5. Add call handling: Voicemail, call hunt, fax 2 email & switchboard!

UK Virtual Number Ranges

Local Area UK Virtual numbers:
Local area virtual UK numbers are numbers that have dialing codes that are relative to certain cities in the UK. For example London's dialing code is 0207 and Manchester's dialing code is 0161. With a virtual number you do not have to be physically located in the City of London to have an 0207 number, instead the incoming calls to your virtual number get forwarded to your existing number elsewhere in the UK or abroad. Local Area Virtual numbers are also known as:  UK City numbers, regional numbers, geographic numbers, 01 & 02 UK Virtual numbers.

National UK Virtual Numbers:
The same applies with national style virtual numbers, such as 0800, 0844 and 0845 virtual numbers. Callers phone your number thinking that you are a big national UK wide based company and you calls get diverted to your existing phones in the UK. Using a national style number can give your clients the impression that you are a big nation wide company, that isn't necessarily based in there own area, city or region: National Virtual UK numbers may also be known as: non-geographic virtual numbers, 0800 toll free numbers and 0844 / 0845 local rate virtual numbers.

Personal Virtual numbers:
These numbers are free to own and can be diverted to local UK landlines and mobiles, or international destinations depending on the rate that you choose to go for. If you are looking to divert calls in the UK only then the 07-D rate virtual numbers might suit your needs, for diverts to UK and many international landlines try the 07-K rate virtual numbers and for UK and many international landlines and mobiles then try the 07-PN2 virtual numbers range. This range of virtual numbers may also be known as; smart numbers, follow me numbers, personal number 2 numbers, PN2 numbers, world office numbers and mobile numbers.

Virtual numbers offer a great way for companies both big and small to target their clients geographically or nationally in the UK and give the business impression that suits their desired image. Whether they want their clients to think that they are based nearby in the same area or that they are a big national company, virtual numbers can assist. Virtual numbers are affordable, easy to use and can be setup quickly online.

Virtual numbers work on a simple forwarding system. When a client calls a virtual number the phone call gets forwarded to an existing phone number that has been specified. Calls can be diverted to an existing landline, mobile, VoIP or fax number at an office, call centre, home or mobile when on the move. Some of the benefits are listed below:

Create a virtual local office.
Many people would like to dial services and businesses that are based in their own area dialing code. Companies can use a virtual number to give people the impression that they have a local office in their area. This may lead to more sales as people believe that they are nearby them rather than in another town and they are unaware that the calls are being diverted to another area. If a company is based nearby or can deliver your offering in the area this option might help to increase calls in targeted areas.
 
National Office Image.
By using a national number, like a 0800 number clients are likely to think that you are a “big company” that is based nationwide in the UK. This number range could be used for companies that can deliver products and services nationwide or for those companies that offer services that are not area dependant like insurance.
 
Memorable numbers generate sales.
A company or individual can choose their own number which means that they are able to buy a virtual number that is easy to remember or relevant to the industry they are based in. Memorable numbers use repetitive numbers like 445566, sequences like 12345 or alphanumeric numbers whereby words translate to numbers on the keypad on a telephone. These numbers are referred to as gold numbers and they are especially useful in advertising as people can remember them without needing a pen and paper which is likely to give them the edge over competitors that have numbers that are difficult to remember.
 
Keep one number if the company moves offices.
Virtual number diverts can be changed at anytime. There is no need to get a new virtual number if they move offices or even if they need to work from another location temporarily. If a user wants the calls to be forwarded to another number then all they need to do is log in to the online control panel and change the number that is currently being diverted to, to the new phone number and it will take effect almost instantly.
 
Track your advertising campaigns.
The system that the virtual numbers use tracks all incoming calls. This is especially useful when they would like to measure the volume of incoming calls that have been made due to any advertising campaigns. They Simply order a new virtual number and add it to the media as the only contact phone number that is advertised. When they have finished the campaign, they can log in to the virtual number system and check how many calls were made to that number.
 
Affordable, professional call handling.
These days it is not necessary to spend large amounts of money on hardware to handle incoming calls. Virtual numbers come with many add on options to ensure that calls are handled professionally and for an affordable price. Users can add voicemail, fax to email, call hunting, virtual switchboard and live answering services at very reasonable rates. Companies no longer need to miss any more calls and you can impress clients with corporate level professional phone systems.
 
Keep existing numbers private.
When a caller phones a virtual number, the calls get forwarded to existing phones, however the number calls get forwarded to to will remain private so callers do not get the existing private number details. If they decide not to use the virtual number any longer and do not want the calls to go to their existing phone, they simply log in and delete the private number the calls are getting diverted to.
 
Give a company position a dedicated number.
Allocate a position in a company a virtual number so that if the employee leaves the company, the calls will still get routed to the correct person in charge, by simply changing the number of the old employee’s number to the new employees number, this will cause less confusion for clients that are used to calling a specific number for assistance.