telephone no

[jelly3]

Hello,
do you think it would look unproffessional to use a mobile phone number only as a contact on an ecommerce website.
I have looked at certain companies offering the 0845/0844/0870/0871 numbers and voice to email but the ones I have seen seem quite expensive & would hopefully only be a temporary measure, for the rest of the year. I will not be taking payments over the phone.

[RedEvo]

These guys (http://www.uk2numbers.co.uk) charge a one off £20 for 0845 numbers.

Mobile only? Nah, don't do that.

d

[ExpandOnline]

If you are looking for a geographic number with voice to email - you could sign up free with sipgate.co.uk - choose your geographic area code and get a local number (or 0845) - if you don't plug a voip phone in, all calls get routed to voicemail.

Peter

[atlascs]

VoIP is definitely the way to go if you want a cheap alternative to a landline. Personally I don't like the idea of dealing with an e-commerce website that has a mobile number as the main point of contact, it just puts me off.

[philh74a]

Mobile only contact numbers conjure up images of the travelling community and their 'driveway maintenance' and 'tree surgery' vans. I think it's a trust thing so a land line looks the better option.

[computerfaq]

I use a geographic number for mine, but I don't know whether or not it has a positive effect on my clients or not.

[iklemiracle]

VIOP VOIP VOIP !!!- MR Voip subscribes to this forum (anyone know his username) Im about to find sustinance or would find him myself.

Im a 'skype' gal myself, but would have gone with 'mr voip' if so many of my friends were not skypers.

MOBILE ONLY WILL BE COMMERCIAL SUISIDE!!! trust the fellas above.

all the best

iklemiracle :)

[jelly3]

Hey thanks for the feedback, I guess I'd better switch off my mobile then, ha ha.:)

I like you guys and gals very much.

[Eagle]

Mobile contact numbers don't bother me at all. In fact most of the contact numbers from Canon UK Corporate Accounts that I deal with are mobile numbers.

Buy the seller - then the product.

[HSLS]

I started off with just a mobile number, but thought it looked quite unprofessional, so have a geographic number with Voipfone who I highly recommend.

[Dawg]

Get a VOIP geographic number. From Voipfone (http://www.voipfone.co.uk/). Great company, really very helpful setting you up, great product, Mr uber-voip, cjd (http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/member.php?u=5052), a member here.

[Nigel B]

It might depend on whether your customers are trade or consumer. Trade customers may not be so put off by a mobile no.
We use an 0800 number, cos we don't want any barriers to people getting in touch.

[computerfaq]

I use http://tel.aql.com, who i've found to be quite reasonable, and if you need to cancel a number and get a refund, they do it nearly instantly.

[boho]

Definitely VOIP! vonage (http://www.vonage.co.uk/specialoffers/index_uk.php?loc=google&atlassource=paid&se=goog&kw=vonage&cat=Brands) and Skype (http://www.skype.com/intl/en-gb/) are both excellent

[Write My Site]

Do you have to be online to use VOIP though? What if your internet connection goes down and you need to use the phone?

[jelly3]

I'm reading up about Skype (http://www.skype.com/intl/en-gb/) now, it certainly looks like the way forward for me.

ann-marie

[Dawg]

Ann-Marie,

I might be alone in this but I loathe Skype. It has always given me gyp, worked, screwed up, and after a bunch of fiddling worked again. The equipment is usually from the mickey end of the spectrum too, which doesn't help.
VOIP is, to me anyway, the grown up solution. Better services available, far more services available, better gear, more numbers, (cool for campaigns), and more.
I have had great service from Voipfone so I'll plug them, but there are bound to be others you could be happy with.

Mmm: Fyght Skype Hype. Pah!:)

[sirearl]

0800 best

your local exchange next

0845 some of the public think its a premium

mobile zero unless your selling the family car or as an addition to main No

Earl

[SWServices]

Free phone numbers, 0870, Fax to email, voice mail. http://justphonenumbers.co.uk/template/images/clear.gif

JustPhoneNumbers - provides a wide range on non geographical phone numbers and services for you and your business

Free non geographical numbers - instant activation - Set up and manage your free non geographical telephone number today. There is no charge and your number will be activated instantly. We offer a range of services including a non geographical number forwarded to a UK fixed phone line based on % of calls, time of day or just simple translation.

A Free vitual fax machine - Don't bother with the costs and maintenance of getting a seconf line and buying a fax machine when you can have a free national rate fax number which emails you the contents of faxes directly to your PC.

One number is all you need - Want the freedom to change your mobile phone to take advantage of the best deals without the fuss of transfering the number. Our follow me numbers can be instantly changed to your new mobile. They can also be set to try two other numbers as well.
Keep your number private - if you need to give a number to a company but don't want to be hassled by calls then our phone to email message service could be just what you need.

http://justphonenumbers.co.uk/

I used this service a few years back when my business had an 0870 number linked to voip and to this day the numbers I ordered are still working!

Enjoy!

[Morgy]

It might depend on whether your customers are trade or consumer. Trade customers may not be so put off by a mobile no.
We use an 0800 number, cos we don't want any barriers to people getting in touch.

0800 numbers, in fact any 08 number puts me off as I get charged for these on my mobile instead of using up my free minutes. I am very rarely at my landline.

[cjd]

Some (relatively) unbiased information about how to get a telephone number for your business without spending a lot of money below.

As mentioned elsewhere, unless you're a plumber, mobile numbers shouldn't be used; neither should 0870 (they're disappearing in January).

0845 are a problem because people don't know how much they cost and confuse them with mobiles anyway. The only real choice is between an ordinary geographic number (normally the best) or an 0800 (very useful for sales lines).

http://www.voipfone.co.uk/How_to_Get_A_Telephone_Number_For_Your_Business.ph p

[www.iKabs.com]

I personally would avoid dealing with a company that usd only a mobile number; it doesn't fill me with any confidence. So I suppose I would advise you to set up a landline. Do you offer your service nationally or localy? If it's just local then a local number would be better as a non-geograhical number might put off some of your potential customers.

[Subbynet]

It doesn't bother me in the slightest if its a mobile number and I give 90% of people a mobile number to contact me on.

I use to have 0845 divert to mobile number and many people complained about that and asked for a direct number to save money on calls. (You'll be surprised how many people will call if its on "Free Minutes" - and 0800 numbers are not free for mobile callers!)

I think it does largely depend on the business - I'm in IT and was mainly on the move thoughtout the day from one office to another and customers could understand the motive for a mobile number.

If your a shop selling tangible goods a geographic number should be available for the "main office" but I'd say its still acceptable to have mobile numbers for salesmen.

[Christiane]

I bought a geographical number after using my mobile number for nearly a year, and the number of calls definitely increased. I use voipfone as well.

[Marina Ruette]

Hi

I wouldn't order from a mobile number only site mainly because I like to know where I'm buying from and a landline seems to be more permanent.
Probably a bit silly really but interested to hear that it doesn't worry other people.

I'd definitely always recommend putting a landline number on your site- it also makes the company look more business like.

Marina