Virtual local phone numbers
Use an available geographic number when a recognised UK area code is useful to customers and relevant to the way the business presents itself.
UK VIRTUAL PHONE NUMBERS
UK Virtual Phone Numbers for Business
A virtual phone number separates the number your customers call from the device or platform that answers. That gives your business the freedom to present a professional UK number while calls are routed to a compatible phone system, hosted service, landline or mobile.
QUICK ANSWER
What you need to know
A virtual phone number is a telephone number whose incoming calls are delivered over a configurable communications service instead of being permanently tied to one physical handset or traditional line. Businesses use them for local presence, national contact points, campaigns and flexible working.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT OPTION
Choose a virtual number that matches your business
The right number type depends on the impression you want to create and how customers usually contact you.
Virtual 0330 national numbers
Use an 0330 number when you want a UK-wide identity rather than a particular town or city.
Virtual 0800 freephone numbers
Use a freephone number for sales, support or campaign response where removing the caller charge is valuable.
HOW IT WORKS
One number, several ways to answer
A virtual number gives you a stable customer-facing contact point while the underlying call handling can fit your technology.
Route calls to a mobile or landline
A simple divert can send incoming calls to a telephone you already use.
Connect the number to a hosted phone service
Hosted VoIP can provide extensions and a more structured business phone setup for teams.
Present the number to your own PBX
A SIP trunk can deliver the number to a compatible PBX or 3CX system when you manage your own call control.
BUSINESS BENEFITS
Ways businesses use virtual phone numbers
Virtual numbers are useful when you want to separate customer-facing identity, marketing and call routing from staff devices.
Sales and marketing campaigns
Give a campaign its own number so calls can be directed to the right team and kept separate from the main switchboard.
Remote and hybrid teams
Keep a consistent business number even when staff answer from different locations.
New departments and locations
Add dedicated contact points without requiring a new traditional telephone line for every public number.
Choose your virtual UK number
Browse live UKDDI inventory and select the number first. You can then choose the most suitable call-delivery method.
RELATED UKDDI SERVICES
Continue planning your business phone service
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a virtual phone number and a virtual landline?
Virtual phone number is the broader term for a number delivered independently of one physical line. Virtual landline commonly describes using that approach to provide a business landline-style number, often a geographic number.
Can a virtual number receive calls on more than one device?
That depends on the selected phone service. A hosted phone system or PBX can provide more advanced call handling than a simple single-destination divert.
Can I advertise a virtual phone number on my website?
Yes. A dedicated business number can be used on websites and marketing. Any geographic representation should remain accurate and should not falsely imply a physical office where one does not exist.
Can I port an existing number to UKDDI?
Porting may be possible where the number and current service are eligible. UKDDI reviews porting enquiries before confirming the transfer.
NEXT STEP
Search live numbers
Choose your virtual UK number
Browse live UKDDI inventory and select the number first. You can then choose the most suitable call-delivery method.