Making outbound calls with dialnote is quick and intuitive. The built-in dialer lets you call contacts directly from your browser or search for anyone in your contact list. You can also type in any phone number manually.
Using the Dialer#
Click the phone icon in your sidebar to open the call pane. The dialer appears as a floating panel that you can drag anywhere on your screen.
Before placing a call, you'll need to:
- Select your "From" number - Pick which of your phone numbers the call will come from. This determines what the recipient sees on their caller ID.
- Enter the destination - Type a phone number directly or search for a contact by name. dialnote validates phone numbers as you type and shows matching contacts from your address book.
Once you've entered a valid number, the green call button becomes active. Click it to start dialing.
Quick dial from contacts
You can also start calls directly from the Contacts page or Inbox. Click the phone icon next to any contact to open the dialer with their number pre-filled.
Call States#
When you place a call, it moves through several states:
- Dialing - The call is connecting to the network
- Ringing - The recipient's phone is ringing
- Connected - You're talking with the other person
- On Hold - The call is paused but still active
- Ended - The call has finished
The dialer shows the current state with visual indicators. During dialing and ringing, you'll see the call attempting to connect. Once connected, a timer shows your call duration.
In-Call Controls#
When your call connects, you get access to several controls:
| Control | Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mute | Ctrl+M | Silence your microphone |
| Hold | Ctrl+H | Put the call on hold with hold music |
| Record | — | Start, pause, or resume call recording |
| Keypad | Ctrl+K | Open the keypad for DTMF tones |
| Add | — | Add another participant to the call |
| End | Esc | Hang up the call |
The keypad is useful for navigating IVR menus or entering extension numbers. Any digits you press get sent as DTMF tones to the other party.
Recording permissions
Call recording availability depends on your phone number settings. If auto-record is enabled, recording starts automatically when the call connects. You can pause and resume recordings during the call.
Caller ID#
When you select a "From" number, dialnote checks if that number has a verified Caller ID configured. If it does, the recipient sees your Caller ID number instead of your dialnote phone number.
This is helpful when you want calls to appear from a specific business line or mobile number that customers recognize.
Audio Settings#
Click the gear icon in the dialer to access audio settings. You can:
- Select your input microphone
- Choose your output speaker
- Test your audio before making calls
Good audio quality starts with the right device selection. If callers can't hear you or you're having audio issues, checking these settings is a good first step.
Keyboard Shortcuts#
Power users can control calls without touching the mouse:
- Ctrl+M - Toggle mute on/off
- Ctrl+H - Toggle hold on/off
- Ctrl+K - Show/hide the DTMF keypad
- Esc - End the current call
These shortcuts work whenever the call pane is open and you have an active call.
Adding Participants#
Need to bring someone else into the conversation? Click the Add button during an active call to start a conference. Enter a phone number or search for a contact, and dialnote will dial them in. All participants can hear each other once the new person picks up.
After the Call#
When you hang up, dialnote's AI kicks in automatically (if enabled on your phone number):
- Transcript - A full text transcript of the conversation appears in your inbox
- Summary - A concise overview of what was discussed, so you don't have to re-listen
- Action items - Any follow-ups or tasks mentioned during the call get pulled out and listed
You'll find all of this in the conversation timeline in your Inbox. It typically takes a few seconds to process after the call ends.
Turn on AI features
AI transcription, summaries, and action items are controlled per phone number. Go to Settings → Phone Numbers → [your number] → Call Features to turn them on.