A phone number is basically the unique string of digits used to identify someone or a specific phone and get a hold of them. Think of it as the address of the phone world – what you dial when you want to give someone a call, or shoot them a text. It’s pretty simple stuff, but in the business world, things get a bit more complicated with all the different types (long codes, short codes, toll-free, virtual numbers) they throw at you.
How does a Phone Number work?
So, a phone number is how the phone network knows where to send your calls and texts. It’s all about following a set format – a country code, area code, network code, and then the actual phone number – and there’s even a standard (E.164) that spells it all out to make sure your phone number can be read by anyone, anywhere. But here’s the thing: when you’re a business, the type of number you choose actually matters. Want a normal old phone number that lets you have two-way conversations? That’s a long code. Need to blast out loads of messages to lots of people? That’s a short code. Want to give your customers a free ride (literally, free calls)? That’s a toll-free number. And a virtual number is pretty much what it says on the tin: a number that doesn’t need any actual phone lines to work.
How Onextel helps with Phone Numbers
Onextel gives businesses a bunch of different types of phone numbers (long codes, short codes, toll-free, and virtual numbers) so you can pick the one that fits the job, whether that’s sending messages back and forth, sending loads of messages to loads of people, or just getting loads of calls coming in. And the best part is you can set all of these up, and even check if the numbers you’re using are legit and still active, all from one place.
Why it matters
In the grand scheme of things a phone number is pretty basic… but when it comes to your business, choosing the right type of number can make all the difference to how much you spend, what you can actually do, and even what your customers think of you. Get it wrong and you’re stuck with a number that just isn’t up to the job – or you’re wasting money. Get it right and you can communicate exactly how you need to. It all starts with knowing the difference between the different types of phone numbers.