For start-ups and small businesses choosing a phone number is often one of the first decisions. After all, this will be used for reaching and keeping in contact with customers, employees, suppliers, etc. Much like a professional and branded domain name and email, a phone number identifies and reflects your business (read why NOT to use a mobile number).
Typically, the decision of selecting a business phone number was closely associated with the trading location of the business as landlines were, by definition, tied to a premise...but no longer is this the case.
As the UK business environment continues to ‘go digital’ so too are business phone lines. In fact, by 2025 all UK landlines will need to be a digital line as our telephone network advances in the largest digitisation to date.
To help business owners and managers of small businesses, we’ve come up with our guide to explain business phone lines - traditional copper landline telephones vs digital telephone lines. WARNING… you’re going to want a digital phone line for your business after reading this article!
Background
Traditional telephone lines - Copper lines
Copper lines (or traditional telephone lines) transmit audio data by wires which run underground and connect to every other landline phone across the world through networks, known as Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). This form of communication is considered reliable and one of the prominent features although there haven’t been many technological advances.
This telephone network often needs a specialist engineer to attend the property to install and maintain as the copper lines are underground and need added maintenance.
Digital telephone lines - Virtual and VoIP
Digital landlines, known as Voice Over Internet Protocol -(VoIP) is a phone system that transmits voice data (calls, etc) over the internet or data (3G/4G/5G+) rather than physical copper lines. This means calls from any device (mobile, laptop, IP phones) anywhere in the world as long as there is a stable internet connection or mobile data. These digital and virtual phone lines, unlike copper landlines, have had a host of technologically advanced features added over the years, and are much better suited for business communications - Call conferencing, professional greetings, caller dial menus and call recording.
Set up of a VoIP phone system is relatively easy and can be done remotely by your VoIP supplier, this is usually free and requires no mandatory hardware. Offering a much cheaper solution compared to traditional telephone lines.
Choose your number to get started
For start-ups and small businesses choosing a phone number is often one of the first decisions. After all, this will be used for reaching and keeping in contact with customers, employees, suppliers, etc. Much like a professional and branded domain name and email, a phone number identifies and reflects your business (read why NOT to use a mobile number).
Typically, the decision of selecting a business phone number was closely associated with the trading location of the business as landlines were, by definition, tied to a premise...but no longer is this the case.
As the UK business environment continues to ‘go digital’ so too are business phone lines. In fact, by 2025 all UK landlines will need to be a digital line as our telephone network advances in the largest digitisation to date.
To help business owners and managers of small businesses, we’ve come up with our guide to explain business phone lines - traditional copper landline telephones vs digital telephone lines. WARNING… you’re going to want a digital phone line for your business after reading this article!
Background
Traditional telephone lines - Copper lines
Copper lines (or traditional telephone lines) transmit audio data by wires which run underground and connect to every other landline phone across the world through networks, known as Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). This form of communication is considered reliable and one of the prominent features although there haven’t been many technological advances.
This telephone network often needs a specialist engineer to attend the property to install and maintain as the copper lines are underground and need added maintenance.
Digital telephone lines - Virtual and VoIP
Digital landlines, known as Voice Over Internet Protocol -(VoIP) is a phone system that transmits voice data (calls, etc) over the internet or data (3G/4G/5G+) rather than physical copper lines. This means calls from any device (mobile, laptop, IP phones) anywhere in the world as long as there is a stable internet connection or mobile data. These digital and virtual phone lines, unlike copper landlines, have had a host of technologically advanced features added over the years, and are much better suited for business communications - Call conferencing, professional greetings, caller dial menus and call recording.
Set up of a VoIP phone system is relatively easy and can be done remotely by your VoIP supplier, this is usually free and requires no mandatory hardware. Offering a much cheaper solution compared to traditional telephone lines.
