Virtual Phone Number vs Traditional Phone Number - What's the difference?

A telephone number is a sequence of digits assigned to a landline telephone subscriber station connected to a telephone line or to a wireless electronic telephony device, such as a radio telephone or a mobile telephone, or to other devices for data transmission via the public switched telephone network (PSTN) or other public and private networks. A telephone number serves as an address for switching telephone calls using a system of destination code routing.

Flexibility

The most significant difference between a virtual phone number and a traditional phone number is that virtual ones are not exclusively tied to a specific phone, device, or address. This flexibility allows users significantly more flexibility in how they use telephone communications.

With many people and businesses on the go, call forwarding is a benefit. Many traditional phones charge a fee for the service, however, with a virtual phone number, also called a direct access number, direct inward dial, or inward dialing number, you can forward your number to any device at no additional charge.

Equipment

Unlike physical phone numbers, direct access numbers do not require specialized and expensive equipment. Direct access numbers don’t even need an actual phone to place and receive phone calls. If you already have existing phone equipment, you can generally use a direct access number with it.

Using specific software, it doesn’t matter what device you use to make and receive your phone calls. Between computers, laptops, mobile phones, and tablets you can make and receive calls using devices you already own.

Geolocation phone numbers and vanity phone numbers

With direct inward dial numbers, you can create a presence in almost any location through a number. If you go to your local phone carrier, you will be assigned a local phone number. However, with a direct inward dial number, you can purchase a phone number from any area code.

Having the ability to purchase phone numbers in different area codes can be a huge upside for those businesses that do business across the country. Even if your office or business is located out of state, your customers can dial a number local to them. This will help you reduce the cost of incoming phone calls.

You can also purchase toll-free prefixes and vanity numbers if that makes sense for your business.

Ease of use for business

With telecommuting and businesses operating in multiple locations becoming more prevalent, it is becoming increasingly difficult for a company to operate under a traditional phone system. Usually, each site uses a different phone system, often from incompatible service providers.

With a virtual phone number and phone operating system, your business can be truly united. You can route calls to those on the go or employees operating from a separate desk with ease.

Creating queues becomes a breeze with direct access numbers as well. A queue can keep one single member from the team having to field many calls. The team or department can share in the work based on your business needs.

Data Backup

Knowing that a virtual phone number is hosted in a data center can give you peace of mind. Have you ever had a technical issue with your phone service, leaving you without the ability to make or receive calls? Has your phone system ever crashed, resulting in lost data such as voicemails, stored numbers, and more? Data centers minimize that risk.

Virtual Phone Number

Virtual phone numbers are on the rise and are becoming quite popular among businesses and individuals. From the limited equipment needed, ease of use, no contracts, and more, it is easy to see why.

Voiped Telecom offers global coverage on virtual calling numbers in over 70 countries. Select from a range of Geo-location, mobile, national, and toll-free numbers.

Voiped Telecom

Headquartered in the Netherlands, Voiped Telecom is a European Internet service provider offering businesses Virtual Numbers in Over 70 countries across the globe. With some of the widest geographic coverage on the market, Voiped Telecom provides diversity in connection as well as endless configurations according to your company's specification requirements.