IVR (Interactive Voice Response)
Short answer: IVR (interactive voice response) is an automated phone system that plays recorded prompts and routes callers based on keypad presses or spoken answers, such as "press 1 for sales". Businesses use it to direct calls, authenticate callers and handle simple requests without an agent.
IVR menus usually run on a PBX or contact-center platform that sits behind the phone number callers dial.
How it works
When a call arrives, the IVR plays a prompt, collects DTMF digits or speech, and follows a call flow to an extension, queue or message. Voice applications can be scripted in standards such as W3C VoiceXML or configured in PBX software.
How it applies to ZuteSIP
IVR is not listed as part of the ZuteSIP service. ZuteSIP supplies the phone numbers and SIP credentials; a PBX you run, such as Asterisk, FreePBX or 3CX, is where call menus would be configured.
Related terms
- DTMF
- PBX
- SIP trunk
- Toll-free number
Frequently asked questions
Does IVR need DTMF?
Keypad menus rely on DTMF; speech-based IVR uses voice recognition instead.
Does ZuteSIP provide IVR menus?
No, IVR is not a listed ZuteSIP feature; it would be configured in your own PBX.
Can a PBX with IVR register a ZuteSIP number?
ZuteSIP works with any SIP-compliant software, including Asterisk, FreePBX and 3CX.
Related pages
- DTMF
- PBX
- SIP trunk
- 3CX integration
- FreePBX integration
- call centers use case
- E.164 International Phone Number Format
- Local (Geographic) Phone Number
Sources
- W3C: Voice Extensible Markup Language (VoiceXML) 2.0 (as of September 2026)