Editing Call forwarding (section)

{{Short description|Redirection of a telephone call to another subscriber}}
'''Call forwarding''', or '''call diversion''', is a [[telephony]] feature of all telephone switching systems which redirects a telephone call to another destination, which may be, for example, a [[mobile telephone|mobile]] or another [[telephone number]] where the desired [[called party]] is available. Call forwarding was invented by Ernest J. Bonanno.<ref name="ca671260">{{cite web | url=http://brevets-patents.ic.gc.ca/opic-cipo/cpd/eng/patent/671260/summary.html | title=CA 671260 - Call Forwarding Arrangement | first=Ernest J. | last=Bonanno | work=Canadian Patents Database | publisher=Canadian Intellectual Property Office | date=1963-09-24 | access-date=2010-08-11 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100906023831/http://brevets-patents.ic.gc.ca/opic-cipo/cpd/eng/patent/671260/summary.html | archive-date=2010-09-06 | url-status=dead }}</ref> 

In North America, the forwarded line usually rings once to remind the customer using call forwarding that the call is being redirected.  More consistently, the forwarded line indicates its condition by [[Dial tone#Variants|stutter dial tone]]. Call forwarding typically can redirect incoming calls to any other domestic telephone number, but the owner of the forwarded line must pay any toll charges for forwarded calls.  Call forwarding is often enabled by dialing *72 followed by the telephone number to which calls should be forwarded. Once someone answers, call forwarding is in effect. If no one answers or the line is busy, the dialing sequence must be repeated to effect call forwarding. Call forwarding is disabled by dialing *73. This feature requires a subscription from the telephone company. Also available in some areas is Remote Access to call forwarding, which permit the control over call forwarding from telephones other than the subscriber's telephone. [[Voice over IP|VOIP]] and [[Cable telephony|cable telephone]] systems also allow call forwarding to be set up and directed via their web portals. Call forwarding can be Conditional or Unconditional. Conditional call forwarding only works when the conditions set by the customers met while Unconditional call forwarding works in all cases irrelevant of [[Cellular network|network coverage.]]

In Europe, most networks indicate that unconditional call forwarding is active with a special [[dial tone]]. When the phone is picked up it is immediately apparent that calls are being forwarded, while in other countries same system is being followed now.