Browser Calling

Answering calls directly in your browser instead of on your phone, and why this protects your number.

Browser calling lets you answer hotline calls directly in your web browser — no phone needed. This is one of the best ways to protect your personal phone number.

Why use browser calling

When calls are routed to your phone, your personal phone number is involved in the connection. With browser calling, the audio goes directly to your browser over the internet. Your phone number is never exposed to the caller or to the telephony system.

This is especially important for hotlines where staff safety is a concern.

Setting it up

Browser calling requires your operator to configure a compatible telephony provider. Not all providers support this feature — check with your operator.

Once enabled:

1. Open the hotline app in your browser
2. Grant microphone permission when prompted — this is required for the call audio
3. Make sure you have a stable internet connection and a working microphone/headset

That is all. When a call comes in, you will answer it directly in the browser window instead of on your phone.

During a browser call

The experience is similar to a regular call:

• You will see the call timer and note-taking panel
• Audio comes through your computer speakers or headset
• You speak into your computer microphone

For the best audio quality, use a headset with a microphone rather than your computer’s built-in speakers and microphone. This reduces echo and background noise.

Tips for call quality

• Use a wired internet connection if possible — Wi-Fi can cause audio dropouts
• Close bandwidth-heavy applications (video streaming, large downloads) during your shift
• Use a headset — built-in laptop microphones pick up a lot of background noise
• Keep your browser tab in the foreground — some browsers reduce audio quality for background tabs

Troubleshooting

If you cannot hear the caller or they cannot hear you:

• Check that your browser has microphone permission (look for the microphone icon in the address bar)
• Make sure the correct audio input/output device is selected in your browser settings
• Try refreshing the page
• If problems persist, contact your operator