Virtual Phone Number

A virtual phone number is a number unattached to a physical landline.  Virtual phone numbers for your business fall into two categories: geographic numbers and non-geographic numbers.

Geographic Virtual Phone Numbers

Geographic virtual phone numbers correspond to local telephone numbers or local dialing codes (STD codes) but are not dependent on a physical landline installed in a building in that city or area. In most countries, geographic areas have an identifying prefix in front of the telephone number, so callers know if they are dialing a local business, or whether they will be charged a local rate or national rate for the call, for example 0207, 0208 and 0203 are London numbers, 0161 is a Manchester dialing code and 0131 designates an Edinburgh number.

01 and 02 Numbers

Geographic numbers beginning 01 and 02 are readily recognised as local landline numbers.  Because they have been in circulation for many years, callers are familiar with how much 01 and 02 numbers cost to call and whether they are included in any free minutes with their landline or mobile calling package.  Consequently these numbers are the most trusted.  This level of trust makes 01 and 02 geographic numbers a valuable option for your business - customers know what they are getting and will subconsciously transfer this trust to your business.  But renting an office in every geographic area your business covers would be expensive, so the cheap alternative to create a local presence and give your customers peace of mind is a virtual geographic phone number.

Geographic virtual phone numbers cost the same to call as 01 and 02 numbers attached to a physical landline and are included in free minutes provided with landline or mobile call packages.  Your virtual geographic phone number can be forwarded either to your central office, our team of virtual receptionists, or individual mobiles of your staff located in that local area.  For example you may manage a team of plumbers who cover an area spanning three or four geographic dialing codes.  With four geographic virtual phone numbers you can either man calls from a central reception and connect them live to staff in the field, or deploy the virtual phone numbers directly to staff on duty.  Your customer can be confident they are calling a business covering their local area, and you create a trusted local presence.

A free 01273 Brighton number can be provided with the following services:

Telephone Answering
Order Taking
Brochure Fulfillment
Fax to Email
Voicemail to Email

Geographic virtual telephone numbers in all areas are available to buy through the table above. We will contact you to discuss your selection upon purchase. For a list of Ofcom's local area dialing codes, click here.

Non-Geographic Virtual Phone Numbers

Non-geographic virtual phone numbers are unrelated to any local telephone number or dialing code (STD code).  They are generally considered to be national telephone numbers such as 03 numbers, 0800 numbers, 0845 numbers, 0870 numbers, and 09 numbers.

03 numbers

03 numbers are the newest type of virtual phone number designed to bridge the gap between geographic and non-geographic telephone numbers.

From a landline, 03 numbers cost the same to phone as an 01 or 02 number.  They are, however, entirely unrelated to any local or geographic area in the UK.  03 numbers were created to offer businesses, charities and other organisations a way to create a national presence, unrelated to a local geographic area, without callers paying to telephone a traditional 084X/087X or 09 virtual phone number.  Because 03 numbers are treated like 01 or 02 numbers they must be included within free minutes offered as part of landline and mobile phone packages.  This is the major differentiating factor of an 03 number. For example most people know that 0800 numbers are freephone numbers, but not everyone is aware that they are only free from a landline. From a mobile, an 0800 number can actually be as expensive to call as other non-geographic numbers such as 0871.

03 numbers beginning 030 are reserved by Ofcom for public bodies and not-for-profit organisations.

0800 Numbers

0800 telephone numbers are non-geographic numbers which are free for your caller to telephone from a landline.  Because it's free for your caller, you pay a cost per minute instead.  A freephone 0800 number can make your business preferable to contact over your competitors and dramatically enhance the response rates for advertising campaigns. 0800 virtual phone numbers are not free to call from mobiles.

0844/0845 Numbers

0844/0845 numbers are non-geographic numbers which are lo-call rate for your caller to phone from a landline.  You pay no cost per minute because the caller pays a low price per minute for the phone call.  0844/0845 virtual phone numbers are not free to phone from mobiles. BT has started to include calls to 0845 numbers in inclusive minutes in its tariffs, but not calls to 0844 numbers yet.

A free 0844 or 0845 number is provided with the following services:

Telephone Answering
Order Taking
Brochure Fulfillment
Fax to Email
Voicemail to Email

0870 Numbers

0870 numbers are non-geographic numbers which are national rate for your caller to phone from a landline.  This can be up to 10p per minute from a landline.  You pay no cost per minute because the caller pays a higher rate for the phone call, however BT has begun to include 0870 numbers in its call packages.  0870 numbers can offer a rebate to the owner which can help cover the cost of the service offered via the virtual phone number, for example to charge a customer for telephone technical support on a per minute basis, rather than requesting credit card details for payment.

0871 Numbers 

0871 numbers are non-geographic numbers which are national rate for your caller to phone from a landline.  This can be up to 12.5p per minute. In addition to 0870 numbers, 0871 numbers can offer a rebate to the owner which can be a suitable way to take a nominal and transparent fee for a chargeable service, which it may logistically be difficult to bill a customer for otherwise.

Calls to 0800, 0844, 0845, 0870 and 0871 virtual phone numbers from mobiles can be expensive and vary depending on the network the caller is dialing through.

09 numbers

09 numbers are national non-geographic virtual phone numbers reserved for premium rate services such as TV voting, competitions, and adult services.  Calls to 09 numbers from a landline can be up to £1.65 per minute and much more from a mobile.  

09 numbers and 0871/2/3 numbers are regulated by PhonepayPlus and must be used responsibly, therefore they are not available to purchase via our website, only via telephone. Please call us on 0800 849 3990 to discuss your exact requirements.

All virtual phone numbers can be dialed from abroad by omitting the initial zero and adding +44 if supported by the foreign network.

Sign up now using the ADD buttons above or call 01273 741 400 or 0800 849 3990.

Compare Virtual Phone Numbers

Virtual Phone Number	Cost to call from landline	Cost to call from mobile	Cost to receive calls	Rebate available
01 or 02 Number	Included in free minutes	Included in free minutes	Up to 5ppm	No
03 Number	Included in free minutes	Included in free minutes	Up to 5ppm	No
0800 Number	Always free	Up to 41ppm	Up to 5ppm	No
0844/0845 Number	0845 inc in some providers' free minutes or up to 7ppm	Up to 41ppm	0	No
0870 Number	Inc in some providers' free minutes or up to 10ppm	Up to 41ppm	0	Yes
0871 Number	Up to 12.5ppm	Up to 41ppm	0	Yes
09 Number	Up to £1.65pm	Up to £2.55pm or more	0	Yes

 

Ofcom's geographic area codes:

Code     Area
0113       Leeds
0114       Sheffield
0115       Nottingham
0116       Leicester
0117       Bristol
0118       Reading
01200     Clitheroe
01202     Bournemouth
01204     Bolton
01205     Boston
01206     Colchester
01207     Consett
01208     Bodmin
01209     Redruth
0121       Birmingham
01223     Cambridge
01224     Aberdeen
01225     Bath
01226     Barnsley
01227     Canterbury
01228     Carlisle
01229     Barrow-in-Furness(2,4,5,6,8), Millom(3,7,9)
01233     Ashford (Kent)
01234     Bedford
01235     Abingdon
01236     Coatbridge
01237     Bideford
01239     Cardigan
01241     Arbroath
01242     Cheltenham
01243     Chichester
01244     Chester
01245     Chelmsford
01246     Chesterfield
01248     Bangor (Gwynedd)
01249     Chippenham
01250     Blairgowrie
01252     Aldershot
01253     Blackpool
01254     Blackburn
01255     Clacton-on-Sea
01256     Basingstoke
01257     Coppull
01258     Blandford
01259     Alloa
01260     Congleton
01261     Banff
01262     Bridlington
01263     Cromer
01264     Andover
01267     Carmarthen
01268     Basildon
01269     Ammanford
01270     Crewe
01271     Barnstable
01273     Brighton
01274     Bradford
01275     Clevedon
01276     Camberley
01277     Brentwood
01278     Bridgwater
01279     Bishops Stortford
01280     Buckingham
01282     Burnley
01283     Burton-on-Trent
01284     Bury-St-Edmunds
01285     Cirencester
01286     Caernarvon
01287     Guisborough
01288     Bude
01289     Berwick-on-Tweed
01290     Cumnock
01291     Chepstow
01292     Ayr
01293     Crawley
01294     Ardrossan
01295     Banbury
01296     Aylesbury
01297     Axminster
01298     Buxton
01299     Bewdley
01300     Cerne Abbas
01301     Arrochar
01302     Doncaster
01303     Folkestone
01304     Dover
01305     Dorchester
01306     Dorking
01307     Forfar
01308     Bridport
01309     Forres
0131       Edinburgh
01320     Fort Augustus
01322     Dartford
01323     Eastbourne
01324     Falkirk
01325     Darlington
01326     Falmouth
01327     Daventry
01328     Fakenham
01329     Fareham
01330     Banchory
01332     Derby
01333     Peat Inn
01334     St Andrews
01335     Ashbourne
01337     Ladybank
01339     Aboyne(2,3,5,8), Ballater(4,6,7,9)
01340     Craigellachie
01341     Barmouth
01342     East Grinstead
01343     Elgin
01344     Bracknell
01346     Fraserburgh
01347     Easingwold
01348     Fishguard
01349     Dingwall
01350     Dunkeld
01352     Mold
01353     Ely
01354     Chatteris
01355     East Kilbride
01356     Brechin
01357     Strathaven
01358     Ellon
01359     Pakenham
01360     Killearn
01361     Duns
01362     Dereham
01363     Crediton
01364     Ashburton
01366     Downham Market
01367     Faringdon
01368     Dunbar
01369     Dunoon
01371     Great Dunmow
01372     Esher
01373     Frome
01375     Grays Thurrock
01376     Braintree
01377     Driffield
01379     Diss
01380     Devizes
01381     Fortrose
01382     Dundee
01383     Dunfermline
01384     Dudley
01386     Evesham
01387     Dumfries
013873     Langholm
01388     Bishop Auckland(3,4,6,7,8,9), Stanhope(2,5)
01389     Dumbarton
01392     Exeter
01394     Felixstowe
01395     Budleigh Salterton
01397     Fort William
01398     Dulverton
01400     Honington
01403     Horsham
01404     Honiton
01405     Goole
01406     Holbeach
01407     Holyhead
01408     Golspie
01409     Holsworthy
0141       Glasgow
01420     Alton
01422     Halifax
01423     Boroughbridge(3,4,9), Harrogate(2,5,6,7,8)
01424     Hastings
01425     Ringwood
01427     Gainsborough
01428     Haslemere
01429     Hartlepool
01430     Market Weighton(6,7,8,9), North Cave(2,3,4,5)
01431     Helmsdale
01432     Hereford
01433     Hathersage
01434     Bellingham(2,4,9), Haltwhistle(3,5), Hexham(6,7,8)
01435     Heathfield
01436     Helensburgh
01437     Clynderwen(2,3,4,5), Haverfordwest(6,7,8,9)
01438     Stevenage
01439     Helmsley
01440     Haverhill
01442     Hemel Hempstead
01443     Pontypridd
01444     Haywards Heath
01445     Gairloch
01446     Barry
01449     Stowmarket
01450     Hawick
01451     Stow-on-the-Wold
01452     Gloucester
01453     Dursley
01454     Chipping Sodbury
01455     Hinckley
01456     Glenurquhart
01457     Glossop
01458     Glastonbury
01460     Chard
01461     Gretna
01462     Hitchin
01463     Inverness
01464     Insch
01465     Girvan
01466     Huntly
01467     Inverurie
01469     Killingholme
01470     Isle of Skye – Edinbane
01471     Isle of Skye – Broadford
01472     Grimsby
01473     Ipswich
01474     Gravesend
01475     Greenock
01476     Grantham
01477     Holmes Chapel
01478     Isle of Skye – Portree
01479     Grantown-on-Spey
01480     Huntingdon
01481     Guernsey
01482     Hull
01483     Guildford
01484     Huddersfield
01485     Hunstanton
01487     Warboys
01488     Hungerford
01489     Bishops Waltham
01490     Corwen
01491     Henley-on-Thames
01492     Colwyn Bay
01493     Great Yarmouth
01494     High Wycombe
01495     Pontypool
01496     Port Ellen
01497     Hay-on-Wye
01499     Inveraray
01501     Harthill
01502     Lowestoft
01503     Looe
01505     Johnstone
01506     Bathgate
01507     Alford (Lincs)(4,8,9), Louth (3,6,7), Spilsby(2,5)
01508     Brooke
01509     Loughborough
0151       Liverpool
01520     Lochcarron
01522     Lincoln
01524     Lancaster
015242     Hornby
01525     Leighton Buzzard
01526     Martin
01527     Redditch
01528     Laggan
01529     Sleaford
01530     Coalville
01531     Ledbury
01534     Jersey
01535     Keighley
01536     Kettering
01538     Ipstones
01539     Kendal
015394     Hawkshead
015395     Grange-Over-Sands
015396     Sedbergh
01540     Kingussie
01542     Keith
01543     Cannock
01544     Kington
01545     Llanarth
01546     Lochgilphead
01547     Knighton
01548     Kingsbridge
01549     Lairg
01550     Llandovery
01553     Kings Lynn
01554     Llanelli
01555     Lanark
01556     Castle Douglas
01557     Kirkcudbright
01558     Llandeilo
01559     Llandyssul
01560     Moscow
01561     Laurencekirk
01562     Kidderminster
01563     Kilmarnock
01564     Lapworth
01565     Knutsford
01566     Launceston
01567     Killin
01568     Leominster
01569     Stonehaven
01570     Lampeter
01571     Lochinver
01572     Oakham
01573     Kelso
01575     Kirriemuir
01576     Lockerbie
01577     Kinross
01578     Lauder
01579     Liskeard
01580     Cranbrook
01581     New Luce
01582     Luton
01583     Carradale
01584     Ludlow
01586     Campbeltown
01588     Bishops Castle
01590     Lymington
01591     Llanwrtyd Wells
01592     Kirkcaldy
01593     Lybster
01594     Lydney
01595     Lerwick, Foula(75), Fair Isle(76)
01597     Llandrindod Wells
01598     Lynton
01599     Kyle
01600     Monmouth
01603     Norwich
01604     Northampton
01606     Northwich
01608     Chipping Norton
01609     Northallerton
0161       Manchester
01620     North Berwick
01621     Maldon
01622     Maidstone
01623     Mansfield
01624     Isle of Man
01625     Macclesfield
01626     Newton Abbot
01628     Maidenhead
01629     Matlock
01630     Market Drayton
01631     Oban
01633     Newport
01634     Medway
01635     Newbury
01636     Newark
01637     Newquay
01638     Newmarket
01639     Neath
01641     Strathy
01642     Middlesbrough
01643     Minehead
01644     New Galloway
01646     Milford Haven
01647     Moretonhampstead
01650     Cemmaes Road
01651     Oldmeldrum
01652     Brigg
01653     Malton
01654     Machynlleth
01655     Maybole
01656     Bridgend
01659     Sanquhar
01661     Prudhoe
01663     New Mills
01664     Melton Mowbray
01665     Alnwick
01666     Malmesbury
01667     Nairn
01668     Bamburgh
01669     Rothbury
01670     Morpeth
01671     Newton Stewart
01672     Marlborough
01673     Market Rasen
01674     Montrose
01675     Coleshill
01676     Meriden
01677     Bedale
01678     Bala
01680     Isle of Mull – Craignure
01681     Isle of Mull – Fionnphort
01683     Moffat
01684     Malvern
01685     Merthyr Tydfil
01686     Llanidloes(2,3,4,7), Newtown(5,6,8,9)
01687     Mallaig
01688     Isle of Mull – Tobermory
01689     Orpington
01690     Betws-y-Coed
01691     Oswestry
01692     North Walsham
01694     Church Stretton
01695     Skelmersdale
01697     Brampton
016973     Wigton
016974     Raughton Head
01698     Motherwell
01700     Rothesay
01702     Southend-on-Sea
01704     Southport
01706     Rochdale
01707     Welwyn Garden City
01708     Romford
01709     Rotherham
01720     Isles of Scilly
01721     Peebles
01722     Salisbury
01723     Scarborough
01724     Scunthorpe
01725     Rockbourne
01726     St Austell
01727     St Albans
01728     Saxmundham
01729     Settle
01730     Petersfield
01732     Sevenoaks
01733     Peterborough
01736     Penzance
01737     Redhill
01738     Perth
01740     Sedgefield
01743     Shrewsbury
01744     St Helens
01745     Rhyl
01746     Bridgnorth
01747     Shaftesbury
01748     Richmond
01749     Shepton Mallet
01750     Selkirk
01751     Pickering
01752     Plymouth
01753     Slough
01754     Skegness
01756     Skipton
01757     Selby
01758     Pwllheli
01759     Pocklington
01760     Swaffham
01761     Temple Cloud
01763     Royston
01764     Crieff
01765     Ripon
01766     Porthmadog
01767     Sandy
01768     Penrith
017683     Appleby
017684     Pooley Bridge
017687     Keswick
01769     South Molton
01770     Isle of Arran
01771     Maud
01772     Preston
01773     Ripley
01775     Spalding
01776     Stranraer
01777     Retford
01778     Bourne
01779     Peterhead
01780     Stamford
01782     Stoke-on-Trent
01784     Staines
01785     Stafford
01786     Stirling
01787     Sudbury
01788     Rugby
01789     Stratford-upon-Avon
01790     Spilsby
01792     Swansea
01793     Swindon
01794     Romsey
01795     Sittingbourne
01796     Pitlochry
01797     Rye
01798     Pulborough
01799     Saffron Walden
01803     Torquay
01805     Torrington
01806     Shetland
01807     Ballindalloch
01808     Tomatin
01809     Tomdoun
01821     Kinrossie
01822     Tavistock
01823     Taunton
01824     Ruthin
01825     Uckfield
01827     Tamworth
01828     Coupar Angus
01829     Tarporley
01830     Kirkwhelpington
01832     Clopton
01833     Barnard Castle
01834     Narberth
01835     St Boswells
01837     Okehampton
01838     Dalmally
01840     Camelford
01841     Newquay
01842     Thetford
01843     Thanet
01844     Thame
01845     Thirsk
01847     Thurso(2,3,4,5,8), Tongue(6,7,9)
01848     Thornhill
01851     Great Bernera(4,6,9), Stornoway(2,3,5,7,8)
01852     Kilmelford
01854     Ullapool
01855     Ballachulish
01856     Orkney
01857     Sanday
01858     Market Harborough
01859     Harris
01862     Tain
01863     Ardgay
01864     Abington
01865     Oxford
01866     Kilchrenan
01869     Bicester
01870     Isle of Benbecula
01871     Castlebay
01872     Truro
01873     Abergavenny
01874     Brecon
01875     Tranent
01876     Lochmaddy
01877     Callandar
01878     Lochboisdale
01879     Scarinish
01880     Tarbert
01882     Kinloch Rannoch
01883     Caterham
01884     Tiverton
01885     Pencombe
01886     Bromyard
01887     Aberfeldy
01888     Turriff
01889     Rugely
01890     Ayton(5,6,7,9), Coldstream(2,3,4,8)
01892     Tunbridge Wells
01895     Uxbridge
01896     Galashiels
01899     Biggar
01900     Workington
01902     Wolverhampton
01903     Worthing
01904     York
01905     Worcester
01908     Milton Keynes
01909     Worksop
0191       Tyneside(2,4,6), Durham(3), Sunderland(5)
01920     Ware
01922     Walsall
01923     Watford
01924     Wakefield
01925     Warrington
01926     Warwick
01928     Runcorn
01929     Wareham
01931     Shap
01932     Weybridge
01933     Wellingborough
01934     Weston-Super-Mare
01935     Yeovil
01937     Wetherby
01938     Welshpool
01939     Wem
01942     Wigan
01943     Guiseley
01944     West Heslerton
01945     Wisbech
01946     Whitehaven
019467     Gosforth
01947     Whitby
01948     Whitchurch
01949     Whatton
01950     Sandwick
01951     Colonsay
01952     Telford
01953     Wymondham
01954     Madingley
01955     Wick
01957     Mid Yell
01959     Westerham
01962     Winchester
01963     Wincanton
01964     Hornsea(2,5,8,9), Patrington(3,4,6,7)
01967     Strontian
01968     Penicuik
01969     Leyburn
01970     Aberystwyth
01971     Scourie
01972     Glenborrodale
01974     Llanon
01975     Alford (Aberdeen)(2,4,5,9), Strathdon(3,6,7,8)
01977     Pontefract
01978     Wrexham
01980     Amesbury
01981     Wormbridge
01982     Builth Wells
01983     Isle of Wight
01984     Watchet
01985     Warminster
01986     Bungay
01987     Ebbsfleet
01988     Wigtown
01989     Ross-on-Wye
01992     Lea Valley
01993     Witney
01994     St Clears
01995     Garstang
01997     Strathpeffer
020     London
023     Southampton(8X), Portsmouth(9X)
024     Coventry
028     Ballycastle(20), Martinstown(21), Ballymena(25), Ballymoney(27), Larne(28), Kilrea(29), Newry(30), Armagh(37), Portadown(38), Banbridge(40), Rostrevor(41), Kircubbin(42), Newcastle(Co. Down)(43), Downpatrick(44), Enniskillen(66), Lisnaskea(67), Kesh(68), Coleraine(70), Londonderry(71), Limavady(77), Magherafelt(79), Carrickmore(80), Newtownstewart(81), Omagh(82), Ballygawley(85), Cookstown(86), Dungannon(87), Fivemiletown(89), Belfast(90&95), Bangor(Co. Down)(91), Lisburn(92), Ballyclare(93), Antrim(94), Saintfield(97)
029     Cardiff

Sign up for a virtual phone number now using the ADD buttons above or call 01273 741 400 or 0800 849 3990.

 

Virtual Receptionist services based in Brighton, East Sussex, UK.