A Virtual Phone Number, also called as Direct Inward Dialling is that telephone number that is not tied to a specific phone device that allows the user to redirect the calls from one number to another number, IP address or devices. Generally, these types of numbers are designed to forward calls to any pre-set phone numbers which is chosen by the client. Hence it acts as a gateway between traditional calls and VoIP.

In this rate race business competition, we all need a reliable communication system which will help to grow business with the help of communication. But a good business telephone system is very costly and it is quite tough to implement it in small business. Hence, the solution is a virtual phone number because it is an affordable solution and it will help to expand our business.

Here are some benefits of having a virtual phone number.

1.A virtual phone number is very cost saving and it has the flexibility for small business also.

2.We can get a virtual phone number alone or as a part of virtual phone system package.

3.Having a virtual phone number will help to access from anywhere and anytime with our personal number’s privacy.

Traditionally a phone number is designed to work over a single phone and that must be physically connected to the mobile phone and any calls made to this number can only be sent to that physical location. Still now cell phones are dependent on cell towers. Thus, a virtual phone number will provide the business a greater in control and flexibility by removing those physical limitations. Virtual phone numbers are also very advantageous for the companies which have multiple office locations. Instead of ringing the phone in one office, all incoming calls can be forwarded to each and every office. We can do this by making the virtual phone line’s destination a call queue or ring group and that will ring the phone of any employee who is designated as the part of the queue or group either continuously or sequentially. If the office is located outside the customer base then we can assign a local area code to our phone line and it has more chance to receive a call by customer from a local number than a number with area code they do not know. Virtual phone number can save thousands of dollars in business for investing in communication and its equipment because virtual phone line does not require a physical medium such as hardware, equipment or installation or maintenance, it is purely digital. More expensive plans will offer more interesting features such as three-way calling, call waiting and call forwarding etc. Whenever we are searching for any virtual phone number provider we should also check if the provider also provides text or voicemail features in addition with the phone service.

Virtual phone numbers can be bought through several ways. If the business has the “VOICE OVER INTERENET PROTOCOL”, abbreviated as VoIP, then we can add the virtual phone number to our existing package via the VoIP provider and this basically cost worth 5 dollar to 10 dollars. But if we want to buy a virtual phone system package then the package must have one virtual phone number, a number of extensions and minutes and the minutes are run up on how much time we are talking on the business line. A virtual phone system package basically starting costs worth 10 dollars to 15 dollars with 300 to 500 minutes with one or two virtual phone numbers and this package can go up to 25 dollars to 50 dollars with 2000 to 3000 minutes for two numbers. If we want to get a virtual phone number then we must have to go to provider that sells virtual phone numbers. Some popular virtual phone number providers are stated below:

GOOGLE VOICE: It offers the users with a free virtual phone number that can be used to call or to send text messages and voicemail. This is a very lucid app for smartphones and computers and we can link the virtual phone number to a mobile or a to a landline number. This package starts at only 10 Dollars per month per user.

MIGHTY CALL: It is basically a cloud based virtual phone system that offers us many features apart from the phone call such as, text messaging, call forwarding and call waiting are also available with this package and this plan starts with a cost of worth 19.99 Dollar per month

GROSSHOPPER: This provider also enables the features of supporting calls, texts and voicemails and these plans are served only worth 26 Dollar per month and it is up to us which plan suits us the best for our business.

8X8: It is also a cloud-based Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP). It is unified communication system that generates the best reliable utility services such as three-way-calling feature, online voice mailing, call forwarding options and group calls. It has also the features of office programme such as Salesforce and Slack. This plan starts worth 12 Dollar per month and per user.

Though Virtual Phone Numbers have a number of advantages but at the same time it has also some drawbacks. The first problem is its effect on work-life balance. A report says that most of the people are workaholic and with having the feature of making call from anyplace may subject to burnout. Another most common drawback is the inappropriate call reliability because we all know that a virtual phone number is fully internet based and calls are made from the virtual numbers needs an internet system. Hence, the calling quality and audibility can only be clear if the internet connection is strong enough. We have to be sure that our internet connection has a great signal strength and the provider has a good customer service programme. Above all virtual phone numbers are come with a limited minutes, hence we have to sure that we are using those minutes on business call and the minutes are not wasting in non-business calls.