A virtual phone number is a type of phone number that is not tied to any specific physical landline or mobile device. Despite this, it functions just like a traditional phone number — enabling users to make and receive calls from anywhere in the world, on any device.
What Is a Virtual Phone Number?
A virtual phone number works over the internet using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology instead of a traditional copper phone line. When someone dials your virtual number, the call is routed through the cloud to whichever phone or device you choose — your mobile, a SIP phone, a laptop softphone, or a VoIP app. Unlike a landline, a virtual number has no fixed location. You can get a local number with a US area code, a UK dialing prefix, or an Israeli city code — regardless of where you physically are. This makes virtual numbers ideal for businesses that want a local presence in multiple countries, and for individuals who need to stay reachable across borders.
Key Benefits of Virtual Phone Numbers
1. Cost Savings
Virtual numbers significantly reduce the cost of international and long-distance calls. Since calls travel over the internet, you avoid traditional carrier rates. Businesses can also eliminate expensive hardware and PBX infrastructure — cloud-based systems like PBXme include a full PBX at no extra cost.
2. Flexibility and Mobility
Virtual numbers are not tied to a desk or a location. Calls can be forwarded to any device — smartphone, tablet, softphone, or laptop — wherever you are. Remote workers, traveling employees, and distributed teams all stay reachable on a single number.
3. Instant Setup
Getting a virtual number takes minutes, not days. No hardware installation, no waiting for a technician, no contracts required. Sign up, choose your number and country, set your forwarding destination, and you’re live.
4. Local Presence in 145+ Countries
Virtual numbers let businesses appear local in any market. A company based in Tel Aviv can have a local US number for American clients, a UK number for British customers, and a German number for European partners — all managed from one dashboard. PBXme offers virtual numbers in 145+ countries.
5. Privacy Protection
Virtual numbers keep your personal or primary business number private. Use a virtual number for online listings, marketing campaigns, or customer-facing communications — and discard or reassign it at any time without affecting your main number.
6. Full PBX Features Included
Modern virtual number providers include advanced telephony features at no extra charge. PBXme includes IVR, call queues, voicemail, call recording, conference rooms, ring groups, and time-based routing — all free with every virtual number plan.
How Does a Virtual Number Work?
- Number Assignment — You choose a number from your desired country or city. The number is provisioned instantly in the cloud.
- Call Routing — When someone dials your virtual number, the call is received by the cloud PBX and routed to your chosen destination (mobile, SIP device, or app).
- Device Flexibility — You can forward calls to multiple devices simultaneously (ring all) or sequentially (ring one, then another, then voicemail).
- IVR & Auto Attendant — Callers can be greeted by a menu (“Press 1 for Sales, Press 2 for Support”) before being routed to the right team.
- SMS Support — Many virtual numbers also support inbound and outbound SMS, useful for customer engagement and two-factor authentication flows.
- API Access — Developers can provision numbers, configure routing, and handle webhooks programmatically via the PBXme REST API.
Who Uses Virtual Phone Numbers?
- Businesses expanding internationally — Get a local number in any country without opening a physical office
- Remote and distributed teams — One company number, reachable from anywhere
- Startups and SMBs — Professional phone presence without expensive hardware
- Developers and AI builders — Provision numbers via API for voice bots, AI agents, and automated workflows
- Expats and travelers — Keep a home-country number while living or working abroad
- E-commerce and customer support teams — Dedicated numbers per campaign, product line, or region
Virtual Number vs. Traditional Phone Line
| Feature | Virtual Number | Traditional Landline |
|---|---|---|
| Setup time | Minutes | Days or weeks |
| Location required | No | Yes |
| Hardware required | No | Yes |
| Countries available | 145+ | One |
| PBX features | Included free | Expensive add-on |
| API access | Yes | No |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a virtual phone number used for?
Virtual phone numbers are used to make and receive calls over the internet without a physical phone line. Common uses include establishing a local presence in foreign markets, enabling remote teams to share a business number, running call centers, and integrating telephony into apps and AI systems via API.
Can I get a virtual number from any country?
Yes. PBXme offers virtual numbers in 145+ countries, including the US, UK, Germany, Australia, Israel, and more. You can get a local area code for any supported country and start receiving calls immediately.
Does a virtual number support SMS?
Many virtual numbers support inbound and outbound SMS. PBXme offers SMS-enabled local numbers in select countries. Check the SMS solutions page for coverage details.
Do I need hardware to use a virtual number?
No hardware is required. Calls can be received on any SIP-compatible phone or softphone app, on a mobile phone via call forwarding, or on a computer using a VoIP app. PBXme supports bring-your-own-device (BYOD) configurations.
Are PBX features included with a virtual number?
Yes — PBXme includes a full cloud PBX at no extra cost with every virtual number plan. This includes IVR, call queues, voicemail, call recording, conference rooms, ring groups, and time-based routing. No additional fees.
Can developers provision virtual numbers via API?
Yes. The PBXme REST API supports number provisioning, call control, SMS, and webhook events. It is compatible with any programming language that can make HTTP requests, including Python, Node.js, and PHP.
Get a Virtual Phone Number Today
PBXme makes it easy to get a local virtual number in 145+ countries — with a full cloud PBX included free. No contracts, no hardware, instant setup.