A virtual landline that rings on your mobile

A virtual landline is a landline number without the landline. You get a local 01 or 02 number, the kind customers recognise as an established local business, but calls to it are delivered over the internet to your mobile instead of to a phone on a desk.

There is no phone line to install and no box on the wall. The number lives in the network. Calls ring in the Digital Numbers app on your phone, or are forwarded to any other number you choose, so you can answer your business landline from site, from the van or from home.

How a virtual landline number works

1. Choose your area code. Pick the town or city you want to appear local to, and choose from the numbers available there. Browse all the area codes we have numbers in.
2. Start your free trial. Your virtual landline is active as soon as you sign up.
3. Answer it on your mobile. Install the Digital Numbers app on iOS or Android to make and receive calls with your landline number. Or forward calls to any phone, and change where they go at any time.

When you call out from the app, customers see your landline number, not your personal mobile.

Why businesses choose a virtual landline

• Look local. A 01 or 02 number for the area you serve reads as a business with roots there, and many customers still prefer to ring one.
• Never be tied to a desk. Your landline rings on the phone in your pocket, wherever you are working.
• Keep your mobile number private. Put the landline number on your website, van and invoices, and keep your personal number for friends and family.
• Switch off at the end of the day. Set working hours for each day of the week. Outside them, callers reach your voicemail.
• No line rental or installation. Nothing to install and no contract, so you can start today and cancel at any time.

What a virtual landline costs

A virtual landline number is £7.99 a month, or £79.99 a year if you pay annually. That includes the number, the app, call forwarding, voicemail and working hours, with no setup fee and no line rental. Every new line starts with a 7-day free trial: you are not charged if you cancel during it.

Need more than one? Add a landline number for each town you serve, or separate lines for sales and support, and manage them all from one dashboard.

Choosing a virtual landline provider in the UK

Most UK virtual landline services do the same basic job, so compare them on the things that affect you day to day:

• Does it work on your existing mobile? Some services only forward calls. An app lets you call out with your landline number too, so customers never see your mobile.
• Can you choose your area code? You want a number local to the customers you serve, not whatever is assigned.
• Is there a contract? A month-to-month service with a free trial lets you try it properly first.
• Are working hours and voicemail included, or extras?
• Does the price include everything, or are there setup fees and per-minute charges on top?

Digital Numbers includes the app, call forwarding, working hours and voicemail in one monthly price, with a 7-day free trial and no contract.

Virtual landline or a traditional landline?

If you only ever take calls at one desk, a traditional line may suit you. If you work on the move, from home, or across several towns, a virtual landline is the simpler choice.

You might also want a virtual phone number for a UK-wide 033 presence, or to use your new number for WhatsApp Business.

Common questions

What is a virtual landline?

A landline-style phone number, such as an 01 or 02 number, that is not connected to a physical phone line. Calls to it are routed over the internet to an app or another phone, so you can answer them anywhere.

Can I have a landline number on my mobile phone?

Yes. You choose a local 01 or 02 number, and calls to it ring on your mobile through the Digital Numbers app, or are forwarded to any phone you choose.

Is there a virtual landline app?

Yes. The Digital Numbers app for iOS and Android lets you make and receive calls with your virtual landline number on your existing mobile, and listen to voicemail.

Do I need a phone line or any equipment?

No. There is nothing to install. All you need is the mobile you already have.

Can I choose which area code I get?

Yes. You choose the area code you want, such as 020 for London or 0161 for Manchester, and pick from the numbers available in it.

Will customers see my mobile number when I call them?

No. When you call from the app, customers see your landline number, so your personal mobile stays private.

Can I use my virtual landline for WhatsApp Business?

Yes. Register WhatsApp Business on your landline number and verify it by voice call, which you answer in the Digital Numbers app. Customers can then call or message the same local number. See how to set up a WhatsApp Business number.

How much does a virtual landline cost?

£7.99 a month per number, or £79.99 a year paid annually, after a 7-day free trial. There is no installation fee, no line rental and no contract.