Why forwarding instead of SIP?

Grasshopper is a virtual phone system — it doesn't expose SIP. Forwarding is the only supported pattern.

Can I keep my Grasshopper numbers?

Yes. Numbers stay on Grasshopper.

Can the AI transfer to me or my team?

Yes. The AI bridges via PSTN to a Grasshopper extension or your direct mobile/desk line.

Do I need extra Grasshopper seats for the AI?

No — Grasshopper extensions are free with the plan.

Can I A/B test AI vs my team?

Yes — use different extensions in your auto-attendant to send a percentage of calls to AI.

Will my voicemail still work?

Yes — Grasshopper voicemail keeps working for any extension you haven’t routed to AI.

Cloud PBX

Open for Grasshopper

Forward a Grasshopper extension or after-hours rule to Open and the AI picks up — Grasshopper keeps owning the rest of your phone system.

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Setup time: Under 10 minutes
Auth: PSTN forward
Directions: Inbound · Call transfer
Pricing: Included with Open

01 — Overview

Can I add an AI phone agent to Grasshopper?

Yes — via extension or main-number forwarding to a number Open provides. Grasshopper keeps owning your numbers, greetings, and team routing; AI takes the calls you opt-in to.

Grasshopper is a virtual phone system — it sits in front of your existing carriers as an auto-attendant + forwarding layer for small businesses. There's no SIP exposure for third parties. The integration pattern is forwarding: a specific extension, a main-number rule, or an after-hours setting forwards to an external phone number that Open answers.

Practically, you provision an Open inbound number, then add it as the forwarding destination on the extension you want AI'd. Grasshopper passes the original caller's number through so the AI knows who it's talking to. Your other extensions, greetings, and team routing keep working as before.

What the AI does on the call: it greets, listens, reasons over your knowledge base and connected tools (CRM, calendar, payments), and acts. When the AI needs a human, it warm-transfers back to a Grasshopper extension via PSTN bridge with the live transcript attached as a follow-up email.

Billing stays predictable. Grasshopper keeps billing your plan flat. Open charges per resolved conversation.

What stays the same on Grasshopper

Grasshopper numbers and greetings
Toll-free, local, vanity numbers stay on Grasshopper.
Extensions and team routing
Existing extensions and forwarding rules keep working.
Voicemail and transcription
Grasshopper's mailbox and transcription continue for legs Grasshopper answered.
Reporting
Call history in Grasshopper continues unchanged.

What's new with Open

A forwarding destination
Specific extensions forward to an Open-provided number.
AI handles those legs
Open answers the forwarded leg and runs the conversation.
Transfers come back via PSTN
AI bridges to a Grasshopper extension or your direct line.
Pricing model
Open per resolved conversation.

02 — Why this works

The native Grasshopper experience

Works with Grasshopper's virtual model
No SIP needed — uses Grasshopper's own extension forwarding.
Per-extension opt-in
Pick exactly which extensions get AI.
Set up by lunch
10-minute integration — no admin tickets, no SBC pairing.
Warm transfer back to your team
AI escalations come back into Grasshopper as regular inbound calls.

03 — Setup guide

Wire up Grasshopper in under 10 minutes

Two trunks — one inbound, one outbound. Both configurable from Settings → SIP in the Open dashboard.

1
Open Settings → Phone Numbers
Provision or attach an inbound number Open will own.
2
Pick the Grasshopper extension
Decide which extension or main-number rule should forward to AI.
3
Add Open's number as a forwarding destination
In Grasshopper: Extensions → choose extension → Call Forwarding → Forward to External Number → enter Open's inbound number.
4
Pass the caller-ID through
Enable Grasshopper caller-ID passthrough so Open sees the real caller.
5
Assign the number to an AI agent
In Open: Channels → Phone → Agents → assign the inbound number.
6
Place a test call
Dial the Grasshopper number, hit the AI extension, and confirm Open picks up.

04 — Configuration

Settings → SIP, at a glance

A real inbound trunk for Grasshopper looks something like this. Yours are generated when you open Settings → SIP.

Forwarding rule · Grasshopper

Sample

Inbound (Open): +1 (212) 555-0199Open-owned
Grasshopper target: Extension / Main number rule
Forward to: +1 (212) 555-0199
Pass caller-ID: Yes
Plan: Solo / Partner / Small Business

05 — Security

Encrypted, audited, refundable

SIP over TLS for signaling, SRTP for media. Every call is logged with full reasoning traces. SOC 2 Type II, GDPR-aligned, HIPAA- and PCI-ready. Backed by the Open $2M Refund Guarantee.

06 — FAQ