Fixed and Non-Fixed VoIP: Everything You Need to Know
Getting your business a reliable phone service starts with choosing the right VoIP provider. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) offers an easy way to make and receive phone calls at a low cost.
However, a key question remains: Should you use a fixed or a non-fixed VoIP phone system? What should a business consider when choosing between the two? Above all, you need to weigh factors such as your physical office presence, budget, workforce distribution, security requirements, and the need for international communication.
In this post, we will explore what these two VoIP types are, look at some key differences, understand how they can affect your emergency service response times, and find ways to protect your virtual phone number.
VoIP Phone Service Basics
Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, works by placing calls through your internet connection. VoIP calls work on any internet connection, unlike traditional phone lines. As for what devices can use non-fixed VoIP numbers, users are completely unrestricted. You can access these numbers using any internet-connected device, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktop computers, and specialized IP desk phones.
VoIP calls turn voice phone calls into data packets and are sent through a VoIP phone service provider. From here, your hosted VoIP service provider relays calls between your device and the public telephone network.
Phone numbers are either tied to a physical location, like traditional landlines, or they are virtual phone numbers that exist on the internet. Since the widespread adoption of broadband, reliance on a physical landline is no longer necessary. As a result, many businesses now use a non-fixed VoIP phone number.
A few areas in which non-fixed and fixed VoIP differ include outgoing caller ID, IP address accessibility, unified communications, and emergency call routing. You do not want your potential and existing customers to avoid answering their phones when you are calling. This is where choosing the right VoIP number option helps.
What Is a Non-Fixed VoIP Phone Number?
A non-fixed VoIP phone number is not attached to a physical address. It is also known as a virtual phone number. Just like fixed VoIP numbers, it can be used as a residential or business phone line as part of a company’s phone system.
Since they do not require a fixed address, non-fixed VoIP numbers can be associated with one or more geographical locations. This makes them a great solution for serving customers in areas where you do not have a physical location.
With non-fixed VoIP, you do not need to have a physical address to have a number that matches it. It is excellent for people who work remotely or businesses with a virtual workforce, such as those running a virtual call center.
Non-fixed VoIP numbers are easy to get, and they are often issued by free and low-cost services like free internet-based calling services. Unfortunately, this means they also attract fraudulent activity and scams.
One criticism of a non-fixed VoIP phone number is that phone calls to 911 from a non-fixed number are not easily traceable. If you choose this option, make this limitation clear to your team. There is an easy solution to ensure emergency services respond quickly when dialing 9-1-1. Setting up Enhanced 911, or E911, allows you to transmit your physical address regardless of which VoIP system or VoIP phone you use.
What Is a Fixed VoIP Phone Number?
A fixed VoIP phone number is bound to a physical address. Make no mistake, it is still an internet-based phone line. It has an account owner and a real address assigned to it. Fixed VoIP numbers are assigned to one subscriber at a time and are typically found through directory assistance.
This address can be a residential one or a company office. VoIP numbers can easily be reassigned to different phone services through a process known as porting, in case you relocate or change VoIP providers.
The advantages of a fixed VoIP number include simplicity, as each phone line is installed by the telephone company and generally does not change after it is set up. Emergency services benefit from fixed VoIP as well, since an emergency call can only come from the actual address of the telephone company, so dispatchers know exactly where to send public safety personnel. Fixed VoIP numbers also offer independence, giving the owner flexibility in updating their caller ID and republishing to a CNAM database.
Since these types of phone numbers relate to a single user or operator, it is unlikely a VoIP call will be deemed suspicious. In general, fixed VoIP numbers are more trustworthy than non-fixed VoIP ones, meaning they are less likely to be used by fraudsters and scammers because it is harder to mask their identity.
Comparison of Fixed VoIP and Non-Fixed VoIP
Both fixed and non-fixed VoIP numbers share several things in common. They both rely on an internet connection, use the same types of VoIP phones and devices, offer identical VoIP benefits like lower cost and ease of use, and can be used to send and receive text messages.
However, there are notable differences between the two. Fixed VoIP requires a physical address, while non-fixed VoIP does not. Fixed VoIP has low location portability, whereas non-fixed VoIP has high portability. Both offer excellent call quality and reliability, though fixed VoIP has a single point of failure while non-fixed VoIP benefits from multiple redundancies. Fixed VoIP provides accurate location information to emergency services, while non-fixed VoIP may route emergency calls incorrectly. Fixed VoIP is limited to one user per number, while non-fixed VoIP can support multiple users. Scalability with fixed VoIP requires number administration, while non-fixed VoIP numbers can be easily added or changed. Fixed VoIP typically has higher initial costs, while non-fixed VoIP offers lower overall costs. Finally, fixed VoIP provides excellent caller ID verification for fraud prevention, while non-fixed VoIP carries a higher fraud potential.
Fixed VoIP Specifics
With a fixed VoIP system, a physical address is necessary. If your company is well established in your location or locations and serves local customers, that is no issue. In fact, it is an advantage because it makes your presence there authentic.
However, if you have customers globally, fixed VoIP numbers make it hard to build a presence where your customers are if you do not have an address near them. This is why VoIP phone services are rarely entirely fixed unless the service is provided by a local phone company known as a Local Exchange Carrier. Another downside is the cost you will incur for long-distance and international calls.
Non-Fixed VoIP Specifics
A non-fixed VoIP system is an ideal solution when you need a local number but do not have a local presence. For example, if you are in the United States but also have Canadian customers or customers elsewhere, non-fixed VoIP makes it easy to establish a local number in those regions.
If you have a distributed workforce, you can make sure each person’s individual phone number, known in the industry as a Direct Inward Dialing number, matches your company’s format. This ensures everyone has a direct number relevant to the location they serve without needing multiple physical phone lines.
Depending on the VoIP service provider you choose, you can also get unlimited calling and features like recording business calls, voicemail transcription, call queuing, and conference calls.
Although non-fixed VoIP numbers have historically been associated with fraud, there has been consistent progress in systems that counteract it. This gives non-fixed VoIP a better reputation and opens its doors for businesses even more.
Even if you have a non-fixed VoIP number, register your business listing on online business directories and local listing platforms. At a minimum, this will display your company information when people search for your phone number. Some softphone apps match your phone number to your business information found online, which improves the rate at which people answer the phone.
Types of VoIP Services
Wondering how to get your hands on a VoIP solution? Here are three standard options available to businesses today.
The first is a business phone service, which is an end-to-end solution that gives you high-quality phone calls at a lower cost. It is completely portable, scalable, and offers international calling. It hosts all of your communications, from audio and video calls to live chat and even a CRM.
The second option is SIP trunking, which allows you to take your PBX equipment into a cloud system without new equipment or service disruptions. Your calls no longer use traditional phone lines but rely on your internet connection. It gives you advanced multi-line phone system features and centralizes your voice and data in one place.
The third option is contact centers. Running a call center in the cloud means you can make it more productive. Cloud-based call centers let you handle massive inbound call volumes and automate multichannel customer support, as well as offer self-service options. The best part is that these contact center solutions are hosted entirely in the cloud without any difficult setup. You do not even need desk phones, as calls can be made entirely from your computer.
Takeaway: Non-Fixed VoIP Is the Better Choice for Most Businesses
In 2024, non-fixed VoIP is the better option for businesses so they can provide remote work capabilities for their team, easily add more locations, and eventually add a call center if they need to.
Despite the nuances of non-fixed virtual phone numbers, most of their limitations have been addressed. Your needs as a VoIP user will help you determine your best choice based on what we have outlined in this guide.
Thanks to secure internet services, data warehouses, and frequent updates of the CNAM, concerns about a non-fixed VoIP number are largely put to rest.
However, VoIP phone numbers certainly affect your ability to reach public safety services promptly. Make sure to train your staff to use their cell phones in emergencies and be sure to update your E911 records on file.
It all comes down to choosing the best VoIP provider. Select the one with great customer service and an excellent track record. Ask questions about everything you need so you can set up your phone system with ease. Cytranet is here to help businesses of all sizes make the most of their VoIP investment with reliable service, outstanding support, and the features that matter most to growing teams.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a way to tell if a phone number is a non-fixed VoIP number?
Yes, it is possible to determine if a phone number is a non-fixed VoIP number, but it can be a challenging task without contacting the phone number provider directly. The reason for this difficulty is that non-fixed VoIP numbers do not have a specific geographic association like traditional phone numbers. In appearance and functionality, non-fixed VoIP numbers resemble regular telephone numbers. However, there are some methods you can try to identify if a phone number is a non-fixed VoIP number. One approach is to conduct a number lookup or reverse phone lookup. This process utilizes CNAM data, which helps in finding the name associated with a given phone number. It may provide some clues as to whether the number belongs to a non-fixed VoIP service. Although it could be useful, relying solely on a number lookup or reverse phone lookup is not always guaranteed to be reliable. The accuracy and availability of CNAM data can vary, and it might not consistently indicate if a number is associated with a non-fixed VoIP service.
Can I text from a non-fixed VoIP number?
Texting with a non-fixed VoIP number is possible. By configuring your non-fixed VoIP phone numbers, you can enable the option to send and receive text SMS messages. So yes, you can definitely text from a non-fixed VoIP number by configuring your VoIP phone numbers accordingly.
Can you call a non-fixed VoIP number?
Yes, absolutely. To an end-user making a phone call, dialing a non-fixed VoIP number is a completely identical experience to dialing any traditional landline or mobile cell phone number. The call routes automatically over the PSTN and cellular networks straight to the cloud device without requiring special steps from the caller.
Can you block a non-fixed VoIP number?
Yes, you can easily block a non-fixed VoIP number. Just like any traditional phone line, malicious or unwanted virtual numbers can be blocked directly on your smartphone’s native operating system interface, through a business telephone system’s blocklist, or by using third-party spam filtering software.
What best practices should businesses follow when using non-fixed VoIP?
To maximize the performance, efficiency, and security of a virtual phone infrastructure, companies should follow these industry best practices. First, implement network quality of service settings to prioritize voice traffic over data traffic on your office routers to avoid packet loss, jitter, or dropped calls. Second, enforce multi-factor authentication across all user accounts to prevent unauthorized access or system hijacking, since virtual systems live entirely on the web. Third, maintain up-to-date E911 records by requiring your remote employees to instantly update their current physical address in the VoIP dashboard whenever they shift work locations. Fourth, audit outbound call patterns regularly by checking usage logs to spot anomalies, ensuring external threat actors are not using your lines for outbound toll fraud.
Is non-fixed VoIP more budget-friendly?
Non-fixed VoIP is a cost-effective option for businesses due to several factors. VoIP providers typically operate on a subscription-based model, and over the years the cost of a VoIP phone system has come down to about twenty dollars per month per user. This means that businesses only need to pay a monthly fee, eliminating the need for large upfront investments or expensive setup and implementation processes. With non-fixed VoIP, businesses can avoid the costs associated with maintaining a physical location or office. Instead of relying on a traditional phone system that requires physical connections, non-fixed VoIP allows businesses to operate using cloud-based technology. This eliminates the need for expensive on-premises PBX equipment, reducing costs significantly.
Why should businesses avoid using non-fixed VoIP numbers for spam?
While non-fixed VoIP numbers make it incredibly easy to scale outbound reach, businesses must never use them for spamming practices. If your enterprise uses high-volume virtual dialing irresponsibly, your numbers will quickly face serious consequences. Modern telecom carriers utilize advanced machine-learning algorithms to monitor outbound spikes, and if spam habits are detected, your numbers will instantly be labeled as Scam Likely or Spam Risk across major mobile networks. Additionally, modern caller ID applications allow consumers to actively block and report lines, destroying your connection rates with legitimate clients. Finally, violating strict legislation like the Telephone Consumer Protection Act can result in crippling compliance fines ranging from five hundred to fifteen hundred dollars per individual non-compliant call.
This post was brought to you by Cytranet, your trusted partner in business VoIP and cloud communications solutions.
