No strings, just rings
Built for business owners, not IT geeks, Flamingo lets you choose a number that's just right for you.
Take landline calls on your mobile, add team members when you need them, customise hold music, ringtones and a whole heap of other options. It's like having an entire call centre in your pocket.
The Future of Landlines – Without the Landline
Spent Hours Browsing the Web Looking for the Right Service? 👀
We know how tough it can be to find a virtual number solution for your business. That's why we built Flock from the ground up to be easy to set up and even easier to use; your search can stop now.
Spending a Fortune on an Existing Solution?💸
It's easy for costs to spiral when hidden fees and extra services creep up on you. So, we charge a flat rate per user, leaving you free to scale up or down instantly.
Not a Telecoms Expert? 🧑🎓
Business phone services can get a little confusing. That's why we designed Flock to provide a complete solution for everyone, from solopreneurs and start-ups to global corporates that require entire cloud call centre solutions.
A Landline That Travels with You
Take Your UK Virtual Landline Number With You
Work where you want, when you want! As long as you have a mobile data signal or Wifi, you can use your number anywhere in the world.
Landline Numbers Look More Professional
Did you know that over 75% of customers would prefer to call landlines over mobile phones? Our virtual number service gives you a dedicated business landline but lets you enjoy the convenience of mobile.
Avoid Large Overheads
A cost-effective solution that gives you a professional front-of-house image for just £9.99 per month.
What our customers say
Cut the Cord, Keep the Connection
One Phone, Two Numbers📲
Now, you no longer have to worry about separating the personal from the professional. Our virtual landline phone number service gives you a dedicated separate line without having to carry around two phones.
Let Your Business Calls Flow 🌊
Your virtual landline number can connect straight to your mobile phone. You will know from the caller ID that it's a business call, allowing you to answer professionally or avoid the call if it's not appropriate to take it.
No Nasty Surprises 👻
We don't charge any hidden fees, per-minute rates or connection charges, giving you peace of mind that your monthly costs are fixed.
"As a business owner Flock lets me stay connected with my whole team and seamlessly manage all our incoming calls from one app"
Chloe Trahearn
Founder pink HR
Virtual Landline Numbers: Boosting Business Success
Virtual landline numbers are changing how businesses communicate. These internet-based phone numbers offer flexibility and a professional image without needing a physical office. Let's explore how virtual landlines work, their benefits, and why many UK businesses are using them.
Key Takeaways
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Virtual landline numbers work over the internet, allowing calls from any device
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They're cheaper and have more features than regular landlines
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Virtual numbers are great for remote work and creating a local presence
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They're easy to set up and can be customized for different business needs
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They can work with other business systems to improve efficiency
What Are Virtual Landline Numbers?
Virtual landline numbers are phone numbers that work through the internet instead of traditional phone lines. You can make and receive calls from your mobile, computer, or even a regular phone. Virtual landline numbers give your business a local feel without needing an office in that area. They use something called Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology, which turns your voice into digital data that travels over the internet.
Benefits of Using Virtual Landline Numbers
Virtual landline numbers have many advantages for businesses. They're much cheaper than regular phone lines and let you work from anywhere. You can forward calls to different team members, set up voicemail-to-email, and use an auto-attendant to answer calls. These features help your business look professional and handle calls better, no matter how big or small you are.
Another big plus is that you can have a local number for different areas. For example, if you want customers in Manchester to call you, but your office is in London, you can get a Manchester number. This makes people more likely to call you. Virtual landlines often come with cool features like call recording and analytics, which help you keep track of your calls and improve your service.
Setting Up Your Virtual Landline Number
Getting started with a virtual landline number is pretty easy. First, you choose a provider. There are lots of options like 8x8, Vonage, and RingCentral. Each one offers different features and prices, so it's good to compare them. Once you pick a provider, you can choose your number. It could be a local number for a specific area or a toll-free number that customers can call for free.
After you get your number, you set up call forwarding. This tells the system where to send your calls - it could be to your mobile phone, office phone, or even to different team members depending on the time of day. Most providers have easy-to-use websites where you can manage all these settings. You can also add extra features like custom voicemail greetings, call menus, and even connect it to other tools your business uses.
Key Features of Virtual Landline Numbers
Virtual landline numbers come with lots of useful features. Call forwarding is a basic one, letting you send calls to different phones or team members. Voicemail-to-email is another great tool, turning your voicemails into emails so they're easy to check. Many providers also offer IVR systems, which are those menu systems where callers can press numbers to reach different departments.
Call recording is another feature that can be really helpful. It lets you listen to calls later for training or to check important details. Some providers also give you call analytics, which show you things like how many calls you get, how long they last, and when your busiest times are. This information can help you make better decisions about staffing and customer service. Other features like call queuing, conference calling, and virtual receptionists can also help your business handle calls better and look more professional.
Virtual Landlines for Remote Work
Virtual landline numbers are great for remote work. They let your team handle business calls from anywhere using any device - a smartphone, tablet, or computer. This means your staff can work from home, different offices, or even different countries, all using the same phone system. It's really helpful for keeping your team connected and making sure customers can always reach your business, no matter where your employees are.
These numbers also help your business look professional, even when people are working from home. Customers call a business number instead of personal mobile numbers, which looks more professional. You can set up professional greetings, manage calls in a organized way, and use features like call transferring and conferencing, just like a big company's phone system. This is especially good for small businesses or startups that want to look established. Business call forwarding makes sure calls are always answered quickly, which makes customers happy and could lead to more business opportunities.
Cost Comparison: Virtual vs Traditional Landlines
Virtual landline numbers usually cost a lot less than traditional landlines. With a regular landline, businesses often have to pay a lot for installation, monthly line rental, and separate charges for calls. Virtual numbers usually have very low setup costs - sometimes it's even free. You typically pay a monthly fee that includes some call minutes, and then pay extra for calls beyond that.
Let's look at some real numbers. A traditional business landline might cost about £20-£30 per month for line rental, plus extra for calls. Virtual landline packages can start from just £10 per month, including some call minutes. Plus, virtual numbers often come with extra features included that would cost extra with a traditional line. Things like call forwarding, voicemail-to-email, and even basic menu systems are often included in the basic package of virtual landline services. When you think about the extra money you save from being more flexible and maybe more productive, virtual landlines can save you even more. Remember, exact costs can be different depending on what you need and which provider you choose, so it's a good idea to get detailed quotes and compare options before deciding.
Choosing the Right Virtual Landline Provider
Picking the right provider for your virtual landline number is an important decision that can really affect how your business communicates. There are several things to think about. First, consider what features you need. Some businesses might only need basic call forwarding, while others might want advanced tools like CRM integration, call analytics, or complex menu systems. It's important to choose a provider that offers the features your business needs, both now and in the future.
Price is obviously important, but make sure you compare providers fairly in terms of features and service quality. Also, think about things like how good their customer support is and how reliable their system is. Look at user reviews to see how quickly they respond to problems and how good their service is overall. Some well-known providers in the UK include 8x8, RingCentral, and bOnline. Each has its own strengths - for example, 8x8 is known for working well with other business software, which is good for businesses that use lots of different tech tools. RingCentral has lots of features that are good for larger businesses, while bOnline offers simple, affordable solutions that are great for small businesses and startups. If you can, try out services before you commit to a long contract to make sure they work well for you.
Integrating Virtual Landlines with Other Business Systems
One of the cool things about virtual landline numbers is that they can work well with other business tools. Many providers let you connect your virtual landline with CRM (Customer Relationship Management) systems like Salesforce, HubSpot, or Microsoft Dynamics. This can really help with customer service because when a customer calls, their information pops up on the screen. This shows things like what they've bought before and any previous conversations, which helps you give better, more personal service.
Virtual landlines can often connect with helpdesk systems like Zendesk or Freshdesk too. This is really useful for businesses that get lots of customer questions or support requests. It can automatically create support tickets from phone calls, making sure no customer query is missed. Some providers even let you connect with video call platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams, so you can easily switch from a voice call to a video meeting if you need to. All these connections can make your work smoother, help your team work together better, and make everything more efficient. As businesses use more and more digital tools, having a phone system that can work with all these other tools becomes really valuable, creating a more connected and efficient way of communicating.