EmpfangoFrequently asked questions
How quickly is Empfango ready to use?
Usually in under 5 minutes. You enter your website address, the assistant learns from it and forwards incoming calls to your new number.
What is the best way to start?
Start by mirroring what already works on your website – your contact or order form, for example. The assistant asks the same questions on the phone, collects the details and forwards them to you by email, just as before. You don't need any new IT infrastructure for this – you can always expand later.
Do I have to switch my phone provider?
No. You simply forward your existing number to the Empfango number — no contract change needed.
What about data protection?
Voice processing runs via Azure OpenAI (EU region) and Deepgram (EU). Call audio is not permanently stored by default, and processing is GDPR-compliant on EU servers.
Which languages does the assistant speak?
Currently German, English, Russian and Ukrainian. The caller's language is detected automatically.
Can the assistant book appointments?
Yes, directly in Calendly or Cal.com — including confirmation and reminder.
Is there a minimum term?
No. All plans can be cancelled monthly.
How much does an AI phone assistant cost?
Typical market prices for business AI phone assistants range from about €35 to €250 per month, depending on call volume and feature set. Empfango starts at €99 per month (Solo), Start costs €249, Pro costs €449 and Verbund starts at €899 per month — no setup fee, cancellable monthly, 30-day money-back guarantee.
What is an AI phone assistant?
An AI phone assistant is software that automatically answers incoming calls and handles them with a natural-sounding voice: it answers questions, captures requests in a structured way, books appointments and transfers important calls to your team — around the clock, even when your line is busy. Unlike a classic answering machine, it doesn't just record requests, it resolves them right in the conversation.
Do callers accept an AI phone assistant?
Yes – if the start of the call feels familiar. Every caller has known voice menus like “press 1 for …” for years. In practice, the greeting works best when it introduces the assistant not as a replacement for a human but as a way to route the call: it captures the request and forwards it to your team. Because it only answers what is actually asked, the call stays short and helpful – familiar instead of strange.
Is an AI phone assistant GDPR-compliant?
Yes – provided that data processing takes place in the EU, a data processing agreement (DPA) under Art. 28 GDPR is in place, and callers are transparently informed about the AI. Empfango meets all three requirements: hosting in Frankfurt, speech model via Azure OpenAI in the EU region, and a fixed AI announcement at the start of every call.
Where does Empfango process my data?
Hosting runs in Germany (Frankfurt region); the speech model (Azure OpenAI) runs in the EU. For telephony, speech recognition and speech synthesis, Empfango also uses services from US providers – openly documented in the privacy policy and safeguarded by EU Standard Contractual Clauses. Call audio is not permanently stored by default.
Is Empfango a German provider?
Yes. Empfango is operated by IQONEX GmbH, headquartered in Erfurt (Jena commercial register, HRB 520576). Contracting party, support and legal documents are in German, and data processing takes place primarily in the EU.
Do I receive a data processing agreement (DPA)?
Yes, the DPA under Art. 28 GDPR is included in the Empfango contract and does not need to be requested separately. This ensures your business meets its data protection obligations when using the AI phone assistant.