From Tuesday 5th September 2023, you’ll no longer be able to buy any more landlines. Essentially, from this date new Wholesale Line Rental (WLR) and related broadband ISP products cannot be purchased by anyone – and the change is permanent.
Why aren’t landlines being sold any more?
The traditional UK copper landline network is old, difficult to maintain and no longer fit for purpose. With modern digital communication methods taking centre stage, more and more of us are turning to alternatives like VoIP. Landlines are also being turned off altogether by December 2025 – known as the Big Switch-Off.
What is VoIP?
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP for short), is a technology that means you can make calls over the internet rather than using traditional phone lines or a mobile phone. As well as protecting you from landline shutdown, digital VoIP phones also come with a whole host of business-friendly features, including call divert, video calling, group calls, hold music and much more. It’s also perfect for remote working, as VoIP is cloud-based, meaning you can make calls from your smartphone, tablet or PC too. You can even keep your existing landline number or swap it for something else – an 020 or London number perhaps.
How do I get VoIP for my small business?
Choosing the right VoIP provider for your business may feel a little scary, especially if you’re not a big fan of technology. There are many different ones out there, all offering different prices and features. Furthermore, some VoIP providers (like bOnline!) focus solely on small and micro businesses including freelancers, whereas others are more about larger companies or private homes.
The main thing is you do your homework. Ask yourself what business challenges are you looking to solve. For example, are you trying to avoid missed calls from potential customers, or attempting to achieve a more efficient out-of-hours answering service? Maybe your business is outgrowing just your mobile phone and you require a more professional look.
You also of course need to consider how long you’re happy to be tied into a contract (bOnline pricing packages only last a maximum of 12 months which many small business owners prefer). Plus of course, there’s the issue of how much you want to spend.
Why not sign up for a free trial?
There are all sorts of benefits to signing up for a VoIP digital phone service. But if you’re still not quite sure, then you might want to sign up for a free 7-day trial. It’s the perfect way to test out all the handy features on offer, without the commitment. Then at the end of your trial, you can choose from our range of monthly packages if you want to, before signing up using your dashboard. It couldn’t be easier.
Do you have a question or need some further advice?
Feel free to get in touch with our friendly expert team on 0203 617 9950. Don’t forget, you can also find a range of FAQs in our help section.
