Voip to mobile

[Tigris]

Hi guys,

Looking at getting a local area code phone number to replace my mobile number which is currently my phone number listed on all adverts and websites/social media.

Thinking listing the area code phone number all social media etc and have it forwarded to my mobile. Have considered the voip route but to be honest most of my clients have my mobile number now with contacts saved (presume I could add my Google contacts to a voip service).

Other option would maybe forward my mobile phone calls to a voip local service phone number (my business WhatsApp is also my mobile number) then get a different mobile number for friends/family.

Basically want a local area phone number listed online but I've already given out my mobile number for first 3 years of business.

 

[cjd]

Lots of options and it's pretty cheap easy these days. You rent a local number and divert it to your mobile. You can have a permanent divert or switch it on and off as you like. You can divert to an app on your phone - in which case it's free - or as a normal call - in which case you pay for the call.

We have a neat free app that diverts your phone automatically when you move out of your office. When you're in the office, you pick up a desk phone.

GeoDivert

Voipfone GeoDivert automatically diverts calls from your Voipfone telephone number or extension to your iPhone or Android when you move away from your usual location.

www.voipfone.co.uk

Call Forwarding & Divert

Voipfone UK call forwarding: redirect calls to any number. Included in plans, stay connected anywhere. Set up easily with Voipfone for seamless communication!

www.voipfone.co.uk

Give us a call and talk it through with one of the guys, they'll work out what's best

0345 868 5555

 

[Tigris]

Lots of options and it's pretty cheap easy these days. You rent a local number and divert it to your mobile. You can have a permanent divert or switch it on and off as you like. You can divert to an app on your phone - in which case it's free - or as a normal call - in which case you pay for the call.

Thank you.

To be honest I would only be using my mobile phone anyway so an app would be best. Quite like with VOIP the answer phone messages can be emailed to my email address also.

I currently save phone numbers to my Google account so hopefully if someone calls me on the area code number it will be able to read my Google contacts and show the contact name rather than just the number? Basically integrating my Google contacts to the voip app/new number.

 

[japancool]

Other option would maybe forward my mobile phone calls to a voip local service phone number

Other way around - you forward the VOIP number to your mobile phone. The client rings the local number and you receive the call on your mobile. As cjd says above, you can either use an app to answer it, and forward it to your mobile number. The former requires you to have a data connection, the latter just needs mobile service.

 

[japancool]

I go the app route - in my case, I use Skype. I only receive a very small number of calls a month, so it works fine for me... except when I'm in hospital and have no data connection. I wouldn't recommend Skype for a higher volume.

 

[Tigris]

I go the app route - in my case, I use Skype. I only receive a very small number of calls a month, so it works fine for me... except when I'm in hospital and have no data connection. I wouldn't recommend Skype for a higher volume.

I would use the app as well (wouldn't have a dedicated handset). Some voip providers have there own app.

Will get myself a local number. Just hoping if someone calls the area number it will see my Google contacts and show the correct name for the number I've saved in my Google contacts?

 

[japancool]

Will get myself a local number. Just hoping if someone calls the area number it will see my Google contacts and show the correct name for the number I've saved in my Google contacts?

That will depend on the capabilities of the app being used, I imagine.

 

[Tigris]

That will depend on the capabilities of the app being used, I imagine.

Being a one man band I'm tempted to save the money and keep to my mobile, lol.

Seems like I'm making more work.

 

[japancool]

Being a one man band I'm tempted to save the money and keep to my mobile, lol.

Seems like I'm making more work.

I'm assuming your phone does see them. My Skype client can see my phone's contacts, although from memory, I had to allow it.

 

[cjd]

I currently save phone numbers to my Google account so hopefully if someone calls me on the area code number it will be able to read my Google contacts and show the contact name rather than just the number? Basically integrating my Google contacts to the voip app/new number.

Interesting, we haven't had that question before but with our softphone you can give it access to contacts (which will be all contacts on the phone, including ones saved on google, SIM and the phone itself).

We're testing whether it works now. I'll get back to you.

 

[cjd]

Second Line Support have tested it and say

"I can confirm it works on android and Iphone but in slightly different ways, on android it displays both name and number of contact in google and on Iphone it shows just the name. On both phones you have to give the app permission to access all address books and it should work fine."

 

[Small Business Ltd]

Have a look at VirtualLandLine (.co.uk) and possible options. https://www.virtuallandline.co.uk/plans/tariffs

You can register a local number and forward it to your mobile (£4.50 PM plan for one mobile). I use it and it works well (Local business number to my mobile number). There is a slight delay when you answer, if you get called on the local number (Wait 1 or 2 seconds and then say "hello").

Reminder - Copper is being phased out by the end of 2025. Copper is no longer being supported by BT / Open Reach, and it’s being replaced by Fibre / VOIP services, which comes with its own lag delays.

If you wanted to transfer any number to a land line phone (using any SIM card - £30 for the year from 1p network), after cooper decom and you did not want to use VOIP, review something like a SHYEKYO Fixed Wireless Terminal, that can support up to x4 standard home land line phones (I use this for my replacement cooper home phone solution – Virtual Land Line local phone number to a 1p network SIM card, as some people still call us using our old local phone number). This technology will no doubt change a lot prior to copper decom. If buying, make sure the land line phone is pluged in before switching it on as it won't ring otherwise and kit seems faulty. You can also add an answer phone to it as well. Although it has two ports for land line phones, I use a splitter for x4 phones around the house. The more phones you add, the stranger the ring tone, due to (REN) the power the device sends to the phone to get it to ring (Antique phones are an issue, as it can't produce enough power). Another problem VOIP will have unless POE is used for the VOIP phone!

 

[alamest]

That’s a really helpful explanation, especially the bit about the slight delay when answering VOIP-forwarded calls. I’ve noticed the same thing — there’s always that little pause before the audio kicks in, no matter which provider you use. It’s one of those quirks people only realise after trying it.


I went through something similar a while back. I didn’t want to lose my main mobile because clients already had it saved, but I also didn’t want to keep it plastered all over the internet. In the end, I just kept the old number for existing customers and picked up a separate UK number purely for websites, Google, social pages and so on. Everything forwards quietly to my normal phone, so from the customer’s point of view nothing really changed.


It’s been a simple setup, and it kept things tidy without having to jump fully into VOIP straight away.