Fixed & Non-Fixed VoIP: Everything You Need to Know

Getting your business reliable phone service starts with the right phone system. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) offers an easy way to make and receive phone calls at a low cost.



But one key decision remains: should you use a fixed or non-fixed VoIP phone system?



There are a few noteworthy differences between non-fixed and fixed VoIP service regarding your business phone lines.



In short, it can affect the response times of emergency services, but there’s an easy solution to ensure your virtual number is protected.



This guide details key distinctions between fixed and non-fixed VoIP phone numbers.



VoIP Phone Service Basics



Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, works by placing calls through your internet connection. In fact, VoIP calls work on any internet connection, unlike traditional phone lines.



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 isn’t needed. 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



Emergency call routing




You don’t want your potential and existing customers to avoid answering their phones when you’re calling. This is where choosing the right VoIP number option helps.



Let’s dive deeper into this VoIP technology and how it could affect your business.



Fixed landlines continue to decline every year (via Statista )















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What Is a Non-Fixed VoIP Phone Number?



A non-fixed VoIP phone number isn’t attached to a physical address. It’s 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 don’t require a fixed address, non-fixed VoIP numbers can be associated with one or more geographical locations. It means they’re a great solution for serving customers in areas where you don’t have a physical location.



With non-fixed VoIP, you don’t need to have a physical address to have a number that matches it. It’s excellent for people who work remotely or businesses with a virtual workforce. For instance, if you have a virtual call center .



Non-fixed VoIP numbers are easy to get, and they’re often issued by free and low-cost services like Google Voice. 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 aren’t easily traceable. If you choose this option, make this limitation clear.