When you purchase a phone number that uses Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to make calls, you will need to choose between landline or non-landline VoIP.

Simply put, landline VoIP is tied to a specific physical location. A non-fixed VoIP number is not linked to a location at all: it is linked to a user. You may also have heard non-landline VoIP numbers referred to by other common names such as:

• Virtual phone numbers.
• Internet phone numbers.
• Cloud phone numbers.

Unlike traditional phone numbers, which are tied to a landline or specific geographic area, non-landline VoIP numbers work over the Internet and can be used to make and receive calls from anywhere in the world that has an Internet connection.

To obtain a landline VoIP number, you will need to provide a physical address for emergency services geolocation and meet additional regulatory requirements. This makes landline VoIP numbers a better option if you operate from one location and need to comply with local regulations or need access to emergency services.

To get a non-landline VoIP number, all you need is an email address, Internet, a few dollars, and a tiny bit of ambition. You will be able to start making calls almost immediately.

5 scenarios for using non-fixed VoIP

I’m in the camp of those who think you should use non-landline VoIP unless you absolutely need a landline VoIP number to comply. It’s cheap, it’s easy, it’s flexible, and in the scenarios I’m about to discuss, it’s simply the best overall option for businesses and their customers.

There’s a ton of great professional VoIP phone services to replace or upgrade an aging system, as well as free VoIP services for individuals. In both cases, you will have the option to select a fixed or non-fixed VoIP number. If you are new to this technology, check out our VoIP guide so you can make an informed purchasing decision.

1. Local presence in target markets

Most people don’t answer calls from numbers they don’t know, but if the area code is the same or close to it, it increases the chances that someone will answer.

With a non-landline VoIP number, you can create a local presence in your target market by purchasing numbers with area codes in your target market. You don’t have to have a physical office in the area, but you can make it appear that way to clients.

You can probably see how this could be a fraudulent tactic, not really any different from spoof your caller ID number. That’s true, and scammers certainly use local area codes to trick callers into answering.

But many legitimate companies use this tactic for very good reasons. Suppose a medical practice has outsourced its after-hours communications to a virtual contact center. They want to give these customer service representatives a local number so patients answer the call, don’t block the text message, or listen to the voicemail.

When it comes to cold calling, using “local” non-fixed VoIP numbers is a way to increase the contact rate. Potential customers are much more likely to pick up the phone if they see a call coming from a local number for the same reasons discussed.

2. Remote and hybrid teams

If you work remotely or have teams spread across different locations, non-landline VoIP numbers are probably your best choice. Maybe you only need one fixed VoIP number for the office(s), but assigning non-fixed VoIP numbers to employees gives them a consistent business contact number no matter where they are located .

This type of flexibility can make a real difference. This ensures that team members remain accessible to customers and colleagues. With a lightweight VoIP solution like Open phoneemployees can add a separate work line to their mobile phone. This means your team can maintain professional communications without disclosing personal contact information.

Plus, your non-landline VoIP numbers can easily accompany you if your business ever needs to move to a new location. Not having to deal with regulations and location verification can allow for a smoother transfer of your operations to a new location without disrupting your communications system.

3. International calls

If your team is based in the United States and makes a lot of calls outside of North America, opting for non-landline VoIP numbers could save you a lot of money.

How much? You can save between 80% and 90% on the cost of international calls by use VoIP instead of landlines.

Obtaining non-landline VoIP numbers in countries where you regularly do business is relatively simple. This allows you to avoid the high costs associated with international calling minutes.

Because you don’t have to worry about a huge phone bill, your team can make more frequent outgoing calls to different countries. This type of increased contact can help you move faster toward big goals like market penetration, improved service for international customers, and more leads.

For inbound lines like customer support, you can establish multiple local lines or toll free numbers in each country where you work. This makes it easier for customers to contact support without paying long distance charges.

4. Monitoring marketing campaigns

For marketing campaigns, the ability to track your performance is essential to success. For call centers, non-landline VoIP numbers make tracking possible by allowing you to accurately track the progress of your campaign.

You can assign different non-landline VoIP numbers to various campaigns and use these numbers to monitor their effectiveness.

By analyzing call volume and call origin for each number, you can gain insight into which campaigns are performing well and which call areas are most responsive.

This information is essential for measuring which interactions actually contributed to revenue and ensuring your efforts are targeted and effective – key ingredients for maximizing the ROI of your campaigns.

5. IT Failover Solutions

Non-fixed VoIP is ideal as a failover option due to its flexibility and ease of deployment. In the event of an outage, teams can access non-landline VoIP numbers from any internet-connected device, whether they are in the office, at home or on the road.

This flexibility allows for uninterrupted communication and immediate failover, which is particularly beneficial for manage business continuity with remote workers or those who need fast, adaptable solutions.

Setting up non-landline numbers is quick and typically requires minimal infrastructure, so businesses can activate them at short notice without the need for physical equipment. This makes non-fixed VoIP a good choice for small businesses or those with fluctuating communication needs.

One thing I want to mention is that a landline VoIP line may be the best emergency option for some businesses. Fixed VoIP is tied to a specific address, which improves reliability, simplifies call authentication and ensures precise location data for emergency services. For businesses requiring a highly secure, location-specific failover system, fixed VoIP is the best failover strategy.

Can you trace a non-landline VoIP number?

The short answer is yes, but you may need help from law enforcement.

While landline VoIP numbers are easily traceable because they are linked to registered physical addresses, trace a call from a VoIP number what is not resolved will be almost impossible for the average person, especially if the caller has taken steps to conceal their identity.

VoIP providers keep logs and records of incoming and outgoing calls, which may include IP addresses, times and call durations. But accessing this information is complicated because privacy laws protect this type of data in many countries. There are specific limits regarding who can access it and under what circumstances.

Unless you work in law enforcement, you will have to overcome some significant legal hurdles, such as demonstrating a legitimate need for information that exceeds data privacy expectations. However, legal and procedural requirements can make the process slow.

Authorities need a court order or warrant before forcing a VoIP service provider to release recordings or call logs. This process involves demonstrating probable cause or reasonable suspicion related to an ongoing investigation or criminal activity.

And even with legal authorization, the technical process of tracing a call through different servers and potentially across borders can be complex and time-consuming. Non-landline VoIP calls can easily cross international borders, involving service providers and data centers in different countries.

Of course, each country has different privacy laws and regulations regarding data access. This makes international cooperation and compliance with the law another potential obstacle to any effort to trace non-landline VoIP calls.

Should you choose non-fixed VoIP numbers?

Yes, unless you have a compelling reason not to do so, such as compliance with emergency call standards. Beyond regulatory reasons, if you truly believe that a greater degree of trust in a landline VoIP number will benefit your business, do it.

But for the average user, a non-landline VoIP number is cheaper, more flexible, and easier to set up. In the scenarios I’ve covered in this article, non-landline VoIP is actually better than a landline.

If you need to scale your operations, enter new markets, improve your customer service, or make your operations more resilient, choosing non-landline numbers is usually the way to go.

Learn more about secure your VoIP phone system for the future And what you should expect to pay for VoIP.