
Cloud Phone Numbers: A Complete Guide
We can see the tremendous growth of Cloud and cloud-based businesses in the present world. As everything has moved to the internet, it is simple and effective to utilize Cloud services and experience their benefits. Even communication is now happening over the cloud with cloud phone numbers. They are virtual numbers, so business operations are becoming flexible and effective.
Cloud phone systems also provide high security by protecting sensitive data stored in a data server that will be accessible through the Internet. As the data is stored digitally, they are cost-effective, easy to access, and quick to set up. Hence, unified communication can help businesses deliver a fruitful customer experience.
This article is a comprehensive guide on what are cloud phone numbers in a cloud-based system and how they can benefit businesses across the globe.
What is a Cloud Phone Number?
Cloud-based Phone Numbers are virtual numbers for businesses that want to operate in a flexible, scalable, and affordable manner. Moreover, they also won’t require any hardware installation or complex setup as they are cloud-based. These phone numbers operate through Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP), requiring a stable internet connection to place or receive a call.
The primary motto of these phone numbers is to simplify business communication processes and enhance the workflow. If you are planning to expand your business across multiple locations, hire an in-house team from different locations, etc., then cloud phone numbers are an easy way to connect with each other, as the expansion and connectivity process is simple and effective since cloud-based systems are remote-friendly.
Types of Cloud Phone Numbers:

There are four different types of cloud phone numbers available in the market:
Local Phone Numbers
A local phone number is a telephone number linked to a specific geographic location and not to other parts of the country. It represents a specific area in a city or state. Yet another significant benefit is that it provides a professional brand image and builds trust among customers. When someone receives a call from a local phone number, there is a high chance of a call getting picked up. These phone numbers are helpful if you are planning to have a local presence in a specific area or city. Customers can call you at local rates, even if you are physically located anywhere in the world.
International Phone Numbers
As the name suggests, international phone numbers help businesses quickly establish an international presence across multiple countries. These phone numbers are the best choice if you are a business with clients from abroad. International phone numbers can be forwarded to landlines and mobile phones in over 190 countries across the globe.
Toll-free Numbers
Toll-free numbers are easy-to-remember numbers specially designed for customers by businesses. They can be forwarded to any landline or mobile number of the organization. Customers will not be charged for dialing a toll-free number of a business, and the service provider will pay for it. They are the digital equivalent of traditional toll-free numbers like 1800, 100, 800, etc.
Vanity Phone Numbers
On the other hand, Vanity Phone Numbers are custom phone numbers that combine phrases or numbers related to a specific brand or business. They can be local or toll-free and memorable in some way, such as 1800- FLOWERS. The primary number prefixes of vanity numbers will be 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, and 833. Similar to other telephone numbers, when a customer dials the number, it will be routed to your business’s regular phone line.
What is the cost of Hosted Phone Numbers?
Hosted 800 Number Pricing
The price of hosted 800 numbers ranges from as low as $7 or $8 for countries such as Hong Kong, Germany, Australia, and the United Kingdom. On the other hand, the prices for countries such as the United States and Canada will be $4- $5.
Hosted DID Number Pricing
The cost of a hosted DID number will vary depending on the location and the expected call volume. The price will be around $4- $5 for countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Spain, etc.
Cloud phone number features you should know:

Call Management
Cloud phone numbers offer end-to-end call management functionalities. These include call forwarding, call recording, call transfer, call routing, call barging, call whispering, call analytics, voicemail, etc., all in one place.
Multi-device compatible
Cloud phone numbers are easy to access from different devices, such as smartphones (android and iOS), laptops, desktops, tablets, etc. Additionally, one can access these cloud phone numbers from anywhere, promoting a remote-friendly environment.
Integration capabilities
With a cloud-based phone system, businesses can integrate multiple business and CRM tools, such as Zoho CRM, Salesforce, Pipedrive, Freshdesk, Hubspot, etc. This way, everything can be found in a unified interface, eliminating the need to switch between applications.
Hassle-free collaboration
Collaborating with customers is also an efficient option to enhance their experience. Cloud phone numbers in a virtual system come with excellent features, such as audio & video conferencing, sticky agent, etc.
How do Cloud Phone Numbers work?
They work through VoIP providers that offer cloud-based phone systems for businesses. A VoIP service provider is responsible for routing the call to the respective team or department based on the customer's query. Also, cloud phone numbers come with a couple of components:
They work by encoding an audio signal into digital audio packets and sending them to the recipient’s phone number using a ‘web phone.’ These packets are again reconverted to audio signals on reaching the recipient’s end.
Finally, a cloud phone number enables the routing of calls through the Internet from a ‘destination phone number’ where the call was initiated. For instance, as a business agent, you can route the call instantly from New York to the Singapore branch.
The recipient's caller ID will have a Singapore phone number, which builds authenticity and trust by increasing the chances of picking up the call.
Benefits of using Cloud Phone Numbers for businesses:

Scalable
Cloud phone systems are fully scalable and adaptable, meeting the growing demands and needs of businesses and industries. This makes it easy for businesses to implement multiple changes. For example, when agents are to be added or removed in bulk, it can be performed instantly with a few clicks, unlike traditional phones, which will take considerable time to add or remove phone lines.
Cost-effective
The key benefit of cloud phone numbers is that they are budget-friendly. There is no need for installing hardware, software, or other setup processes. You can quickly get started by having a strong internet connection and a compatible device that promotes a remote environment rather than a physical premise where you need to spend for infrastructure.
Professional brand image
If you are a small business, these phone numbers are a very good option to build a professional brand image. As you can establish a presence anywhere across the globe, customers worldwide may contact you, where you can deliver a rich experience, advanced features, and hassle-free setup at a nominal cost.
Key Features
Undoubtedly, these phone systems have modernized features that help businesses stand out from the crowd. They also provide a seamless workflow for your business operations, with features such as powerful analytics and data in real time to make futuristic decisions.
Getting in touch with Cloud Phone Number Providers:
When you are planning to buy a cloud phone number from a service provider, you should remember a few factors. Here are those:
Make sure you jot down your business requirements thoroughly to get the best deal.
Know the type of number you are planning to purchase.
Check for the reputation of the Cloud phone number provider.
Most importantly, consider a package with an affordable pricing plan along with reasonable features to suit your business needs.
Finally, check for primary features such as call quality, integrations, etc.
Conclusion:
Getting a virtual phone number can increase business turnover rates and help provide efficiency. You can go ahead and plan to get a number to help engage customers all over the world. If you have a look at a few counties, even governments have implemented toll-free numbers for customer interaction. Hence, it is a high time to buy a cloud phone number for businesses to remain beneficial.
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