How to Call VoIP Numbers from Landline

VoIP is fast approaching the ubiquitousness of landlines and the technology is practically everywhere. In many industrialized nations like Germany, telephone operators are even setting dates for when landlines and their supporting technology will be completely phased out in favor of VoIP. VoIP is less expensive, more efficient and offers many more supporting features than comparable landline phones. So it’s no wonder that businesses and individuals are racing to switch to VoIP Numbers.

In the meantime however, VoIP and older landlines continue to co exist. Not everyone has the necessary equipment, financial resources or even the high speed internet connections needed for VoIP. In fact many people still lack knowledge about VoIP, how it works or even how to work with it. For older people who grew up with landlines, learning about VoIP can be confusing or frustrating.

Users will have many questions like how to make calls from a VoIP phone or whether it is possible to contact someone with a VoIP number if they are calling from a landline. For the most part, using VoIP technology is not very difficult. End users do not necessarily have to change how they use the phone for calling friends, family or coworkers.

Calling VoIP Numbers from a Landline

VoIP numbers look like and behave pretty much like regular numbers. For the most part, you just have to dial the number from a landline device or even a mobile phone, similar to how you would for a regular phone number.

One thing to keep in mind is that with VoIP numbers, considerations like country codes or area codes do not mean much. VoIP numbers can be assigned to anyone, anywhere regardless of their actual, physical location. Businesses often acquire multiple number in various regions so that customers can contact them without incurring long distance charges.

Such geographical independence is also useful for individuals and households. Practically everyone has friends or family that they frequently need to call but who are living in countries around the world. Getting a VoIP number that can be used without incurring expensive bills is a great feature. Since calling a VoIP number from a landline doesn’t need any training or change in behaviour, it’s the perfect alternative for even older relatives.

Calling VoIP Users Without Numbers

Some VoIP services are closed networks i.e. only users of that specific service can call other users. These are usually consumer level services that are often free. Users are charged for calling landlines or mobile numbers. Calling these users needs a bit more work than usual. Examples of such services include Skype where users need to be friends or on each other’s contact list to make VoIP calls.

So if you’re trying to reach someone who has such a VoIP account, it may be necessary to sign up for the service yourself to talk to them. Sometimes it may be possible to have them call you instead if the service has such an option available. On the other hand, the other party may have a VoIP number on that service specifically to receive calls.

The Difference Between VoIP and Regular Numbers

Since dialing a VoIP number and a regular number is so similar, some people assume that they are the same. But there are significant differences between the two types of numbers. The biggest difference is – of course – that each number uses a different type of technology and underlying infrastructure for the same purpose i.e. voice calling. VoIP calls are routed through data networks instead of copper lines as has been the case for decades.

Both VoIP and regular numbers serve the same function – they act as identifiers for individual accounts or persons on the service so that they can be reached. Most of us are familiar with area codes and international codes for long-distance calls. These codes are now meaningless with VoIP numbers as a person living in one country can easily get a number with the code of another area.

It can be confusing to understand the technical nuances and issues surrounding VoIP but this knowledge is not necessary to actually use the service. Just as sending and receiving email does not require knowledge of mail or Internet protocols, making calls to VoIP numbers does not need any specific training, instructions for practice.