Landline numbers, what are they used for?

Although landline numbers have lost popularity in private households, they remain an essential tool in the business world. The trust, professionalism, and structure they offer are hard to match, especially when discussing virtual phone numbers—a modern solution that combines the best of traditional systems with the advantages of cloud technology.

What is the difference between traditional landline numbers and a virtual number? We know that operators usually include a landline in their rates, which would be more expensive than virtual numbers. With virtual numbers we get much cheaper rates and you can register as many as necessary for a company and not just have one landline number, since when dealing with a business it is most likely that you will need more than one.

When it comes to communication, there is no difference between one and the other, but if we talk about managing a company, with a virtual phone number connected to a switchboard we can keep track of all calls and this is the big difference with traditional landline numbers, which is not small.

A virtual landline number combines the traditional structure of a landline with the flexibility of digital technologies. This means you can have a landline number with a specific geographic prefix without the need for a physical line. These solutions allow businesses to project a local presence in multiple cities or countries without opening physical offices, resulting in more savings.

What are landline numbers used for?

We can say that landline telephone numbers are still essential for businesses. Having a landline, especially with a local prefix, gives seriousness and if we talk about virtual numbers, they are useful to create a local presence without having to have a physical office in each city or country. This makes it perfect for businesses that want to expand without too much hassle.

Additionally, when connected to a virtual PBX system, they are extremely practical for organizing and managing customer service, with the possibility of using interactive menus, setting up voicemail, call recordings, analytics, and many other tools that make customer support more professional. We can say that if a business has several departments and/or branches, a landline helps ensure that each call reaches the right person.

Furthermore, if we connect a virtual phone number to a CRM like Megacall CRM, every incoming call will provide the complete history with all customer information and interactions, along with various features for managing communication within a business.

What are landline telephone numbers like?

When we think about acquiring a landline number for our business, the first thing that comes to mind is whether the prefixes 900, 901, 800… are free and how they work. Choosing a number for our business is one of the first steps to set up customer service, and that’s why choosing the right one is crucial to get started.

Prefixes 800 and 900, the free ones. These two prefixes are the only ones that are free for the caller. This means the customer does not pay for the call. In these cases, the costs are covered by the company that owns the number. These are the prefixes that give the best image to users, so they are the ones businesses prefer the most.

Prefixes 901, the cheapest numbers. Numbers starting with the prefix 901 are not free, but they are among the cheapest. In this case, the cost of the call is shared between the caller and the company. The caller pays a reduced rate, usually equivalent to the cost of a local call if made from a landline. The remaining cost is covered by the company. If the call is made from a mobile phone, the cost can increase.

Prefixes 902, where the caller pays. Unlike the previous prefixes, here the caller pays the full cost of the call, and it is also slightly more expensive than the others. Since 2020, the law has established certain guidelines for using this number, prohibiting excessive use and requiring an alternative number.

Now, the prefixes 9 and 8 are the usual ones, the geographic numbers that identify each province. These are the numbers we can use to project a local image without needing a physical office in the area, when we talk about virtual numbers. The complete list of provinces and their prefixes are the following:

How to hire a virtual landline number?

There are many alternatives in the market offering this service, but we always look for a provider that is cost-effective without compromising quality, aiming for a balance between quality and price. Traditional landlines from operators are not cheap, but with virtual numbers, we can get much more affordable rates and the possibility of using more than one number, not just one. Here we use Megacall as an example, which meets all the mentioned criteria, and in just a few minutes and a few steps, you’ll have your landline number ready to use, with all the benefits of a modern and professional cloud solution. How?

1. Register on the Megacall platform.
2. Choose the number based on the location where you want to have a presence (Spain or numbers from over 100 different countries).
3. You can start using your number! If you wish, you can connect it to the virtual PBX and integrate Megacall’s CRM to access all the features and advantages of having a virtual number.

It’s important to mention that activating a virtual number does not mean losing the number you already have, as Megacall allows number portability to transfer it from a traditional line to the internet, without complications.

Megacall adapts to the needs and budget of businesses, which is why it offers different plans. If you’re a new business, you can start with the basic plan, paying only for the number rates, and as you grow and expand your team, you can switch to other plans that include virtual numbers, more storage, and many more advantages.