Mumbai Virtual Phone Numbers

Virtual Phone Numbers in Mumbai

Virtual telephone numbers are available for purchase in many countries. They are generally used by individuals or businesses as a mechanism for forwarding incoming local phone calls to a destination number in a different country.

Virtual numbers are sought after because they can enable individuals or business to reduce international or domestic long distance calling costs.

Typically, virtual numbers are simply regular local telephone numbers used specifically for purposes of forwarding calls to another location, often in another country. Virtual numbers are often used in conjunction with a VoIP phone service to allow inbound calls from regular phones.

Toll-free numbers can also be used for as virtual phone numbers. However, while toll-free numbers are more widely available, they are also generally much more expensive than regular local telephone numbers. As a result, using a toll-free number as virtual number will usually not save money - at least not for individuals, though they may work for business purposes.

While virtual numbers are available in many countries, they are either not allowed or are not widely available in many others.

In general, countries restrict use of virtual numbers to protect incumbent telephone companies from low-cost competitors, especially from low-cost VoIP companies since most virtual numbers work by utilizing VoIP internet calling technology to forward calls.

Currently, India is one of the countries that limits virtual numbers due to restrictions on VoIP internet calling - although recent VoIP policy changes may lead to changes in availability in the coming months.

As a result, virtual local telephone numbers are not available in Mumbai, India at this time, but a few companies have announced plans to begin doing so soon.

Note that if you are prepared to pay US$100+ per month, you may be able to obtain a toll-free virtual telephone number from a company like TollFreeForwarding.com. But even toll-free virtual numbers are not widely available.

However, strong demand combined with changing regulatory policies could mean that virtual phone numbers will become more widely available soon.

What is a 'Virtual Phone Number'?

A virtual telephone number is a phone number used to forward incoming phone calls on to another telephone number.

Virtual phone numbers come in two flavors:

• Virtual local numbers which use a regular local landline or mobile phone number as the virtual number
• Virtual toll-free numbers which use a normal toll-free phone number as the virtual number

Both types of virtual numbers work the same way, except for 2 main differences.

One difference is that virtual local numbers are free to the inbound caller only from the local service area of that number. Callers from outside the local service area must pay any long-distance charges themselves. For example, if you had a local virtual number for Mumbai, then callers from in and around the Mumbai service area would be able to call that number for free.

In contrast, with a toll-free number normally the inbound caller pays nothing regardless of where they are calling from in the country - any long distance charges are passed along to the toll-free number subscriber.

The second main difference is the monthly cost of a local vs. toll-free virtual numbers to the virtual number owner / subscriber. Generally, toll-free virtual numbers are considerably more expensive than local virtual phone numbers. Not only does the toll-free number have a higher baseline monthly subscription cost, but also the toll-free subscriber must pay any charges related to long distance inbound calls to the number.

As a result, toll-free virtual numbers are generally not a viable cost saving solution for individuals, though they may work well for businesses.

For most readers of this site who are looking to make cheap international phone calls, the most important use for virtual numbers is in relation to VoIP phone service. Virtual numbers allow people to call you on your VoIP service from regular landline and mobile phones.

How Virtual Phone Numbers Work

Virtual numbers are used to forward incoming calls to another location - usually in another part of the country or in another country altogether.

Generally, the incoming calls to the virtual number are forwarded to their destination via VoIP internet calling technology. This allows either the inbound caller or the virtual number subscriber or both to reduce the cost of long-distance domestic and/or international calls.

Unlike normal phone numbers, virtual telephone numbers generally do not have an actual physical landline or mobile phone assigned to them. Meaning that they don't actually ring anywhere.

Instead, virtual phone numbers are used as a mechanism to get the incoming call onto the telephone network - sort of like an entry ramp onto a roadway. Once 'received', the calls are then immediately routed forward to the end destination telephone.

Virtual telephone numbers can be forwarded to any type of end destination phone number - a mobile phone, a landline phone, a VoIP phone number, a fax machine, etc. The end destination number can be domestic or overseas.

Typically the end destination number can be easily changed using an account management interface. The owner of the virtual number simply specifies what end destination number they want to use - whether for a few hours or forever.

Virtual numbers can be used for many purposes. Some examples:

• Individuals use them to make it cheaper for family, friends or business associates in another country to reach them
• Small businesses use them to take orders from customers based in another country
• Large companies use them for customer service lines which are routed to call centers in other countries

Assuming they are available, virtual phone numbers work much like a regular landline or toll-free phone number in terms of billing and payment. You subscribe to the service and then pay a monthly fee. The exact cost is determined by the provider and calling plan you select.