If you run a modern business, chances are you’ve heard the term virtual landline number—but what does it really mean? Put simply, a virtual landline is a phone number that isn’t tied to a physical line or location. Instead, it works through the cloud, allowing calls to be routed seamlessly to mobiles, desktops, or VoIP devices. With Plexatalk’s self-service platform at landlinecloud.co.uk businesses can set up and manage these numbers in minutes, without the hassle of engineers or long contracts.

Why 2025 is the right time to move to virtual numbers

The business world has changed dramatically in just a few short years. Remote and hybrid work are no longer exceptions—they’re the norm. Customers expect to reach businesses quickly, no matter where staff are based. At the same time, companies are under pressure to cut unnecessary costs while staying flexible. Traditional landlines simply can’t keep up with these demands.

Virtual numbers, on the other hand, offer:

  • Flexibility – Route calls to staff anywhere in the world.
  • Professionalism – Maintain a polished local or national presence without needing a physical office.
  • Cost savings – Eliminate expensive hardware and line rental fees.
  • Scalability – Add or remove numbers instantly as your business evolves.

With these advantages, 2025 is the perfect year to finally move away from outdated phone systems and embrace a smarter, cloud-based alternative.

What this guide will cover

In this guide, Plexatalk will walk you through everything you need to know about virtual landline numbers—how they work, the benefits they bring, and how to choose the right setup for your business. By the end, you’ll be equipped to make an informed decision and see why more and more UK businesses are switching to Plexatalk (or via our self-service platform: landlinecloud.co.uk)

Got it — here’s the draft for your “What Is a Virtual Landline Number?” section:

What Is a Virtual Landline Number?

A virtual landline number looks and acts like a traditional business landline, but it doesn’t rely on a physical copper wire in the ground. Instead, it operates entirely in the cloud. That means your customers can dial a familiar geographic or non-geographic number, while you and your team can answer calls from anywhere—on mobiles, laptops, or VoIP desk phones.

How it differs from a traditional BT landline

A BT landline ties you to a fixed address and usually comes with installation costs, rental fees, and limited flexibility. If you move office, you often have to change your number—or deal with the disruption of transferring lines.
A virtual landline from Plexatalk is different:

  • No physical infrastructure required.
  • Numbers are activated instantly online via landlinecloud.co.uk.
  • Keep the same number no matter where you’re working.

How calls are routed

When someone dials your virtual landline, the call doesn’t travel through old copper networks. Instead, it’s routed through the cloud using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology. That call can be directed to:

  • A mobile phone, so you can answer on the go.
  • A desktop softphone app, perfect for remote teams.
  • A VoIP-ready handset for an office environment.

The caller experiences a smooth, professional connection—without ever knowing the call was handled virtually.

Benefits for businesses of all sizes

Whether you’re a one-person startup or a multi-location company, a virtual landline brings powerful advantages:

  • Professional image – Present a polished landline number instead of using personal mobiles.
  • Portability – Take business calls anywhere, without being tied to an office.
  • Local presence – Instantly establish a geographic number in any UK area code to build customer trust.
  • Scalability – Add more numbers or users as your business grows, without waiting for an engineer.

With Plexatalk’s self-service system, setting up a virtual landline is quick, cost-effective, and designed for businesses that value flexibility and professionalism.

Here’s the draft for your “Why Businesses in the UK Are Switching in 2025” section:

Why Businesses in the UK Are Switching in 2025

The way businesses communicate is undergoing a seismic shift. Traditional phone systems that once formed the backbone of UK business are being phased out, and companies are realising that 2025 is the year to modernise.

The BT Landline Switch-Off

BT has confirmed that the UK’s legacy PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) and ISDN services will be fully shut down by January 2027. That may sound a while away, but the transition is already underway—new PSTN and ISDN lines can no longer be purchased, and businesses sticking with outdated systems risk being left behind.
By acting now, companies can make a smooth transition to virtual numbers, avoiding last-minute disruption when the switch-off deadline hits.

Growing Demand for Flexibility

The modern workplace looks nothing like it did a decade ago. Remote and hybrid work have become standard practice, and businesses need communication tools that support staff in multiple locations. Customers also expect quicker, more direct access to businesses—whether they’re reaching out from a mobile, a local landline, or through integrated digital platforms.
Virtual landlines, managed easily through Plexatalk’s landlinecloud.co.uk, give businesses the agility to meet these expectations without the restrictions of traditional systems.

Cost Advantages

Legacy landline systems carry hidden costs—installation fees, line rentals, and maintenance contracts quickly add up. In contrast, virtual landlines:

  • Require no physical infrastructure or engineers.
  • Scale up or down instantly without long-term commitments.
  • Eliminate the need for expensive PBX hardware.
  • Allow businesses to manage everything through a simple, self-service portal.

For many UK businesses, switching isn’t just about preparing for the future—it’s about saving money and gaining a competitive edge today.

Key Benefits of a Virtual Landline

A virtual landline is more than just a replacement for a traditional phone system—it’s a smarter way to run business communications in 2025. With Plexatalk’s self-service platform at landlinecloud.co.uk, businesses of every size can access enterprise-level features without the overheads.

1. Keep a Professional UK Business Number

Customers trust businesses that have a proper UK landline. Instead of relying on personal mobiles, you can present a polished, professional presence with a number that matches your location or brand. Whether you need a London 020 number or a regional 0161 Manchester line, Plexatalk makes it easy to set up instantly.

2. Forward Calls Anywhere

Flexibility is built in. With a virtual landline, you decide where calls go:

  • Forward to a mobile, so you never miss a call on the move.
  • Answer through a desktop or mobile app, ideal for hybrid teams.
  • Route to VoIP desk phones in a physical office.

Your customers see one consistent landline number, while your team answers wherever they are.

3. No Hardware Required

Traditional phone systems require costly installations, PBX boxes, and maintenance. With Plexatalk, there’s no need for engineers or equipment—you can activate and manage numbers directly online. Setup takes minutes, not weeks.

4. Scale Effortlessly as You Grow

Need an extra number for a new staff member or department? Expanding into a new region and want a local number to build trust? Virtual landlines scale with you. Add, remove, or reconfigure numbers instantly, all from your self-service dashboard.

5. Future-Proof with VoIP

A virtual landline is the first step towards a full cloud telephony system. Start simple with call forwarding today, and when you’re ready, upgrade seamlessly to a complete VoIP solution—keeping the same numbers, without downtime or disruption.

How to Buy a Virtual Landline Number

Getting started with a virtual landline is far simpler than setting up a traditional phone line. With Plexatalk, the whole process can be completed online in just a few minutes through our self-service platform at landlinecloud.co.uk. Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Choose Your Number

Decide what type of number best fits your business:

  • Local numbers (e.g. 020 for London, 0161 for Manchester) to build trust in specific regions.
  • National 03 numbers to present a professional, UK-wide image.
  • Freephone 0800 numbers if you want customers to call you at no cost.

Plexatalk lets you browse and secure your chosen number instantly.

Step 2: Decide How You’ll Use It

Once you have your number, you can choose how to handle calls:

  • Simple call forwarding – Direct calls to a mobile or existing landline.
  • Cloud platform setup – Use apps or VoIP handsets to answer calls anywhere.

This flexibility means you can start small and expand as your needs change.

Step 3: Set Up Call Routing and Voicemail

From your Plexatalk dashboard, you can configure call routing in just a few clicks. Decide who should answer calls, set up schedules, and add voicemail-to-email so you never miss a message.

Step 4: Test and Go Live

Before you make your number public, run a quick test to confirm everything works as expected. Once you’re happy, share your new virtual landline on your website, email signatures, and marketing materials—and start enjoying the benefits immediately.

✅ With Plexatalk, there’s no engineer visit, no waiting weeks, and no complicated hardware—just a straightforward, cost-effective solution that grows with your business.

Setting Up with Plexatalk & LandlineCloud

Once you’ve decided that a virtual landline is the right move, there are two simple ways to get started with Plexatalk—depending on how hands-on you want to be.

Option 1: Personalised Setup with Plexatalk

If you’d like expert guidance, our team at Plexatalk can work with you directly to design the perfect setup for your business. From choosing the right numbers to configuring call flows and advanced features, we’ll make sure your system is tailored to your needs. This option is ideal if:

  • You’re scaling quickly and need multiple numbers or departments.
  • You want advice on VoIP upgrades or integration with existing tools.
  • You’d prefer a guided, concierge-style setup.

Option 2: Instant Self-Service via LandlineCloud

For businesses that prefer speed and simplicity, our self-service platform landlinecloud.co.uk lets you do everything yourself:

  1. Pick your number.
  2. Set up call forwarding or VoIP routing.
  3. Go live—all within minutes.

It’s fast, cost-effective, and gives you full control of your system without needing engineers or contracts.

Whether you want tailored advice or a do-it-yourself solution, Plexatalk makes it easy to future-proof your business communications today.

Costs & Plans

Transparent, Affordable UK Virtual Landline Pricing

In 2025, businesses are increasingly drawn to virtual landline providers thanks to low, predictable pricing—typically ranging from £10 to £20 per month, depending on features. This undercuts the high upfront costs of traditional PBX systems, which can run into the hundreds or even thousands of pounds to purchase and install.

Plexatalk Virtual Landline Highlights

  • Starting from £10/month
    Plexatalk’s Virtual Landline UK service begins at just £10 per month and includes essential features such as call forwarding, voicemail, and even call recording and IVR—depending on the plan Plexatalk.
  • No setup fees
    Everything is covered by that monthly fee, with no hidden charges.
  • Feature-rich foundation
    Scalability options—like IVR setup and detailed call recording—add flexible layers according to your business needs.

Landline Cloud (Plexatalk’s Self-Service Platform)

  • Flat-rate plan: £10/month
    Includes unlimited incoming calls, choice of local or non-geographic numbers, call forwarding (to sequential or simultaneous mobiles), professional voicemail, voicemail-to-email, and email notifications.
  • Added benefits at the same price
    Also includes up to 7 days of call recording, the ability to divert calls to up to 15 mobile phones, and notifications to up to 15 email addresses.
  • Self-managed setup
    No engineers or contracts—control everything via a clean dashboard.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I keep my existing number?

Yes. With Plexatalk, you can port your current landline number into our system so you don’t lose the identity or trust you’ve built with customers. Once ported, it works just like a virtual landline—flexible, cloud-based, and future-proof.

Can calls be answered on multiple mobiles?

Absolutely. With landlinecloud.co.uk you can forward calls to multiple mobiles at the same time or in sequence. That means whether you’re a solo operator or a growing team, incoming calls never get missed.

Is it reliable compared to a traditional landline?

Yes. Virtual landlines are built on robust UK-based cloud infrastructure with high uptime and call quality standards. In many cases, they’re more reliable than copper-based PSTN lines, which are being phased out and will be switched off entirely by 2027.

Can I upgrade to VoIP later?

Yes. Starting with a virtual landline gives you a smooth entry point into cloud telephony. When your business is ready, Plexatalk can upgrade your service to a full VoIP solution—with advanced features like call analytics, hunt groups, and integrations—without needing to change your number.

The way UK businesses communicate is changing fast. With the BT landline switch-off looming in 2027, and customer expectations shifting towards flexibility and instant availability, now is the time to make the move. Virtual landlines aren’t just a stopgap—they’re a future-proof solution that gives your business professionalism, mobility, and scalability without the baggage of old telecom systems.

Whether you’re a startup looking for your first UK business number or an established company preparing for growth, Plexatalk makes it simple to take control of your communications.

👉 Ready to get started?

  • Set up your virtual landline instantly at landlinecloud.co.uk
  • Or, if you’d prefer tailored advice, reach out to the Plexatalk team for expert setup and support.

The future of business telephony is cloud-based. Make the switch today and ensure your business stays connected, flexible, and competitive.