enough
No extra lines
Take multiple calls on one business line, even from a single phone
1stcome, 1st served
Fair order
Callers are connected in the order they called
♪music or message
Your sound
Pick music from the library, or record or upload your own message
How it works
A line that never says busy.
Hold queues
Callers wait their turn, then connect.
When every phone is busy, new callers are placed on hold instead of hearing a busy signal. As soon as a phone is free, Talkroute connects the caller who’s been waiting longest. If you ring several phones, any phone that isn’t on a call picks up the next caller in line.
- Callers are connected in the order they called
- Free phones receive the next caller automatically
- Works with a single phone or a whole team
- Already on, with nothing to set up
Music & messages on hold
Turn wait time into air time.
Choose what callers hear while they wait. Pick a track from Talkroute’s music on hold library, or record or upload your own message to share a promotion, your website, or answers to common questions.
- A library of music on hold to choose from
- Record or upload your own hold message
- A different choice for each number, menu option, and extension
- Manage it all in Greetings & Music on Hold
Learn more about custom greetings.
Hold settings
You decide how long callers wait.
With Ring All, set the longest a caller should stay on hold, how often Talkroute tries your phones again, and where callers go if the wait runs long: a voicemail box, a menu, or AI Receptionist, so they still get an answer.
- Maximum hold time from 30 seconds to 5 minutes
- Retry your phones every 15 to 30 seconds
- Send long waits to voicemail, a menu, or AI Receptionist
- Ring All is included with Plus plans and higher
Separate queues
A queue for every line and department.
Every Talkroute phone number, menu option, and extension has its own queue. Sales callers wait for sales, support callers wait for support, and each queue follows its own hold music and rules.
- Each phone number has its own queue
- Each menu option and extension has its own queue
- Different hold music and limits for each
Learn more about call forwarding & routing.
Use cases
Ready for your busiest moments.
The Monday morning rush
When the phones light up first thing, callers wait in line for the next free person instead of hearing a busy signal.
One-person businesses
On a call when another one comes in? The second caller waits on hold until you hang up, so you never miss them.
Promotions and ad campaigns
When a radio ad or promotion drives a wave of calls, every caller stays in line, and your hold message keeps selling.
Sales and support teams
Ring the whole team at once, and whoever finishes their call first takes the next caller in line.
Long waits go somewhere useful
Set a maximum hold time and send callers to AI Receptionist or voicemail, so no one waits forever.
Sound established
Professional hold music or a custom message makes a small business sound like a much bigger one.
Works with your phone system
Every part of your system has a queue
Call stacking works behind the scenes on every number, menu, and extension in your Talkroute account.
Call forwarding & routing
Ring your team’s phones and apps, and let waiting callers reach whoever’s free next.
Call forwarding & routing →Extensions
Team and department extensions queue callers until someone on the team is free.
Extensions →Custom greetings
Record or upload hold messages alongside your greetings, in your own voice.
Custom greetings →Voicemail
Send callers to a mailbox when the hold time runs out, so they can leave a message.
Voicemail →AI Receptionist
When the wait gets too long, AI Receptionist can answer instead, so callers still get help.
AI Receptionist →Need to move a call once it’s answered? See live call transfer →
Get started with Talkroute in minutes.
Call stacking is built in and already on. Just choose what your callers hear while they wait.
Call stacking is included with every Talkroute plan. 100% free to try. No contracts.
FAQ
Call Stacking FAQ
What is call stacking?
Call stacking lets your business take more calls than you have people free to answer. Instead of a busy signal, extra callers wait on hold, hearing music or your message, and are connected in the order they called as soon as a phone is free.
How do I turn on call stacking?
You don’t need to. Call stacking is already on for every Talkroute number. You can choose what callers hear while they wait, and with Ring All you can set how long they wait and where they go if the wait runs long.
Does call stacking work with just one phone?
Yes. If you’re on a call when another comes in, the new caller waits on hold and is connected to you as soon as you hang up. You don’t need a second line.
In what order are callers connected?
First come, first served. Callers are connected in the order they called. If you ring several phones, any phone that isn’t on a call receives the next caller in line.
What do callers hear while they wait?
Your choice: a ringing tone, a track from Talkroute’s music on hold library, or your own recorded or uploaded message, like a promotion or helpful information.
Can I set a maximum hold time?
Yes. With Ring All, choose a maximum hold time from 30 seconds to 5 minutes and how often Talkroute tries your phones again, every 15 to 30 seconds. Ring All is included with Plus plans and higher.
What happens if a caller waits too long?
When the maximum hold time is reached, Talkroute sends the caller where you choose: a voicemail box, a call menu, or AI Receptionist. You can also end the call.
Does each number have its own queue?
Yes. Every Talkroute phone number, menu option, and extension has its own queue, each with its own hold music and rules.
Do I need extra phone lines?
No. Call stacking lets one Talkroute number handle multiple callers at once, so there are no extra lines to buy or install.
Is call stacking included with all plans?
Yes. Every Talkroute plan includes call stacking. See pricing for plan details.
Never send a caller to a busy signal again.
Hold queues on every number, music or messages while callers wait, and connections in the order they called. Try Talkroute free for 7 days.
Questions? Give us a call at 800.747.2140.