Top 3 Canadian Virtual Phone Number Providers in 2022
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Small businesses expand into new local and global markets through virtual phone numbers. These offer more flexibility than traditional phone numbers because there is no wired connection.
Virtual phone numbers, sometimes called Direct Inward Dialing (DID) numbers, allow you to reach remote customers and add a national presence, expanding beyond your home market.
Let’s look at the best virtual phone number providers, their work, and their benefits.
What is the virtual phone number?
A virtual phone number is a cloud-based number that allows businesses to access without relying on traditional landline networks. Instead, virtual phone numbers use the Internet to connect to telephone networks without a conventional line or exchange. There is minimal physical hardware with a virtual phone number so that you can answer incoming calls on any cloud-connected device.
Your company can purchase as many virtual phone numbers as needed from VoIP service providers to reach locals in different markets. VoIP software efficiently manages each number, and local area codes and international numbers can be assigned to your business. In addition, the software allows firms like yours to accept calls based on business needs.
The Best Virtual Phone Number Provider In Canada
Many service providers offer virtual phone numbers in their plans. The following section will look at providers that offer toll-free, local, and vanity numbers.
1. Intratel
Toll-Free numbers are free virtual numbers that allow you to call many callers worldwide. This number helps companies establish their legitimacy when using it as a helpline so that customers can access it for free. Some of Intratel offers are:
- Call forwarding
- Call recording
- Voice mail to Email
- SIP Trunking
2. RingCentral
RingCentral makes it easy to choose a toll-free number with 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, or 844. In addition, RingCentral has a UCaaS platform for its users to experience a full range of business communication options.
RingCentral offers four business plans: Basic, Standard, Premium, and Ultimate. RingCentral offers its customers:
- Many integrations
- Visual voicemail
- Voicemail to Email or SMS
- 24/7 support for a standard plan and above
3. Dial Pad
DialPad is a communication platform with a built-in phone system. Their talk plans have different price tiers (starting at $ 15 per user per month). In addition, they provide you unlimited minutes (in the US and Canada), unlimited SMS (the US and Canada), free video conferencing, instant messaging, Conference calls, call writing, etc. Some features are:
- Call forwarding
- Custom caller ID
- Do not disturb feature
How does a virtual phone number work?
Virtual phone numbers use the Internet to make phone calls. No SIM card, cell tower coverage, or physical address is required to make or receive calls. Instead, it follows the same rules as traditional landline numbers – local and national numbers are ten digits, including area codes, three-digit exchange, and four-digit subscriber numbers.
You need a fast internet connection via cable, LTE, or Wi-Fi and devices like desktops, laptops, or smartphones to use a virtual phone number. If your internet connection is unreliable, the quality of the connection may be affected.
Copper wire does not need to be connected to the network, which requires long-range charges, expensive fixtures, and hard wires. There are four main types of virtual phone numbers that companies use.
Vanity numbers: Use attractive alphanumeric phrases or numbers that make your brand easier to remember.
Toll-Free Numbers: Consumers use national numbers to access a brand from anywhere without a long-distance fee.
Local Numbers: Businesses use local phone numbers and specific area codes to look more local, even if they’re far away.
Domestic International Numbers: Similar to local numbers, local international numbers make the company look local in the overseas market.
Advantages of virtual phone numbers
Virtual phone numbers have many unique advantages. For small businesses, these numbers are used when the business owner does not want to provide personal data or personal numbers. In addition, virtual numbers ring on any compatible phone, and most services allow text and voice mail.
All the facts mentioned above are managed using packet-switching technology. As a result, there is no need to maintain telephone wires, and there are no open circuits to account for when making calls.
The following are some reasons to consider virtual phone numbers for small businesses.
1. Connecting business locations to a phone number
Many places worldwide use a central number to answer calls, including virtual phone numbers. If a client in a particular time zone needs help, they get it from agents in their area. It is also possible to use plugins with virtual numbers. If customers need more specialized services, they will be linked to the appropriate section.
2. Access to a vast talent pool
There are no physical limits to opening a phone centre worldwide with a virtual phone number. Additionally, since virtual numbers are independent of traditional PSTN and PBX devices, agents take calls on smartphones and laptops. With this type of communication, clients can easily communicate with previously assisted agents.
3. Receive calls anywhere
Virtual phone numbers give work-from-home employees more flexibility. For example, if the receptionist wants to work remotely, he will still receive any calls directed to the company. This is done through the desktop or mobile apps. In addition, since virtual numbers come with call management software, it’s easy to use call forwarding to communicate with other departments.
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, it has become necessary because virtual phone numbers allow employees to receive calls from home even when they are socially away.
4. Providing contact numbers for international markets
Some products grow overseas, and one of the best ways to expand into overseas markets is to provide customers with local numbers to reach your organization. Virtual numbers are not limited to area codes and 800 numbers. You can also purchase international numbers from some providers so that your foreign customers can reach you.
Since this technology is routing all calls to the same number, it provides a way to ensure local contact numbers in international markets where customers reach out to the company and department they need to talk to and have their issues resolved quickly.
5. Measuring sales and marketing performance
In marketing or sales, you should be able to track the number of calls you receive, especially if you are receiving calls from multiple campaigns. Instead of using your primary phone number, you can associate specific phone numbers with marketing campaigns and effectively measure those campaigns’ performance and conversion rate.
How to get a virtual phone number
Whether you’re looking for a toll-free or local number, most providers, such as Intratel, equip you with a virtual business phone number during the sign-up process. Then, they usually charge per phone line per month and port the old numbers to their service. Vanity, toll-free and local numbers are available through virtual phone service providers such as Intratel.