VoIP Virtual Numbers
One of the more interesting features of VoIP are Virtual Numbers. These
allow you to have multiple inbound telephone access numbers in different
cities, something that is useful for businesses who want to create a ‘Virtual
Presence’ in multiple locations, or to provide friends and family with a local
number to reach you and thereby avoid long distance toll charges for them.
Virtual Numbers can be routed to any number that you specify, for
example you can have access numbers in Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami
and Houston all routing through to your number in New York and no-one
ever knows the difference.
Most Service Providers that offer this feature charge a per-number (i.e. for
each additional access number) monthly fee, usually around $5, which is a
very low cost way to create that virtual presence if it’s important to you.
VoIP Physical Portability
Your VoIP Adapter or VoIP Phone is specially coded with your VoIP phone
number which allows you to take it with you when you travel, and instantly
turn a phone anywhere in the world (with a high speed Internet connection)
into your local phone.
If you are visiting Hong Kong for example, with a U.S. 561 prefix phone
number, then people in the U.S. dial your 561 number and the networks
finds you in Hong Kong and connects the call.
Number portability is also useful if you make a permanent physical move;
you simply take your number with you to your new home or office. If you
have a vacation or retirement home that you visit infrequently, VoIP allows
you to have telephone service when you are there without having to pay a
year-round bill.
In summary, number portability means that:
• Your number isn’t tied to your home or office anymore
• You can take it with you if you permanently move
• You can take it with you to your weekend/vacation home
• You can take it overseas, and still be called and make calls

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