When you have business phone numbers, you have the distinct advantage of reaching your customers easily from anywhere the world over without any hassles. In other words, you eliminate geographical barriers and time zones, making your business perpetually reachable, regardless of location or time. Moreover, by having the right business phone solutions, you can operate your business from any location.
Types of Business Phone Numbers
Business phone numbers make your business reachable from over 160 countries worldwide. Additionally, cloud phone service providers like Global Call Forwarding have a large inventory or database of virtual phone numbers for business from countries across the world, so you can select the numbers of your choice. Let’s look at the different types of business phone numbers available to you:
Toll Free Numbers
Toll free numbers are virtually synonymous with business phone numbers. Businesses are drawn to toll free numbers because they build your professional image and callers aren’t charged for contacting your business. Instead, your business incurs the charge for toll free calls. It is this gesture that makes toll free numbers an excellent choice for small business phone service as customers are more likely to call your business for free instead of paying long-distance calling rates.
Toll free numbers seem to be a viable choice for business numbers. However, you should note that they aren’t always internationally-capable, which means they don’t work when callers dial from outside the country. These callers will incur long-distance fees or face blocks by their telecom service provider. And this defeats the purpose of offering toll free calling in the first place.
Thankfully, there is a workaround: Purchasing international toll free numbers (ITFS numbers) or universal international freephone numbers (UIFN). With these solutions, your business can offer toll free calling in international markets like regular phone numbers.
International Toll Free Numbers (ITFN)
ITFNs uses an international toll free service to connect with individuals across geographical boundaries. This allows your teams to contact global customers and clients without paying international charges. ITFN numbers let customers call your business internationally without incurring international calling rates. And your business can forward these calls to a location or line of your choice, located anywhere in the world.
Universal Toll Free Numbers (UIFN)
A UIFN is a single toll free number that can be used in multiple countries. Currently, you can use a UIFN to connect with customers in more than 40 countries including the US, Hong Kong, France, Germany, Australia, and more. Any customer, anywhere in the world, can easily reach a business with a UIFN contact.
Local Phone Numbers
Another aspect of creating effective business phone numbers is by using local phone numbers or geographic numbers to specifically target markets in various countries, regions, and cities around the world.
These numbers have specific area codes to represent the state or city they are assigned to. For instance, Dallas/Ft. Worth area codes include 214, 469, and 972 area codes. Businesses in this location will have a local Dallas phone number. And when customers call these businesses from the same city/state, they will incur regular local rates instead of long-distance rates.
Local phone numbers are a great way to establish a local presence in target markets and to bring in more international sales.
Local 2-Way Voice
Local 2-Way Voice enables businesses to receive inbound calls and place outbound calls using the same local phone number, displaying a local caller ID to customers in each market. This creates a familiar, in-country presence that can significantly improve answer rates, trust, and engagement—especially for sales follow-ups and customer support. It’s an ideal option for companies expanding internationally that want to operate like a local business without setting up a physical office.
Toll-Free 2-Way Voice
Toll-Free 2-Way Voice allows businesses to use a single toll-free number for both inbound and outbound calling, showing that toll-free number as the outbound caller ID. This ensures a consistent, recognizable brand identity while preserving the accessibility customers expect from toll-free communication. For global sales and support teams, Toll-Free 2-Way Voice simplifies number management and delivers a unified, professional calling experience across regions.
National Numbers
National numbers—also known as non-geographic numbers—provide nationwide coverage without being tied to a specific city or area code, making them ideal for businesses that serve an entire country. These numbers present a neutral, professional presence and allow customers from anywhere in the country to reach your team through a single, consistent contact point. Popular examples include UK 0330 and 0845 numbers or Australia 1300 numbers, which are widely used by organizations that want broad national reach without regional limitations.
Benefits of Business Phone Numbers
So, how can your business benefit from buying cloud-based business numbers? Here are the top reasons to chose cloud phone numbers for business communication:
1. Cheaper Domestic and International Calling
This works to the great benefit of small and medium local businesses. Since businesses don’t have to be present in a location to take advantage of local numbers, they can substantially reduce operational overheads and easily communicate with their associates in neighboring countries and international markets. You can also get consecutive phone numbers or a range of numbers to distribute among local offices or teams.
2. Access to Add-ons and Features
Perhaps the greatest feature of the technology behind virtual business phone numbers is the fact that you get access to various voice and call management features. With these, you can significantly change how your business functions and processes calls. Top features include:
- Phone number management
- Advanced call routing
- International call forwarding
- IVR / ACD
- Call flow builder
- Call recording
- Outbound calling
- SIP trunking
- Call masking
- Number porting
- Softphone dialer, and more
Review all our features here.
3. Local Presence
With these numbers, you can establish a local virtual presence without actually having a physical presence in the country or region. In other words, you don’t need to open a physical office and hire local employees. Instead, you simply forward incoming calls to your business’ location, anywhere in the world.
4. High Response Rate
With a local access or toll free number, you are communicating with customers with toll free and area codes they recognize as local. This makes them more comfortable answering your call or calling your business to learn more.
5. Global Expansion
Gain access to new markets in different countries and regions and expand your services at your own pace. Test new markets, conduct market research, identify suppliers and vendors, all before opening up shop in these regions.
Buy Business Phone Numbers from Global Call Forwarding
Buying business phone numbers is a really simple process. Moreover, you needn’t make long-term commitments and you are at liberty to cancel these numbers because of the no-risk service clause that exists between you and the service provider.
Visit our Pricing page, pick your number in real-time, and create your account. Once your account and number is active, you can log into your control panel and set up your call forwarding and routing rules, IVR, and so on — all within a few days.
Speak with our experts or request a demo to learn more!