The Talkwish web app works like the phone app you already know. Everything below happens in your browser at app.talkwish.com, with no download.
Today you can call other Talkwish users by their username, for free. Calls to and from regular US and Canada phone numbers start at launch.
Make a call
- Sign in to the web app.
- Open the keypad and enter the person’s Talkwish username, like @maya. You can also call back from a conversation or from your call history.
- Start the call. If your browser asks to use your microphone, choose Allow.
Calls between Talkwish users are free. At launch, you’ll also be able to call regular US and Canada numbers by entering the number with its area code, or from the numbers saved in your contacts. People you call that way will see your Talkwish number, not the number of the device you’re using.
Answer a call
Incoming calls ring in the web app while you’re signed in and it’s open in a browser tab.
- Keep the web app open in a tab. You can switch to other tabs or apps while you wait.
- Allow notifications for Talkwish when your browser asks. That way you hear and see incoming calls even when the tab is in the background.
- When a call comes in, answer it or decline it.
If you closed the tab, signed out or blocked notifications, calls won’t ring. See Fix calls that don’t ring or keep dropping for a full checklist.
During a call
The call controls are on the call screen.
- Mute turns off your microphone so the other person can’t hear you. Select it again to unmute.
- Hold pauses the call without hanging up. Select it again to pick the call back up.
- Keypad lets you press numbers during the call, for example to enter a code when a call asks for one.
- Hang up ends the call. It’s saved in your call history.
To switch between your headset and speakers, choose them in the audio settings of the web app.
On a computer, you can also use keyboard shortcuts: hold Ctrl and Shift (Command and Shift on a Mac) and press A to answer, D to decline or hang up, M to mute, H to hold or K to open the keypad. Press ? to see the full list.
Recording calls
Call recording comes with the Standard, Pro and Enterprise plans at launch, once you have a number. Each number has its own Record calls switch, under Numbers in the web app. When you turn it on and confirm with Turn on recording, every call on that number is recorded until you turn it off. There’s no button to start or stop recording during a call.
Recordings are listed under Recordings, where you can listen to them, download them or delete them. You’ll also find each one in the call’s details in your call history. Every recording comes with a written transcript. See Read voicemail and call transcripts.
Talkwish doesn’t play a recording announcement, so telling people is up to you. Recording laws differ by state and province, and some places require everyone on the call to agree before you record. You’re responsible for following the laws that apply to you and the people you call, so the safest habit is to tell everyone when a call is being recorded.
After a call
- Your call history shows every call you made, answered or missed. See Find calls in your call history.
- At launch, missed calls to your number can go to voicemail. See Set up voicemail and call forwarding.
- To stop calls ringing for a while, see Silence calls with Do Not Disturb.
- For clearer calls, see Get the best call quality.