What is a VoIP Number?
About the Author
A VoIP number is a phone number that works over the internet instead of a traditional phone line. VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. The technology that lets you make and receive calls over any internet connection, on any device. In practice, it means one business number that works from the office, from home, or on the move.
How is a VoIP number different from a landline?
A traditional landline ties your number to a single physical line at one address. A VoIP number is cloud-based, so the same number can ring on a desk phone, a laptop, a mobile, or a softphone app, anywhere you have an internet connection. There is no physical line to maintain and nothing tying the number to one location.
Why are UK businesses moving to VoIP now?
The UK's old telephone network (known as the PSTN and ISDN) is being switched off on 31 January 2027. After that date, traditional phone lines will no longer work, and any business still using one will need to move to an internet-based system. A VoIP number is the standard replacement, and for most businesses, the switch is more straightforward than expected.
"Most businesses we move over are surprised how little changes day to day—the same number, often the same handsets, just running over the internet instead of the old line."
— Abrar Jussab, VoIP Expert
Can you keep your existing number?
Yes. One of the main advantages of VoIP is portability. If you move offices, open a second site, or expand into a new region, your number moves with you. You can also set up local or international numbers without a physical presence in those areas. For example, keeping a 0161 Manchester number across several sites, or adding a 020 London number for a new market.
What can you do with a VoIP number?
Because calls are handled in the cloud, a VoIP number usually comes with features that traditional lines cannot offer. Common ones include call forwarding, voicemail sent to email, call recording, an auto-attendant menu that directs callers to the right person, and a dashboard showing your call activity, all managed online, with no on-site equipment to look after.
Is a VoIP number right for your business?
Whether you run a small team or a growing organisation, a VoIP number offers reliable, flexible communications without the cost and limitations of traditional phone lines, and it is ready for life after the 2027 switch-off. The right choice depends on how your team works, how many numbers you need, and the features that matter most to you.
Still have questions about VoIP numbers or the switch-off? Have a quick, no-obligation chat with our UK team. We'll explain it in plain English.
Written By | About the Author
Kully has over 15 years of experience in the VoIP and telecoms industry. Drawing on a background in telecoms sales and leadership, he provides expert, impartial advice on VoIP and cloud telephony solutions. As a lead author for The VoIP Shop, Kully helps businesses understand and adopt modern communication technologies
