What is the Difference Between Fixed and Non-Fixed VoIP Numbers?

A VoIP number is a digital telephone number that allows phone calls using the internet instead of traditional phone lines. This technology converts voice signals into digital data and transmits them over the internet to make calls.

Unlike traditional phone numbers, VoIP numbers are not inherently tied to a specific device. You can use the number from any internet-connected device anywhere in the world. 

A fixed VoIP number is a virtual number linked to a physical location. It provides businesses with a consistent, location-based way to connect.

As it's associated with a geographical address, fixed dialing numbers aid caller ID functionality that reflects your business’s registered location. Although physically bound, a fixed VoIP number uses the internet for calls. So, having a fixed VoIP number means your business leverages digital communication while keeping a traditional, physical presence.

A fixed dialing number provides a stable, permanent phone number that signals a strong local presence for your business. Additionally, it enables direct access to emergency services, ensuring safety and reliability in critical situations.
 

• Consistency: Customers and clients can reach you at the same number, regardless of any internal changes your business may undergo. This stability in communication fosters long-term relationships and builds a dependable brand image.
   
• Security: The fixed phone number’s direct association with a physical address allows for better authentication processes and reduces the risk of fraudulent activities. It provides an added layer of verification that protects your business and customers.
   
• Emergency Support: In an emergency, the fixed number’s attachment to a physical location ensures that help is dispatched accurately and promptly. This immediate access to support can be vital in critical situations.
   
• Geo-Specific Marketing Advantage: Since fixed dialing numbers are tied to a specific area, businesses can tailor their marketing efforts to local demographics, enhancing the relevance and impact of their campaigns.

Fixed numbers restrict businesses and individuals to one particular location. This could hinder growth and adaptability in a dynamic market environment.
 

• Less Flexibility: When you need to relocate your business or expand to new regions, you might need to acquire new fixed phone numbers for each location. It leads to logistical hurdles, complicating your operations.
• Expensive International Calls: While VoIP technology generally offers lower rates than traditional telephony, fixed phone numbers often come with hefty fees for calls outside the local area. It can significantly increase your operational cost if your business engages with a global audience.
• Complicated Setup: Implementing a fixed VoIP system typically involves a more intricate setup process, including the integration of landlines via SIP trunking. This demands substantial IT resources and extends the setup process.

Businesses that typically use fixed phone numbers prioritize a stable, local presence and require direct, reliable communication with their clients. These may include local businesses, government offices, healthcare providers, or educational institutes.
 

• Local Businesses:  Fixed numbers signal your customers that your business is nearby, accessible, and committed to serving the local area. Local businesses utilize fixed phone numbers to enhance customer trust and loyalty. 
• Government Offices: Government offices and agencies typically rely on fixed phone numbers to maintain clear, accessible lines of communication with the public. These numbers provide a consistent point of contact for inquiries, services, and emergency communication.
• Healthcare Providers: Healthcare providers often use these phone numbers to ensure reliable communication channels for patient care. These numbers facilitate dependable and secure communication channels for appointment scheduling, emergency calls, and confidential consultations.

A non-fixed VoIP number is a virtual number not linked to any specific geographical location. You can use it from anywhere with an internet connection. This makes it an excellent choice for businesses and individuals who need the freedom to move around without changing their contact details. You get to keep the same phone number whether you're working from a coffee shop, your home office, or even another country. 

A non-fixed dialing number eliminates the phone system's geographical limitations. It lets you expand your business to different regions without changing the contact details.
 

• Flexibility: Using non-fixed VoIP numbers, you can make and receive calls from anywhere worldwide, as long as there's an internet connection. Businesses with multiple locations can especially leverage this feature.
• Ease of Setup and Management: Setting up a non-fixed dialing number is straightforward, with no need for physical infrastructure or complicated installations. You can easily adjust settings and add or remove lines with just a few clicks through VoIP apps.
• Mobility: Regardless of location, you can choose numbers from different area codes or countries. This ability to select numbers tailored to your target audience or operational needs enhances local engagement and supports a global outreach strategy. 
• Customizable Features: Non-fixed VoIP phone numbers come with customizable features tailored to professional requirements, such as voicemail, call forwarding, and auto-attendant services. These features support a professional image and operational efficiency and are adaptable to each business's unique needs.

Due to the absence of a fixed geographical location, a non-fixed dialing number can complicate emergency service responses. Detaching from the fixed location also affects customer trust among certain demographics or markets.

• Less Secure: Given that non-fixed dialing numbers are accessible outside the physical confines of an office, they open up the possibility for unauthorized access. This mobility, while convenient, can lead to increased security risks if the network or device through which the number is accessed is compromised.
• Call Quality Issues: The quality of calls made with non-fixed VoIP phone numbers heavily relies on the internet connection quality at the user's location. Poor internet service can lead to issues like latency, jitter, and dropped calls.
• Poor Tracking: The mobility of non-fixed phone numbers can also complicate the tracking and monitoring of calls. It makes it difficult for businesses to maintain records for customer service, compliance, or security purposes.
• Challenges in Emergency Response: The lack of a physical address makes it challenging to route emergency calls to the nearest response center. Moreover, service providers also face difficulty in accurately directing emergency services to the caller's location, which can delay the response time in critical situations.

Businesses that prefer global connectivity and those with remote workers typically use non-fixed phone numbers for seamless communication regardless of geographical boundaries. 
 

• Call Centers: Call centers, particularly those serving international clients, use non-fixed phone numbers to signify a local presence in multiple countries without physical offices. It enhances customer service and satisfaction by offering local call rates and familiar dialing codes.
• Remote Working Teams: Remote team workers use non-fixed VoIP numbers to stay connected through a common number, regardless of where they work from. It fosters collaboration and maintains unified operations.
• Digital Nomads: Individuals living a nomadic lifestyle, moving from one country to another, rely on non-fixed phone numbers. They use it to keep a consistent line of communication open with clients, family, and friends. This mobility ensures they remain reachable without changing numbers with each move.
• International Businesses: Companies with a global customer base use non-fixed phone numbers to establish a local presence in key markets. This approach reduces call costs for their clients and builds trust by building a local identity.

While fixed numbers are operated within a specific geographical area and are ideal for local engagement, non-fixed numbers connect users irrespective of geographic boundaries.

Choosing between fixed and non-fixed VoIP numbers is a strategic decision based on your business’s specific needs, strategic objectives, and operational framework. For companies seeking a robust local presence, fixed VoIP numbers can enhance community trust and provide a stable base. Conversely, businesses emphasizing flexibility, focusing on remote work or international reach, non-fixed VoIP numbers offer the ability to communicate globally without geographic limitations.

Calilio is a non-fixed VoIP phone system that makes internal and external communication simple and easy for businesses anywhere in the world, no matter their needs, with features such as call whispering, call recording, local number support, and easy sharing of virtual numbers with your workforce. Sign up today to establish a local business presence in your chosen place.

A non-fixed VoIP number can be traced, but it’s more challenging than tracing a fixed VoIP or traditional phone number. It depends on the service provider’s policies and the technical setup. The lack of a fixed location further complicates the process.

You can text a non-fixed VoIP number if the service provider supports SMS functionality. Many VoIP services offer texting capabilities, allowing users to send and receive texts.

Someone might use a fixed VoIP number to establish a strong local presence and signal customer stability. Fixed VoIP numbers are ideal for businesses prioritizing local engagement and maintaining clear, reliable communication lines within a specific geographic area.

The primary difference is that VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) numbers use the Internet for calls, while non-VoIP numbers rely on traditional telephone networks. VoIP numbers can be fixed or non-fixed, offering flexibility and features unavailable with traditional non-VoIP numbers.

Non-fixed VoIP numbers are used by businesses with remote workers, digital nomads, international businesses seeking a local presence in multiple countries, and call centers that serve clients globally. They provide the flexibility to operate from anywhere without changing contact details.

You can call back a fixed VoIP number like any traditional phone number. Fixed VoIP numbers function similarly to regular landline numbers but use the internet for the call connection.

You can call back a non-fixed VoIP number. Non-fixed VoIP numbers work like any other phone number for incoming and outgoing calls as long as the number is active and the VoIP service supports inbound calls.

If you text a VoIP number supporting SMS, the message will be received and accessed by the user through their VoIP service application or interface. The text may not be delivered if the service does not support SMS.