Homes and businesses in South Africa have used Telkom landline for many years. You have a telephone number and a telephone at the property, with the line connecting the two.For a long time, this was simply the way a business telephone worked.Things have changed, though. Many business owners work from home now. Staff may also work from different locations, and some businesses have more than one office. A telephone that stays in one office is not always convenient.A virtual landline gives you another option.
Telkom Landline Alternative
Virtual Number uses VoIP for its telephone services. Instead of the call travelling through the old telephone network, it goes over the internet.The number can be used with an IP phone, cellphone or VoIP app. You are therefore not tied to a telephone sitting on a desk in the office.Say you run a business in Cape Town but spend a few days a week somewhere else. A customer can still call your usual business number and you can take the call.They do not need to know where you are.Keeping Your Existing Number
Already have a Telkom number that your customers know?
You may be able to keep it when changing to a virtual service. We can check the number and confirm whether it can be moved to Virtual Number.This can save you quite a bit of hassle. Your number may already be printed on business cards, shown on your website and used on signs, adverts and invoices.If you can keep it, there is no need to tell all your customers about a new number.
How It Works
The service works over an internet connection rather than a traditional telephone line.Fibre is one option. LTE can also be used, depending on what is available where you are.Once the number is set up, you choose how you want to answer your calls. It could be an IP phone on your desk, your cellphone or a VoIP app.A small business might only need one person using the number. Another business may have several people answering calls.Calls can be sent to different users, and you can use features such as voicemail and call transfers when needed.So the setup can be fairly simple, or it can form part of a bigger business telephone system.
Why Move Away From A Telkom Landline?
There is nothing wrong with keeping a traditional landline if it still works well for your business.The problem usually starts when the business changes.Perhaps you are no longer in the office every day. Maybe two people need to answer the same number. Or you have moved to another premises and do not want your telephone service tied to the old address.A virtual service gives you more room to work with.You can answer calls somewhere other than the office. You can also add users if the business grows and more people need access to the telephone system.Moving offices does not necessarily mean changing the number either. The same business number can continue to be used through the new setup.For some businesses, that is reason enough to make the switch.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a Telkom landline?
It is a fixed telephone service for a home or business. Traditionally, a copper cable connected the telephone to the address. Now you can take your VirtualNumber and answer calls anywhere in South Africa
2. Why are businesses moving away from Telkom landlines?
It comes down to how businesses work today. People work from home, move between offices and travel for work. Having the business phone in one place can become inconvenient.
3. What can I use instead of a Telkom landline?
A VirtualNumber is the alternative. VirtualNumber technology is VoIP, which means the system handles calls over the internet, and you can answer your calls anywhere in South Africa. Calls can be answered on a mobile app or a VOIP phone in the office
4. Can I keep my existing Telkom number?
Porting terms and conditions apply, and your current Service Provider must approve the port release. Terms are dependant on the fixed contract responsibilities and ownership requests , and documentation requirements
5. Do I need a copper telephone line with Telkom?
No. The service does not require a traditional copper telephone line. It uses an internet connection instead. You can run an app on your cell or a call forwarding option and be remote.
6. Can the number ring on my cellphone?
With modern technology this is an easy option with your VirtualNumber. You can send calls to your cellphone, so you can still answer the business number when you are out of the office. A VoIP app is another option.
7. Can I use my business number when working from home?
You can now answer calls anywhere in South Africa . If you have internet access or mobile data, you can answer the business number from home. You do not have to be sitting in the office.
8. Do I need to install a new telephone line?
No. There is no traditional telephone line to install. Once you activate the service, calls use your internet connection.
9. Can a virtual landline replace a Telkom business telephone?
For any business that is not dependant on a fixed location . You can still make and receive calls using your business number, without tying the number to a traditional telephone line at the office.
10. What is the main benefit of a virtual landline?
