VoIP and virtual phone numbers enable you to choose your area code and connect with people around the world like neighbors. Learn how it's all made possible.
Most of us have heard of virtual reality, but what about virtual phone numbers? Believe it or not, phone numbers aren’t just for sitting in your contact list or Rolodex anymore (remember those?). Now, thanks to the technology of voice over IPs (VoIP), virtual phone numbers can give you or your organization multiple phone numbers or methods of contact that all ring to the same device.
Think of it like a regular telephone number. But instead of being allocated to a specific device, like your cellphone, it’s allocated to a person, or user, instead. It’s like connecting your landline to the internet and opening up an entirely new world of possibility when it comes to things like charge-free long distance calls, or sophisticated call-forwarding services.
Through the power of VoIP, someone in San Fransisco could call another person in Boston, an entirely different area code, and to the person in Massachusetts it would appear as if it were any other local call!
But boiling down the definition of VoIP to simply an area-code magic trick doesn’t do the service justice. There are several layers to the abilities of virtual phone numbers that make it a huge asset to businesses and individuals with specific telecommunication needs.
In order to give you a more complete understanding of VoIP and its related services, we’ll need to break it down a bit. We’ll begin by exploring how it works.
The short answer is, VoIP works by using the internet kind of like a cell phone carrier. The more complex answer is, your voice signals are converted into digital signals that are sent as bits of data across a broadband line.
To understand how VoIP works, begin by thinking of it as its own category of technology entirely. And thanks to this technology, you or your business is able to place a call to anywhere using a cell phone, a tablet, or a VoIP specific phone. VoIP technology, in essence, turns any data-driven device into a phone. But how does it do this?
How exactly it does this depends on the method you’re using to call from your virtual number. The simplest way is by using a VoIP adapter and a landline. These devices can be purchased at a variety of places, including Amazon. You simply plug the adapter into a phone socket or computer router (depending on the device) and begin calling!
If you opt to utilize VoIP over a computer or smartphone, you’ll need the help of apps such as Skype, Google Talk, BT SmartTalk, Talk2Go, or Viber.
It’s important to note that being connected to WiFi is crucial if you’re using your smartphone or tablet to communicate with your VoIP number.
The instructions on how to get started with your device, with either a VoIP adapter or an app, will vary depending on what you choose. But each provider should be able to walk you through the steps in greater detail.
The one thing that will be up to you however is securing your virtual phone number.
Similar to getting started with something like text marketing, getting set up with a VoIP number requires the help of a provider. Examples of some popular providers are Nextiva and Ooma.
Whichever provider you choose will then help you get your VoIP number and accompanying service plan. These plans are similar to a traditional cell phone plan, and the price is generally related to anticipated usage. Once you’ve completed those preliminary steps, secured your VoIP equipment, and selected your subscription, you’re ready to get to calling!
Now that you understanding how VoIP numbers work, it’s time to break down why, for some, they’re a worthwhile investment. We’ll do this by examining both the pros and cons.
So, we’ve covered the operational definition of VoIP numbers as well as run through the process of getting set up with one. We’ve also explored some of the possible pros and cons to switching from a traditional phone line to a VoIP system.
We hope in reading this you’re left with a few key takeaways:
And finally, because it wouldn’t be a SimpleTexting piece without it, it’s important to note that VoIP isn’t just for calling. There’s also such a thing as VoIP texting! But more on that for another day 😊.
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