VoIP is a type of phone system that can connect phone calls using an internet connection, rather than a traditional telephone system. VoIP phone systems are a great alternative to the old-school way of receiving phone calls, that would typically come with expensive monthly subscriptions and yearly upkeep.
VoIP systems can be used out and about, as well as in the home, and only require a 3G/4G/5G connection.
How much does a VoIP cost?
Implementing a VoIP phone system into your home or business can be a great way to lower your monthly costs. With prices starting from as low as £4.50 per month, you can pick your own local, London or national number today, and start saving instantly with no set-up fee or hidden fees.
Read more about Virtual Landline's tariffs today.
What does “VoIP” stand for?
VoIP stands for “Voice over Internet Protocol” and is a telephone system that allows you to make calls using an internet connection, rather than a traditional home line which would use a wired connection, and be limited to making and receiving calls.
What is a VoIP Number?
A VoIP number is a number assigned to an individual user or business rather than a geographical location, such as with a landline number with an area code. VoIP numbers operate over an internet connection rather than a traditional wired number, and can operate anywhere in the world with an internet connection.
What is the difference between a landline and a VoIP number?
As mentioned above, VoIP phone systems and landlines are used for one main feature, and that is communication, but what makes them different?
The main difference between the two is that VoIP uses the internet to function. Without a consistent internet connection, your VoIP can potentially run into problems, but this is not an issue that you will typically face. Landlines have their own issues, especially when looking to take your calls anywhere else but your office or home. The greatest downfall to landlines is that you cannot take them with you whilst you are out and about, meaning you could potentially miss important calls when out of the home or office.
How does VoIP work?
Firstly, you will need to connect your device, be that a phone, tablet or computer to the internet. This can be done by connecting to your local LAN network, or by using a 3G/4G/5G connection from a mobile device or data dongle.
Once you are connected to the internet, you can then look to download your VoIP application. Check out Virtual Landline's bespoke phone application today. (iOS & Android versions available)
After you have an internet connection and have downloaded the VoIP app, you can then begin to use your VoIP for calls. When you dial a number, your IP Phone will communicate with the service provider and instruct them to call the relevant party.
The VoIP service will then exchange data packets from your IP phone with the caller and then establish the call. The VoIP service can then change these digital signals into sound so that you can hear the caller as you would normally expect on a traditional landline.
Can my Internet connection handle VoIP?
As VoIP systems rely on an internet connection, you are right to be concerned about the possibility of slow connection speeds, or low bandwidth affecting your calls. We would recommend reviewing your internet speeds before committing to a VoIP phone system for your business.
If you are able to receive a reliable 3G/4G/5G connection, you should have no issue giving and receiving phone calls.
Benefits of a home VoIP UK system
Pick your number
One great benefit of using a VoIP system for your calls is that you can decide what number best represents you. From a local area and want to keep your area's prefix? Pick from the long range of local phone numbers today. From Land's End to John O'Groats, Virtual Landline has all areas covered.
Low costs
As we have previously mentioned, a benefit of using VoIP is the low costs that come along with it. With prices starting from £4.50 per month, VoIP can be a lot cheaper than traditional phone line contracts with expensive monthly fees, and long contracts. Virtual Landline's contracts can be cancelled at any time, with no hidden fees.
For more information, be sure to read our article regarding cost savings with VoIP.
Port existing number
One reservation you might have about taking the leap to VoIP is that you don't want to lose your old landline number. Moving over all of your contact information can be a real headache, and there's always something you miss. Be it a subscription service to a flower shop, or an old friend you haven't heard from in a while.
This is why Virtual Landline offers a porting service that can move your traditional landline into the world of VoIP. Learn more about porting today.
Perfect for relocation
A benefit of VoIP that may go unnoticed at first is that it can be a great tool to use when moving abroad.
When living abroad, contacting family from back home can come with outlandish calling fees and high costs per minute. Using VoIP removes these unnecessary fees, and lets you get back to calling your loved ones whenever you like.
Benefits of a business VoIP system
There are many benefits to using a VoIP phone system for your business, from making your business look larger, to streamlining your communication, VoIP will give you the opportunity to improve your business across numerous departments.
Call diversion
One great benefit of implementing VoIP across your business is the way you can divert your calls to a device you have access to. Have an on-the-move sales team? Have all of their sales diverted to their mobile devices when out of the office, so they never miss a call.
With many businesses now offering work-from-home flexibility, switching from the office phone to a personal device has never been easier with Virtual Landline's call diversion systems.
Increase business image
Having the option to pick a national number, which are also known as a non-geographical number, can give your business the illusion of a national presence. These types of numbers are used for international businesses up and down the country and can give your small business the trust factor a caller needs before converting into a customer.
Marketing opportunities
When using VoIP, there are many marketing opportunities that you can pursue with your new business number, especially when it comes to memorable numbers. Memorable numbers, also known as golden numbers, are VoIP phone numbers that are easily remembered through the use of repetitive digits, or ascending or descending numbers.
A great example of a successful marketing campaign would be the famous Hasting's Direct adverts. Through the use of a memorable number, the insurance company created a catchy jingle to go along with their landline number, which has been remembered by the public for years.
If you are interested in acquiring a VoIP for your home or business, be sure to contact us today.
Transitioning from a single business phone number to a fully integrated phone system was a significant step, and Virtual Landline made the process seamless. Their platform offers a robust set of features—call routing, voicemail-to-email, multi-user support, and more—that were clearly explained and easy to implement. The onboarding process was smooth, and within just a few days, we began seeing improved efficiency and communication across the team. For any business seeking a scalable, cloud-based phone solution, Virtual Landline is a solid choice.
Kieran handled our recent transition to the new Virtual Landline call management system. The migration process of our business VoIP was smooth, and the onboarding video call to explain the system’s features and benefits was clear and informative. For anyone considering Virtual Landline as their VOIP service provider, rest assured—you’re making a reliable choice.
Virtual Landline made the setup process refreshingly simple. Their range of plans offers excellent flexibility and affordability, making it easy to find the right fit for your needs. What really stands out is the scalability of the service—it's reassuring to know that as my business grows, Virtual Landline has the features and support in place to grow alongside it. A smart choice for any business looking for reliable VOIP solutions.
Great to speak to a UK based call centre on the phone, Dan couldn't have been more helpful and friendly! Everything was explained clearly, and the switch over to Virtual Landline from my old copper landline went really smoothly. It did exactly what it promised. Really happy with how easy it all was.