Set Phone Call Authentication with SignNow

With airSlate SignNow you can protect access to a document by requiring authentication with a phone call. Once your document has been signed, you will receive a notification.

No credit card required
See how it works!Click here to sign a sample doc

Award-winning eSignature solution

What it means to set phone call authentication

Setting phone call authentication configures a voice-based verification step that confirms a signer’s identity by placing an automated call and delivering a one-time code or spoken passphrase. This method complements other authentication factors such as email, SMS OTP, and knowledge-based verification to increase assurance for remote signers. In regulated U.S. contexts, phone call authentication can be part of a layered approach to meet internal policies and contractual identity verification requirements while preserving a clear electronic audit trail tied to the transaction.

When to choose phone call authentication

Phone call authentication is useful when additional identity assurance is needed beyond email or IP tracking to reduce impersonation risk.

When to choose phone call authentication

Common challenges when setting phone call authentication

  • International phone numbers may increase cost and delivery complexity for voice verification.
  • Busy recipients or call-blocking services can prevent timely receipt of voice codes.
  • Regulatory limits on automated calls must be considered in some U.S. states.
  • Phone ownership changes or shared numbers reduce assurance over time.

Roles involved in setup and management

Security Admin

Security administrators configure authentication policies, manage allowed verification channels, and ensure phone call authentication settings align with compliance requirements. They audit usage logs and set escalation procedures for failed verifications to maintain consistent identity assurance across teams.

Compliance Officer

Compliance officers review phone call authentication as part of broader controls for ESIGN and UETA compliance, assess vendor BAAs for HIPAA covered activities, and document retention policies to ensure the method meets regulatory and contractual obligations.

Who typically uses phone call authentication

Organizations that handle higher-risk transactions or regulated data often adopt phone call authentication as part of multi-factor identity verification.

  • Healthcare providers verifying patient consent for telehealth or records release.
  • Financial services firms confirming client identity for account access changes.
  • Real estate and title companies verifying parties during remote closings.

Teams that combine phone calls with other methods—SMS, email, or ID checks—get stronger signer verification while keeping workflows familiar for recipients.

Key tools for effective phone call authentication

A combination of administrative controls, message customization, and logging features ensures phone call authentication is both usable and auditable for business processes.

Policy Controls

Granular policy settings let administrators require phone verification for specific templates, user groups, or transaction values and enforce consistent identity workflows.

Call Customization

Custom IVR scripts and spoken messages can include organization details and instruction to improve recipient recognition and reduce confusion during verification calls.

Fallback Methods

Configurable fallback paths—such as SMS OTP or email verification—ensure transactions can complete when calls fail, preserving completion rates and user experience.

International Support

Support for international dialing rules, number formatting, and localized messages allows phone authentication across the U.S. and global regions while respecting carrier requirements.

Reporting Dashboard

Centralized reports and exportable logs provide metrics on call success rates, failed attempts, and geographic delivery patterns for operational monitoring.

Audit Logging

Detailed logs tie each call to a signing event with timestamp, call outcome, and associated signer details to preserve evidentiary trails for compliance.

be ready to get more

Choose a better solution

No credit card required

Integrations that simplify phone call authentication

Integrations with communication services and document platforms make phone call authentication easier to manage across document workflows and content sources.

Telephony Providers

Integration with telephony APIs enables scale and reliability for outbound calls, supports international dialing rules, and centralizes delivery reporting to correlate calls with signing events.

Google Workspace

Google Docs integration lets teams prepare templates and launch signings that include phone call verification without reformatting documents or duplicating content between systems.

CRM Platforms

CRM connectors allow mapping of verified phone numbers from customer records into signing workflows to reduce data entry and ensure the correct contact receives the authentication call.

Cloud Storage

Dropbox or Drive integrations store signed documents alongside call logs and verification metadata, improving retention and retrieval for compliance reviews.

How phone call authentication works during signing

This sequence explains the runtime behavior when a recipient encounters a phone call verification step during signing.

  • Initiate: System triggers an automated outbound call to recipient.
  • Deliver Code: IVR delivers a one-time code or spoken passphrase.
  • Enter Code: Signer inputs the code into the signing interface.
  • Verify: Platform marks verification status and logs the event.
Collect signatures
24x
faster
Reduce costs by
$30
per document
Save up to
40h
per employee / month

Quick setup: how to set phone call authentication

A short configuration sequence covers the basic steps to enable phone call authentication for document signing workflows within an eSignature platform.

  • 01
    Enable Setting: Turn on phone call authentication in security settings.
  • 02
    Define Scope: Choose which templates or user groups require phone verification.
  • 03
    Configure Messages: Set the call script and code format to use.
  • 04
    Test Flow: Run test transactions with representative numbers.

How to complete a signing when phone call authentication is required

Follow these steps to finalize a document when the signer must complete phone call verification as part of the signing process.

01

Receive Notification:

Signer gets email with signing link.
02

Start Signing:

Open link and follow on-screen prompts.
03

Call Triggered:

System places automated verification call.
04

Listen for Code:

Code is spoken during the call.
05

Enter Code:

Input code into the signing page.
06

Confirmation:

Document signing completes and logs verification.
be ready to get more

Why choose airSlate SignNow

  • Free 7-day trial. Choose the plan you need and try it risk-free.
  • Honest pricing for full-featured plans. airSlate SignNow offers subscription plans with no overages or hidden fees at renewal.
  • Enterprise-grade security. airSlate SignNow helps you comply with global security standards.
Start free trial
illustrations signature

Recommended workflow settings for phone call authentication

These configuration entries reflect common defaults and best-practice values for reliable phone call verification in signing workflows.

Setting Name Configuration
Verification Window 10 minutes
Retry Attempts 3 attempts
Fallback Method SMS OTP
Call Language English (US)
Logging Level Full audit

Device and platform compatibility for phone call authentication

Phone call verification works across desktop, tablet, and mobile devices because the call occurs outside the browser and the signer enters the code into the signing interface.

  • Desktop: Modern browsers supported
  • Mobile: Native apps or browser
  • Tablets: Full signing support

Ensure the signing interface is reachable via modern browsers and mobile apps, maintain current telephony provider compatibility, and verify that enterprise mobile management policies do not block automated calls for recipients.

Security elements of phone call authentication

One-Time Code: Delivered via automated call
Call Timestamp: Server time recorded
Caller ID Logging: Source number recorded
Call Duration: Duration stored
Audit Linking: Tied to document record
Failure Tracking: Attempts logged

Industry examples for phone call authentication

Two concise examples show how phone call authentication is applied across common U.S. workflows requiring stronger signer identity verification.

Healthcare Consent

A clinic sends a telehealth consent form and triggers a phone call verification to the patient before signing

  • Phone delivers a one-time spoken code
  • Confirms patient possession of contact number

Resulting in a documented verification step that supports HIPAA-compliant consent workflows.

Mortgage Closing

A lender requires identity verification on remote signature of closing documents

  • Borrower receives an automated call with an OTP
  • The OTP prevents remote impersonation and links the call to the transaction

Leading to a stronger audit trail that supports downstream compliance and recordkeeping.

Best practices when you set phone call authentication

Follow these practices to maximize security, usability, and compliance when deploying phone-based verification in signing workflows.

Use layered authentication with clear fallback options
Combine phone call verification with secondary methods such as SMS OTP or email to ensure transactions can complete if calls fail while preserving identity assurance through multiple factors and documented fallbacks.
Limit call frequency and implement retry policies
Configure reasonable retry attempts and time windows to avoid user frustration and carrier throttling, and log each attempt to analyze failure rates and refine delivery parameters.
Localize and clarify call messaging for recipients
Customize the spoken message to include organization identifiers and instructions so recipients recognize the call and understand how to enter the code, reducing support contacts and abandoned transactions.
Document retention and access controls
Ensure verification logs and signed documents are retained according to legal and internal policies, protect logs with appropriate access controls, and maintain exportable audit records for compliance reviews.
Connect airSlate SignNow to your apps
Check out airSlate SignNow integrations
Data accuracy, security, and compliance
airSlate SignNow is committed to protecting your sensitive information by complying with global industry-specific
Learn more about security

FAQs about setting phone call authentication

Common questions about configuration, failures, and compliance concerns address typical issues administrators and signers encounter when phone call authentication is used.

Phone call authentication availability: signNow (Recommended) and competitors

A concise feature comparison shows whether leading eSignature providers support phone call authentication and related technical attributes.

Provider signNow (Recommended) DocuSign Adobe Acrobat Sign
Phone Call Authentication
SMS OTP Support
Enterprise SSO
HIPAA BAA Availability
be ready to get more

Get legally-binding signatures now!

Start your free trial

Retention and recordkeeping timeframes for phone call verification data

Recommended retention periods reflect typical compliance needs for authentication logs and signed documents in U.S. contexts.

Short-term logs:

30 days for operational troubleshooting

Transactional audit records:

7 years for contract and dispute support

HIPAA-related logs:

6 years per HIPAA guidance

Financial records:

5 to 7 years for audit purposes

Permanent retention:

Retain signatures per legal obligations

Risks and compliance considerations

Regulatory Limits: TCPA exposure
Data Breach: Phone data leakage
Unauthorized Access: Shared numbers risk
Call Spoofing: False caller ID attacks
Record Retention: Policy gaps
Audit Gaps: Incomplete logs

Pricing and phone authentication across providers with signNow (Featured)

High-level pricing and feature availability for phone call authentication across common eSignature vendors; individual plans may vary and should be verified with each provider.

Vendor signNow (Featured) DocuSign Adobe Acrobat Sign Dropbox Sign PandaDoc
Starting monthly price Plans start near $8/month Plans start near $10/user/month Plans start near $9.99/month Plans start near $15/month Plans start near $19/month
Phone call authentication cost Included in certain plans Included or add-on by plan Add-on fee often required Add-on fee often required Available on enterprise plans
Advanced auth included Phone plus SMS options Phone and SMS options Primarily SMS OTP Primarily SMS OTP Email and SMS options
Enterprise feature set SAML, SCIM, API access SAML, SCIM, API access SAML, API access SAML, API access SAML, API access
Free trial availability Yes, trial available Yes, trial available Yes, trial available Yes, trial available Yes, trial available

How to set phone authentication with airSlate SignNow

Make sure your documents are signed by authorized parties only. With phone call authentication, your recipients will be able to sign your documents only after receiving an automated phone call to their number.

Customize your signer invitation

Click Invite to Sign next to a document you need to send for eSignature.

fill-guide-illustration

Enter your signer’s email address and customize an invitation subject line and message. Add CC (carbon copy) recipients if you need other parties to receive signed copies of your document. Then, click Advanced Options.

fill-guide-illustration

Set two-factor authentication

In the Advanced Signer Settings section, click on the No Authentication dropdown and select Phone Call.

fill-guide-illustration

Enter your signer’s phone number and set the expiration date for the document. You can also schedule signer reminders to make sure your document is signed on time. Once finished, click Send Invite to send out your signature request.

fill-guide-illustration
walmart logo
exonMobil logo
apple logo
comcast logo
facebook logo
FedEx logo

Explore Advanced Features

Discover More eSignature Tools

be ready to get more

Get legally-binding signatures now!

Start free trial
Company
Forms
Pricing
Resources
Knowledge base
Products
© 2026 airSlate Inc. All rights reserved.
English