A virtual number is a connection for business for minimal money and the ability to build a remote call center even in Honolulu. We tell you what virtual numbers are , how they work, what their features and advantages are.
What is a virtual number
A virtual number is a service provided by telecom operators that does not require installation of equipment, and calls are made via the Internet. The main difference between a virtual number and traditional numbers is that it is connected to a cloud PBX and is not tied to a phone or other device, office, location, or even country.
A SIP number is visually no different from a regular one and can be in the following format:
- city number ;
- mobile number from any operator ;
- toll-free number 0-800.
But there is a global difference between them – this is the method of communication . To put it simply, a virtual uses an Internet korea telegram data connection. More precisely, a universal SIP protocol for exchanging data over the network, which constantly alternates requests and responses from the client and server. In this article, we will not describe the operating principle in detail, so we recommend that you read the article separately.
Virtual numbers allow you to make and receive calls:
- via calling programs installed on your computer , such as ;
- via smartphone applications such as: PhonerLite, Zoiper, 3CX, X-Lite;
- via IP phone;
- by forwarding calls – to mobile or landline numbers .
How does a virtual number work?
- The call is received by the provider.
- It addresses the call to the device or server the number is connected to. For example, to a virtual PBX server.
- The virtual PBX forwards the call depending on the settings. For example, you can set up a sequence in which calls from a virtual number will be sent to employees – in Ringostat this function is called .
Virtual number: advantages and possibilities
We’ve figured out what a virtual number is . Let’s move on to the benefits it can bring to companies.
Multichannel
Multi-channel virtual digital marketing for financial services and institutions numbers include several incoming and outgoing lines, making it possible to receive several calls at once on one phone number.
Businesses that receive and make dozens, if not hundreds, of calls daily will especially appreciate this feature. Unlike regular numbers — mobile or landline — which can only be reached by one person at a time, virtual numbers are multi-channel. This means that the caller will never hear a busy signal, even if several calls are already being made to the number. The call can be held on hold until one of the operators becomes free. Or it can be immediately forwarded to a free operator according to the queue settings.
Functionality
Compared to regular phone numbers, brings hundreds of additional opportunities to business. You can build a modern and developed system of internal and external communication with many useful functions – from a voice menu fax database that distributes calls between employees and departments, to artificial intelligence that can even recognize the mood of your customers.
Communication analytics
You also have access to detailed analytics of all calls made and received to virtual numbers. In the call log, you can track data such as:
- date and time of the call;
- the number from which or to which the call was made;
- response time and call duration;
- recording of a conversation.
You will also be able to track the productivity of your managers who receive and make calls. And when you connect , you can evaluate how much your advertising pays off and how many calls from potential buyers it brings.
Save money on calls
- Connecting a SIP number is cheaper than installing a regular telephone line.
- You can increase the number of operators in the corporate network without additional equipment costs. To work “on the phone” with a virtual number, all you need is a computer and headphones with a headset.
- It is cheaper to call a virtual number than to pay for calls abroad. Provided that you have a SIP number connected to the country from which the client is calling. For example, your office is in Ukraine, but you often receive calls from clients from Israel. When connecting an Israeli number, clients will be able to call the company at a local rate – their loyalty will increase.
No binding of a virtual number to a specific location
SIP numbers work in all countries without roaming. For example, Ringostat allows you to use virtual numbers of any country where SIP telephony is available.
A local number creates the effect of business presence. Let’s say the company’s head office is located in Kiev, but the business is focused on the Bulgarian market. By showing customers a local number, you increase trust in the company and create more comfortable conditions for communication. Thus, a virtual number simplifies international business without creating branches in other countries.
Who needs a virtual number?
If verbal communication with potential customers is important in your business, if you make and receive calls from partners, suppliers, clients every day, you most likely need and virtual telephony service. Thanks to such a modern, convenient, multifunctional means of communication, you will receive several advantages at once.
But we do not claim that virtual numbers are a panacea for business. They bring benefits to some companies, but may be useless for others. For example, an international bank needs a large call center with toll-free numbers for several countries. And an online store that receives orders from hundreds of customers every day needs multi-channel numbers and . At the same time, a small pastry shop or local hairdresser may not need a SIP number. Therefore, when choosing a number, be guided primarily by the specifics of your own business.
How to choose the right virtual number provider
A standard mobile or landline number can also be converted to SIP format – through the MNP procedure. But you can also immediately purchase a virtual number.
Virtual numbers are provided by the following companies:
- mobile operators;
- telecommunications companies;
- Internet providers;
- IP telephony operators.
When choosing a service provider, pay attention to the following factors.
- Check whether the provider works directly with local telecom operators or through intermediaries. The quality of communication depends on the number of actors in the chain.
- Check if your provider has backup numbers. They are needed in case of connection failure for temporary redirection from a non-working number to a backup one.
- Find out if your new number has been used by other companies before and if so, whether it has been “cleaned”.
“Dirty” numbers
The last point is one of the “pains” of SIP number users, so we will dwell on it in more detail. When buying a virtual number, you may encounter calls that are intended for its previous owner. This happens if the operator has provided a “used” number to a new client without first “clearing” it.
Ideally, a SIP number should not immediately pass from the old owner to the new one. It should receive the status of “dirty” and go to the equivalent of quarantine – a reserve or so-called “sedimentation tank”. In Ringostat, a virtual number is considered “dirty” as long as calls are received. If no one has called the number for 1-2 months, it becomes “clean” and only then is it provided to clients.
Keep in mind that some providers keep numbers in reserve, but do not take into account the calls coming to them. In this case, the new client gets “dirty” numbers and, as a logical consequence, “garbage”
Conclusions
Virtual numbers can become a tool for optimizing business processes. They will help optimize external and internal communications, improve customer service, and increase sales. And of course, call and receive online around the world – regardless of your actual location.
Contact Ringostat and describe the tasks you plan to solve with virtual numbers. We will select the best solution, help you purchase and connect the numbers you need, connect and configure IP telephony for you – according to your goals and needs.
