Virtual Landline Guide for Business
Everything a UK business needs to know about virtual landlines — what they are, how they work, and how to choose one.
In this guide
What is a virtual landline?
A virtual landline is a business phone number that runs over the internet instead of a physical copper phone line. Calls to your landline number are routed to a mobile, desk phone, app or cloud phone system — or several of these at once — rather than a single fixed handset in your office.
In practice, this means you can keep (or get) a recognisable local or 0800/0333 number, but answer calls anywhere you have an internet or mobile connection.
How does a virtual landline work?
Instead of a physical line running into your building, your number is hosted in the cloud by your provider. When someone calls, the system routes the call according to rules you set: ring a mobile, ring several people at once, play a menu, or go to voicemail-to-email outside office hours.
Setup is typically software-based — an app on your phone, a desk phone connected via the internet, or both — meaning no engineer visit is required in most cases.
Why are UK businesses switching to virtual landlines?
| Reason | Detail |
|---|---|
| PSTN switch-off | Openreach is retiring the UK's traditional copper phone network, so analogue lines are being phased out nationwide. |
| Flexibility | Staff can answer the business number from anywhere — useful for hybrid and remote teams. |
| Cost | Typically cheaper than maintaining multiple physical lines, with no line rental. |
| Features | Call recording, voicemail-to-email, call routing and analytics come as standard with most providers. |
What features should you look for?
Not all virtual landline providers offer the same feature set. When comparing options, it's worth checking for: call forwarding and simultaneous ringing, voicemail-to-email, opening hours/out-of-hours routing, call recording (useful for training and disputes), and a mobile app so staff can make and receive calls from their own phone without giving out a personal number.
Virtual landline vs traditional landline
| Traditional Landline | Virtual Landline | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware | Physical line + handset required | Works via app, desk phone or softphone |
| Location | Tied to a single address | Answer from anywhere with internet |
| Future-proofing | Being phased out nationally | Standard going forward |
| Setup | Engineer visit often required | Usually self-service / remote setup |
How we can help
We set up and configure virtual landlines for businesses across Derbyshire — porting your existing number where possible, setting up call routing that matches how your team actually works, and providing support if anything needs adjusting. See our VOIP Services page or get in touch for a quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep my existing landline number?
In almost all cases, yes. Numbers can usually be ported from your existing provider to a virtual landline without any change to the number itself.
Do I need special equipment?
No special equipment is required in most cases — a smartphone app or an internet-connected desk phone is enough to get started.
Is a virtual landline reliable if my internet goes down?
Most providers allow call forwarding to a mobile number as a fallback, so calls can still be answered even if your office internet is briefly unavailable.
Want advice tailored to your situation?
Get in touch and we'll give you a straight answer — no obligation.