> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.assistable.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Buy a phone number

> Purchase a number, check its setup status, and test it with an assistant.

Buy a platform-managed number from **Numbers** to use for incoming and outgoing calls. Use the price and status shown for your account when reviewing the purchase.

## Before you begin

You need permission to manage phone numbers in the selected account and a voice assistant ready to test. If purchase access is denied, ask the account administrator to review your access.

## Purchase the number

1. Open **Numbers** in the account that will own the number.
2. Open **Buy phone number**.
3. Search the available inventory using your desired number criteria.
4. Select a number.
5. Select **Review purchase**.
6. Review the number and the price information displayed for your account.
7. Select **Confirm purchase**.
8. Read the **Phone number receipt** and wait for any outstanding setup or reconciliation to finish.

If the purchase is still pending, open the saved operation or **Pending purchases** and check its status. If it says support review is required, contact support with that order instead of submitting another purchase for the same number.

## Search options

| Option | Available values |
| - | - |
| Country | **United States** (default) or **Canada**. |
| **Matching** | **Automatic** (default), **Area code**, **City**, **Contains digits**, or **Ends with digits**. |
| Area code | Exactly 3 digits. |
| City | A city/locality name, up to 80 characters. |
| Contains/ends-with search | 1–10 digits; choose one matching mode at a time. |
| State / Province / territory | A two-letter code, such as CA or ON. |
| **Required capabilities** | **Voice**, **SMS**, and **MMS**; select the capabilities the number must support. No capability filter is selected initially. This filters inventory, not the account's integration permissions. |

Select **Search** to apply changed criteria. Availability can change before purchase; review the actual selected number and current quote.

## Receipt statuses

| Status shown | Meaning and next step |
| - | - |
| **Request submitted** | The acquisition request is saved. Check that operation for progress. |
| **Carrier order pending** | The carrier has not confirmed the order. Check its status instead of ordering again. |
| **Number acquired** | The number is acquired; setup or reconciliation can still remain. |
| **Setup needs attention** | Acquisition needs further setup/reconciliation. Use the saved operation's offered controls. |
| **Billing reconciliation pending** | Billing completion is unresolved. Recheck the same operation before paying or ordering again. |
| **Completed** | Acquisition/setup processing completed. Test incoming and outgoing calling separately. |
| **Carrier order failed** | The carrier order failed. Read the error before attempting another acquisition. |
| **Completion needs review** | Ask support to review the existing operation before resubmitting. |

## Assign and test the number

1. Open the number's settings.
2. Choose the intended **Assistant**.
3. Select **Save changes**.
4. Call the number from a separate phone and confirm that the intended assistant answers.
5. Place an [outbound test call](/v3/guides/calling/outbound-calls) to a phone you control.

An assignment can change the assistant's primary outgoing number. Other numbers already linked to that assistant can retain their incoming-call association. If the number forwards incoming calls, its picker is labeled **Outbound assistant** and does not control the forwarding destination.

## If setup does not finish

| What you see | What to do |
| - | - |
| Purchase not yet confirmed | Check the saved order or operation before buying again. |
| Purchase needs support review | Provide the number and order details to support. |
| Settings saved, carrier routing publication unconfirmed | Retry **Save changes** and recheck routing before testing. |
| Number is listed but the assistant does not answer | Check the assistant assignment and incoming forwarding setting, then follow [Test incoming calls](/v3/guides/calling/incoming-calls). |

The purchase receipt confirms acquisition status. The two test calls confirm whether incoming and outgoing calling work for your setup.


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