As long as there is a number available, when a person switches from their landline service to the newer VoIP technology, they are still able to get a UK telephone number. There are basically four types of VoIP that are currently available for the way in which phone calls are made. Some of them are free of charge and others involve a fee. Regardless, this does not preclude the ability to have a UK telephone number when you switch over to the new service.

1. Computer-to-Computer (FREE) – This is the free VoIP service and probably the one that is used the most. It runs strictly between PC’s and all you need is a broadband cable or DSL internet connection to enjoy unlimited, cost-free conversations with family and friends. This does not require the use of a telephone in that all you need is the PC’s speakers and a separate microphone, or a PC headset with earphones and mike. There is no UK telephone numbers required for this type of telephony.

The Pros: easy to set up, free to use, gets you started on VoIP immediately
The Cons: computer and broadband cable or DSL internet connection required, both parties need to be running the same 3rd party VoIP software

2. Computer-to-phone (£££) – This is the next step up the ladder and requires a fee for the VoIP service. This is a very popular method for making international phone calls. Despite the fact that a fee is involved, you are usually charged in pennies per minute rather than tens of pennies per minute. These calls work in much the same way as #1’s method above in that your call is made using a 3rd party piece of VoIP software and your headset or a USB (VoIP) phone. You are allowed to have UK telephone numbers with a VoIP phone.

The Pros: easy to set up and calls to landline phones anywhere in the world are very inexpensive to make.
The Cons: you still need your PC, internet connection, and VoIP software in order to use this service, and normally you cannot make emergency services calls

3. SIP-to-SIP – this is VoIP’s standard communication protocol and is called Session Initiation Protocol. There are no UK telephone numbers required to make these calls as you are using your PC and your internet connection to do this. Additionally, there will be a need for SIP hardware or software as well. It’s a PC-to-PC connection so the same rules apply as in #1 above. The use of your traditional phone and a UK telephone number can also be used provided that you have a SIP adapter. This negates the need to replace handsets.

The Pros: can use phone handsets, the benefits are the same as PC-to-PC VoIP service, will be well supported for years to come since SIP is the VoIP communication standard
The Cons: generally, you are unable to make emergency services calls, SIP phone hardware or software required by both parties if you want the calls to be free of charges

4. Telephone-to-Telephone - UK telephone numbers are necessary if using the standard landline system with this method. This method behaves in the same manner as a PSTN service when the calls are made using a VoIP service provider. When you are using a VoIP phone (hardware or software), or using your landline with an ATA (Analog Telephony Adapter), this is the ultimate type of VoIP service.

These are the four basic methods of making phone calls where VoIP telephony is concerned. As was mentioned above, UK telephone numbers are available for VoIP service just like they are with your standard landline service.

When the whole scenario of telephone numbers began, New York City stepped up ahead of the pack and actually started the system wherein the phone numbers consisted of two alpha digits and five numeric (i.e.DA9-0123) in 1930. The alpha was the abbreviation of a place or proper name, so the DA could have stood for Dallas or Dayton as an example. In 1958, although the bell system had taken a step towards standardization, things were a little different with UK phone numbers.

Typically, in those days, there were no lettered dials on UK telephones until they introduced Subscriber Trunk Dialing (STD). Only the “director” areas of Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, London and Manchester had lettered dials for UK phone numbers. At the time, the three alpha-four numeric phone numbers were what were being used for UK phone numbers. Though this did lead to more widespread use with lettered dials, eventually the method was abandoned in 1968 for all-figure numbering.

The director cities listed above were prefixed for dialing in the following manner:

In the 1960’s, the prefixes were 01 for London, 021 for Birmingham, 031 for Edinburgh, 041 for Glasgow, 051 for Liverpool, and 061 for Manchester. Long after the 1960’s, some of the UK phone numbers appeared as 071 for London (Inner), 081for London (Outer), and 091 for Tyne and Wear (as examples). With VoIP systems becoming the rage in the UK, just like it is globally in general, since the dialing configurations were already in place for many years, assigning UK phone numbers to VoIP phones and service has not been difficult.

There is never any question as to the cost-effectiveness of VoIP in that it is a great way to save money on your phone bill. The application has gone beyond the residential realm into the business sector so its cost-effectiveness is a benefit to businesses as well. UK phone numbers are applicable with VoIP service providers and are just as portable in the UK as they are anywhere else in the world. Since there is so much need for inter-branch dialing as well as long distance and international calling in the UK, VoIP has been well received at the business level as well as the residential level.

Enabling a person to receive calls from a standard landline to a VoIP system using standard UK phone numbers is not a challenge, so even if you are receiving non-VoIP calls you can do so without difficulty. All you need to do is find a VoIP service provider who offers “inbound DDI’s (direct dialing inwards) and UK phone numbers. If you are having difficulty in achieving this, there are numerous forums online geared towards VoIP users in the UK, and with a simple query, you can receive valuable information that will help you in your search.

VoIP does not employ the same type of telephony as one’s standard landline service, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t get UK phone numbers in conjunction with your service. They just have to be available. There are new exchanges being created all the time for VoIP service since more and more people are subscribing to VoIP service providers everyday. Roughly 15,000+ people are subscribing to VoIP service every month according to the most recent statistics, so upgrades and improvements are not very uncommon. The technology continues advancing, hence the ability to be assigned a UK phone number.

Granted, VoIP does not employ the same telephony technology as a standard landline or PSTN service. However, the technology enables you to receive phone calls from regular or international landline phone numbers because you are assigned one of the standard UK phone numbers to use with your VoIP service.

Computer telephony, internet telephony, Voice over IP, or just plain VoIP — no matter what you call Voice over Internet Protocol, it still equates to one thing and that is cost effective telephone calls. We are creatures of habit and have been raised with the ethic that “cheap is good.” This is especially true for those of us not fortunate enough to have been born into affluence. With the names of all the different VoIP providers becoming everyday household words, many households and businesses alike that have a UK phone number are thinking more strongly about making the switch over to VoIP.

Is VoIP the way you should go for your home and office? Only you can answer that question, but don’t attempt an answer until you have thoroughly investigated and researched all the variables, as well as the advantages and disadvantages involved. And it doesn’t matter if you have a UK phone number or live in another country, internet telephone calls are not for everybody. This is the first truth about VoIP technology.

So what are the different types or applications of VoIP service? There are three:

1. consumer VoIP
2. small and medium size enterprise VoIP (also referred to as SME’s)
3. large business VoIP

Consumer VoIP is the standard format that is used on a residential basis with or without a UK phone number, depending on whether or not you are calling PC-to-PC. For the most part, these calls are free. Additionally, long distance and international calls can be made very inexpensively, as in pennies on the dollar versus tens of pennies on the dollar. The calls are made by virtue of VoIP service using a PC with a broadband cable or DSL internet connection.

The negative aspect of these services is that, while they are orientated around a software program on the user’s computer, they are less intuitive to use than a regular landline service with a UK phone number. Additionally, if the computer network is busy then the sound quality oftentimes suffers. It is also important that the software be used with a good quality headset, rather than a microphone and speakers. Otherwise, the sound becomes distorted with background noise and feedback.

Small and medium size enterprise VoIP is normally integrated with a PBX system. The central call control and the switching are performed by a central server at a remote internet hosting center. With a VoIP service provider integrated with PBX, you can still make calls using a UK phone number. Just like with residential VoIP service, having the same for an SME has its benefits as well. The five most common benefits are:

• Ease of deployment - simply plug the phones into an internet connection
• Increased flexibility and new ways of working - distributed offices or home office
• Reduced “internal” phone costs - particularly between office and home
• Reduced operational expenditure - maintenance of the phone service is done via the internet

Huge business VoIP involves the connection of the different office phones systems and UK phone numbers, or known as the “PBX” across corporate sites. Some larger businesses and corporations have phone systems that operate through the use of a converter or VoIP adaptor. While such systems are linked in such a way that calls which are routed between different company sites can be carried over the corporate intranet or an internet connection, and are normally carried at no additional cost to the company. Additionally, many of the newer systems integrated with office PBX technology are now being sent as IP-enabled systems.

With a VoIP telephone and a number for free UK calls, you can receive calls from anywhere in the world since they are routed directly to your phone. It’s a simple matter of maintaining your internet connection. Instant messaging is also facilitated with your phone and the VoIP services that you subscribe to. It can be said that a VoIP telephone is definitely a thinking person’s kind of technology you are enabling the entire world to move closer to you as you move through it. After all, VoIP service and technology have changed the telecommunications landscape for the better as well as the way in which people communicate with one another.

When you have VoIP service, the provider includes many features as standard items and includes them in the cost, whereas the standard landline service will often charge you for these. This is definitely one benefit when using VoIP service along with a number for free UK calls. When you make long distance or international calls with VoIP service it only costs you pennies on the dollar. The standard landline service equates to tens of pennies on the dollar so the savings are quite significant. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to switch to a VoIP phone system and be able to make cost-effective calls

So what equipment is needed in order to enjoy VoIP phone service? Besides your PC and a broadband cable or DSL internet connection, you may need some of the following equipment or accessories:

• VoIP Hardware – a VoIP telephone which can be plugged into a broadband router and a network
• VoIP adapters – if you are using an analog telephone, you will need an ATA or Analog Telephony Adapter
• Softphone – a software-based phone that operates using your PC and internet connection, as well as a USB phone or handset
• Subscription to a VoIP service and a number for free UK calls

When you are shopping for a VoIP service provider and any related equipment, there are a few things that you will probably want to take into consideration. Here are three aspects to consider.

Good Audio and Sound Quality – recent advancements in VoIP technology has made audio and sound quality near perfect. Unless the network that you are using is really crowded, calls are relatively free of static and interruptive noise anymore. Finding a VoIP service provider that offers the best sound quality is a must. If you are experiencing lags and delays with your current service provider, then shopping around for a better service may be a good option for you to pursue. Even if you have an inexpensive VoIP phone with a number for free UK calls, it won’t matter if your sound quality is below average.

Reliability of the Equipment and the Service – if you are dealing with one of your clients with your VoIP phone and the number for free UK calls, and the call gets interrupted with static or gets dropped, this is not going to fare well with the client. This is a “red flag” that you aren’t getting what you’ve been paying for. Look for a service provider that possibly offers a free trial period so that you can test the service and see how it compares to what you currently have. There’s no point in jumping from one bad service to another.

Customer and Technical Support – Any company that does not emphasize that both customer and technical support is part of that company’s core values is not worth staying with or subscribing to. You need to know that if there are any problems, whether customer or technical related, that their support departments are always available to help solve your dilemma. Most of the better VoIP service providers are now offering 24/7 customer support, so look for that when shopping for that first-time or a new provider. It’s always nice to know that someone will be there for you when you need them.

VoIP calls are cheaply priced where long distance and international calls are concerned. Local UK calls (for the most part) are placed free of charge. Additionally, VoIP service also comes with many of the features that traditional phone service provides. One of the many features that are provided is the ability to conduct conference calls, although users of VoIP service claim that the more people there are engaged in the call, the more the voice quality depreciates.

Dependable VoIP and Voice over ATM platforms are required by local UK calls as for long distance and international calls through the internet. The leading VoIP network and telecom companies have amazing sales with numbers worldwide with over 25,000 people choosing their service every month. The cutting edge technology uses a Voice-over-packet chip to process and transfer signals that provide exchange between internet users.

The VoIP hardware is known as an ATA (analog telephony adapter) and it connects your phone to your broadband modem. One benefit about this is that your computer does not need to be turned on in order to place or receive local UK calls on the internet. The VoIP applications work well with an ATA so that has to be kept in mind. The device is needed to convert analog signals into digital ones so they are placed in the “data packets” that carry your voice signals over the internet while you converse.

Where the voice quality is concerned, the use of transferring voice data by virtue of data packets has helped to improve this disadvantage of VoIP technology. The use of “packet switching” has also helped with the cost effectiveness of local UK calls. Many consumers are claiming that they have saved up to 90% on their monthly phone bills with their international calling as well. Additionally, people living in the US are calling Canada and only paying 3 or 4 cents per minute for those calls with certain VoIP service providers.

Probably the most important decision to make once you have decided that local UK, long distance, and international VoIP service is the way to go is which provider to subscribe to. Selecting a VoIP service that has been in business for quite some time and one that also provides exemplary customer support levels is probably the first two qualities to look for when picking a provider.

Be careful when choosing a provider. There are a lot of affiliate marketers that have jumped on the local UK VoIP calls bandwagon. All they do is make a commission of you when you subscribe to a particular service that they are “reselling” — you are not actually dealing with a true service provider. Therefore, you won’t be able to rely on the elements of longevity and customer support since the affiliate is not the service provider.

VoIP products are definitely market driven and this rapid expansion that VoIP service has enjoyed into the telecommunications market is the sole reason why there is so much diversity in product and service lines. VoIP service providers can now provide local UK, long distance, and international service through different sized gateways that are VoIP capable networks. Multi-regional requirements have been met and the strength in deployment of VoIP service providers has resulted from the presence of these gateways.

If you have switched over to the latest in telecommunications technology, namely VoIP service with a free number from the UK, probably the biggest cost benefit is with low cost overseas calls a.k.a. your international calls. The interesting point with international calls is that businesses are now seeing the viability of the cost savings as well. When you consider that numerous businesses are global, it makes perfect sense that they would investigate a VoIP system.

This all depends on the type of calling package that you invest in. When it comes to cheap internet international calls using a free number from the UK, and charge-by-the-minute calls, they will run anywhere from $.10 to over $1 per minute, and that depends on two factors — what country the call is going to and is it a call made to a regular or mobile device. There is also the SMS messaging issue involved as well which can sometimes incorporate texts as well.

When it comes to keeping prices down with a free number from the UK, a lot of service providers actually negotiate good bandwidth rates with the companies that provide that in the international calls market. This, in turn, helps VoIP service providers stay competitive with one another. Wyatt claimed that this enabled their company to reduce its VoIP rates 30% over an 18-month period by negotiating better international call rates. He claims that roughly 10% of the company’s outbound calls are of an international nature, while 50% are to cell phones, 20% are national or long distance and the remainder are calls made within a distance of 50km or less (local).

Businesses that have call centers or support centers set up globally are the companies who benefit the most. In some instances, their international calling equated to nearly 60% of their outbound traffic, so the concept of making low cost overseas calls ranks high on their list of cost saving priorities. Companies that use a VoIP provider and a free number from the UK don’t have to worry about costly phone bills like they used to, and saving that kind of money is always the focus with any business.

When a company handles its own VoIP communication, oftentimes it has to confront issues such as costly equipment and creating a bandwidth infrastructure. The costs to do this can be staggering. However, when they sign-up with a VoIP service provider and a free number from the UK, for low cost overseas calls, long distance, and local calls, they actually are renting the access and the functionality so that they don’t have to incur those huge costs of doing it themselves.

It is estimated that a call center operation can save as much as 40% on calls to cellular phones and anywhere from 10% - 25% on national and long distance calls. It is not uncommon for a VoIP service to save the company up to 30% or more on international calls. The other benefit for businesses that have a free number from the UK is that they can rent the access and functionality of the VoIP service.

Even though the business has been given a free number from the UK, it would be extremely costly for a company to handle its own VoIP communications due primarily to the cost of the equipment as well as implementing the bandwidth infrastructure necessary to enable VoIP communications. It’s a given that VoIP service is the optimum way for cutting costs on long distance and international calls, but it is equally as important to understand the pitfalls of VoIP service as well.

The business just needs to choose the service that provides them with the most benefits and is the best suited to a free number from the UK. However, they need to keep in mind that they are basing the goal of building their business in this newer technology and that it will eventually equate to savings in the long run as well as achieving those business goals.

In some respects, VoIP is sort of like the game of Bridge in that there are Calling Cards, but then there are also the Trump Cards. Unlike residential phone service and making the switch over to VoIP, it’s a completely different ball game when you’re looking at the business or corporate aspects of internet telephone calls using free business phone numbers. With the residential aspect of this, it is mainly done for cost-effectiveness.

Businesses are not only looking at costs and free business phone numbers, they are looking at replacing all their existing PBX systems and dedicated voice networks that they have relied on for years. When you look at some of the characteristics, namely related equipment, one of the first things to do is compare PBX handsets with the VoIP-enabled types. Though similar in appearance, VoIP handsets obviously have more PC-oriented features.

If you’re a business person, there have probably been several times when you have contemplated making the switch from your costly standard phone service to an inexpensive internet phone service using a free business phone number VoIP technology, office PC’s, and of course, a broadband internet connection. But you’re a little concerned about the bugs and glitches that always seem to accompany these newer types of technology. Here are five helpful tips that will enable you to have a better phone experience, as well as help improve your VoIP network where business operations are concerned.

Helpful Tip #1 – Before you order your VoIP service, make sure that your current network can handle voice capabilities as well as normal data. Having separate networks to handle data and voice is very expensive, both with the initial act of installation and with monthly expense. Besides cost-effectiveness, you are afforded a more uniform and level form of communication where you can run data and voice over the same network using an internet phone service with a free business phone number.

Helpful Tip #2 – Before you start up your VoIP service, make sure all the right management tools are in place. Investing in a cheap internet phone service that uses free business phone numbers will not be of any benefit to you and your business if you haven’t installed the proper software to manage and monitor incoming and outgoing calls. Monitoring voice quality is also a task that should be performed so you can adjust echo and noise factors more easily.

Reason #3 – Before you fire up that VoIP system, make sure your network is safe and secure. All internet phone service providers (with or without the use of free business phone numbers, continue to share in the same dilemma even though significant improvements are on the horizon. VoIP is in the process of developing encryption support, but until it is developed thoroughly and then implemented, hackers can interrupt the data stream and steal secure information such as login information, system passwords, and even credit card numbers. Take steps to protect both your data and voice traffic by using encryption before you start using VoIP.

Helpful Tip #4 – Configuring QoS (Quality of Service) will give your voice traffic the priority with your VoIP service. QoS allows the prioritizing of certain types or classes of traffic when using VoIP with a free business phone number. In a VoIP network, you should always prioritize voice over all the other types and classes of traffic.

Helpful Tip #5 – It’s imperative that each and every one of your employees/ staff members get trained properly to use your cheap internet phone service. Having the best network, service, and software mean absolutely nothing, if your staff isn’t educated to the new technology. Things that your employees need to be skilled at or understanding of are:

• basic technical savvy of the hardware and software involved with the system
• communication processes that are well defined
• data flow of the system

To start up a business, the most important aspect is with a free phone number and with this you can provide the best service to the customers. There are different free UK phone numbers made available and each of them has their own benefits. It is possible to select any among the list provided depending on the budget and the requirement.

Advertisements made with a free UK phone number are sure to revert back with a wonderful response. It can highly affect the response from the customers as it proves to be a cost effective measure thus enhancing customers to start calling you up as it is absolutely free.

The customers or the targeted audience are sure to call you if the call charge is absolutely free or lesser than the usual prices. Even for an enquiry or any other information they can easily call you up as the entire networking is free. Introducing free UK phone number will surely help you attracting more customers as they become confident in starting up a business with you as concentrate on customer service and satisfaction.

Choosing free UK phone numbers is sure to add a mark in building up marketing efforts and also in reaching greater heights. Adopting the new technique of free numbers can add to increasing profit, increasing sales and increasing customers. It is always wiser and an intelligent step to start introducing a free UK phone number. It is the most effective tool to be included in the marketing strategies!