Looking for Solution: Timed Away Messages for MOST Callers/Texters

[Scott Baret]

So here's the story...

I have one iPhone with one number. I keep it on silent 24/7, yet it still vibrates. It tends to do this at times when I don't want callers and texters getting ahold of me, specifically hours when I am not actively working.

However, I need a way to set up an "out of office auto reply" for the hours I don't accept calls and texts to let them know when something will be returned.

There's a curveball here though. There are certain callers who I need to be able to NOT have silenced or receive this message.

I'd like for the "out of office" to be an automated thing that comes up between 9PM-9AM daily, plus on weekends, and for all numbers except a handful.

Is there any solution to accomplish this?

 

[BrianBaughn]

That is something you'd need a third-party phone service to handle. I have a Google Voice number and I think it can be set up to do everything you've described. However, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to transfer my iPhone's telephone number to Google Voice. There might be a similar (but not free) service out there where you could transfer your current iPhone number and get those options. In that case, you'd be forwarding calls from the original number to a new number you'd have on the iPhone. For me, if I want to call via my Google Voice number I use the GV app…but there are exceptions to that.

My iPhone carrier is Xfinity (uses Verizon network) and they don't have anything configurable. iOS is limited in what it can do.

When I started my business I got the GV number and that's the one I gave out to clients.

So…if everyone knows your iPhone number you're in a tough spot to achieve what you want.