What telephone number options are available in India for enterprises and entrepreneurs?

India has a vast and diverse population, which reflects the phone number options available in the country. Therefore, businesses and entrepreneurs regularly inquire about what phone number options suit them best in India.

Due to the high demand for phone numbers, various business phone number options are available, including Toll-free, virtual, mobile and Landline numbers in prepaid and postpaid models. These options allow users to choose the best-suited business number to match their communication needs. Therefore, understanding the available phone numbers in India is crucial, especially for those seeking to establish a presence in the country through business or personal interactions.

The details of phone number options available in India have proven to be ambiguous, and telecom operators must also provide adequate information on their portals. Therefore, this article endeavours to clarify the range of options currently available. 

Which kind of phone number options work for Indian businesses?

1. Landline number

These are traditional fixed-line phone numbers provided by telephone operators such as BSNL, MTNL, Airtel, and other local telecom operators.

1. You can not receive SMS or send SMS.
2. You can make outbound calls to Local & STD phone numbers.
3. You can receive inbound calls on this number (from India and the world)
4. The call charge depends on the selected plan offered by the service provider. 
5. The number series is location specific (for Hyderabad 040-21234567, Mumbai 022-21234567, Delhi 011-21234567, and Chennai 044-21234567.

2. Virtual Landline number (DID)

These phone numbers are tied to a specific physical location and the operator. As a result, businesses can use these numbers to receive calls from anywhere in the world. In addition, virtual numbers can be used for business purposes and procured by cloud telephony operators such as SaleSquared, Twilio, Plivo, and others.

1. You can not receive SMS or send SMS.
2. You can make outbound calls to Local & STD phone numbers.
3. You can receive inbound calls on this number from India and the world.
4. The call charge depends on the selected plan offered by the service provider. 
5. APIs are available
6. The number series is location specific (for Hyderabad 040-21234567, Mumbai 022-21234567, Delhi 011-21234567, and Chennai 044-21234567.

3. Mobile Number 

These numbers are associated with mobile network operators, such as Airtel, Vodafone-Idea, Reliance Jio, and BSNL.

1. You can receive an SMS or send an SMS.
2. You can make outbound calls to Local & STD phone numbers.
3. You can receive inbound calls on this number from India and the world.
4. The call charge depends on the selected plan offered by the service provider. Most operators provide unlimited call plans.
5. The number series is operator specific (+91-98485-12345 is an Airtel Andhra Pradesh number)

4. Virtual Mobile Number (VMN)

These phone numbers are not tied to a specific physical location and can be used to receive calls from anywhere in the world. Additionally, virtual mobile numbers(VMN) can be used by businesses that want to receive incoming calls on a mobile number rather than a landline number. SaleSquared provides virtual mobile numbers; reach our sales team for more information.

1. You can receive an SMS or send an SMS.
2. You can only receive inbound calls on this number from India and the world.
3. Operators offer unlimited call plans. The VMN monthly rent would start from Rs.350-500 per number.
4. The virtual number series is operator specific (+91-98485-12345 is an Airtel Andhra Pradesh)

5. Mobile Number with only Incoming SMS (Long Code Number)

1. You can only receive SMS (from India and the world)
2. The long code number is ten digit number.
3. The SMS unit rates depend on the selected plan the service provider offers. 
4. The monthly rent would start from Rs.300-5,000 per number for different volumes.
5. You can set up a webhook to receive the data.
6. The long code number series is operator specific (+91-82888-12345 is a VI Andhra Pradesh)

7. Short Code Number (5 Digit or 7 Digit Number)

1. You can receive and send SMS (from India and the world)
2. The shortcode is either a 5 or 7-digit number.
3. SMS unit rates are charged as per the selected plan the service provider offers. The monthly rent would start from Rs.3,000-50,000 per number for different volumes.
4. You can set up webhooks to receive the data.
5. The shortcode number series is operator specific (+91-82888-12345 is a VI Andhra Pradesh)
6. You can not make outbound calls or receive inbound calls
7. This service is provided as VAS by some providers

8. Toll-Free number (1-800-numbers)

These phone numbers are free for the caller, but the number owner pays the call’s cost. Toll-free numbers start with the prefix “1800”.

1. You can not receive or send outgoing SMS
2. You can not make outbound calls
3. You can only receive inbound calls on this number (from India and the world)
4. Call rates are charged per the selected plan offered by the service provider. Therefore, the rate may vary from Rs. 2/- to Rs. 0.60/-.
5. The number series would be 1800-123-123
6. International customers calling a Toll Free Number in their respective country will be entitled to a free call. For instance, if a business acquires a toll-free number based in India, only Indian phone users can reach them for free.

9. Toll Numbers (1860-numbers)

1860-numbers are premium numbers similar to 1800 toll-free numbers, but the only difference is that they impose a charge on callers. These are the premium phone numbers where the number owner bears the higher rent, and the caller pays the cost of the call based on duration. Numbers like 1800-xxx-xxxx are toll-free, meaning the caller does not incur any costs. On the other hand, numbers starting with 1860 are premium numbers, and the caller is charged for the call depending upon the duration.

10. Single Number Solutions

It is like a landline number, but the same phone number is blocked across desired circles/states.

For example, 040-600-12-345 in Bangalore and 022-600-12-345 in Mumbai.

1. You can not receive or send outgoing SMS
2. You can make outbound calls to Local & STD phone numbers
3. You can receive inbound calls on this number from India and the world.
4. This type of number is priced slightly higher than others and is offered only by a limited number of telecom operators. Availability for this number is decreasing as some numbers may have already been sold to other customers across different service areas. While it may be challenging to obtain, it is still feasible to acquire this number.

11. VoIP Numbers

These numbers use the internet to make and receive calls. VoIP numbers are provided by companies such as SaleSquared, Skype, Google Voice, and others.

1. You can receive SMS or send outgoing SMS
2. You can make outbound calls to Local, STD & ISD phone numbers
3. You can receive inbound calls on this number from India and the world.
4. Call rates are charged per the selected plan offered by the service provider. 
5. APIs are available
6. The number series is location specific (for US +1-402-1234567).
7. Indian numbers can not be used as VoIP numbers.

Indian Telephone numbers and its Feature Comparison Chart

Item/Feature	Landline number	Virtual Landline number/ DID	Mobile Number	Virtual Mobile Number (VMN)	Long Code Number	Short Code Number	Toll-Free Number	Single Number Solutions
Receive SMS	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Send SMS	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No
Make outgoing call	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes
Receive incoming call	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
API/Webhooks	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
Call Distribution	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
IVR	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
Call Recording & App Access	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
CRM Integration	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
Make International Calls	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
Number Digits	7 + STD Code	7 + STD Code	10	10	10	5 or 7	10	7 + STD Code
Monthly Rent	Rs.500/-	Rs.300/-	Rs.200/-	Rs.350/-	Rs.1,500/-	Rs.3,000/-	Rs.1,000/-	Rs.1,000/-

How to pick your best phone number service in India?

When choosing a type of telephone number for your business in India, you should consider your specific needs and goals. Here are some factors to consider:

1. Customer preferences: If your target audience prefers to call toll-free numbers, an 1800 number may be a good choice. On the other hand, if you want to establish a local presence, a local virtual number might be a better option.
2. Budget: Toll-free numbers can be more expensive than local virtual numbers, so you should consider your budget when deciding.
3. Branding and marketing: Virtual numbers can be a great way to promote your brand and make it easier to calculate ROI. 
4. Call volume: If you expect a high volume of incoming calls, you may want to consider a virtual number that can be forwarded to multiple phone lines.
5. Call tracking and analytics: SaleSquared’s virtual numbers come with built-in call tracking and analytics (IVR) features, which can help monitor the success of your marketing campaigns and optimise your customer service.

Ultimately, the best type of telephone number for your business in India will depend on your unique needs and goals. So call us now and speak with our consultant to determine which is right for you.

How to get your Indian phone numbers?

The best way to get the Indian phone numbers is directly procuring from uCaaS platforms like SaleSquared, where they provide calls, sms, chat, and call conferences in one central platform, enabling businesses to stay organised and work more efficiently.

SaleSquared is a comprehensive, unified communications platform that streamlines business operations by offering tools for managing communication channels. With its powerful features, SaleSquared empowers businesses of all sizes to manage their communications efficiently and effectively. Its cloud-based software allows users to communicate with customers, clients, and colleagues from anywhere, anytime, using various devices.

The platform also offers advanced analytics and reporting features, allowing businesses to track key metrics and gain insights into their communication strategies. SaleSquared helps companies efficiently manage their communication channels and drive better customer engagement, resulting in increased revenue and business growth.

Build your business with an Indian telephone phone number.

Having a local business number provides several benefits to businesses. First, it helps establish a local presence and build trust with customers in the area. When a company uses a local number, it signals to customers that they are part of the community and are accessible to them. This is especially important for small businesses that rely on local customers and referrals.

Customers are more likely to call a local number rather than a toll-free number or a number with a different area code. This can increase the chances of converting leads into customers, leading to increased revenue and growth for the business.

Get a professional number for your business.

Take the Virtual number + IVR Solution for reliable and efficient communication solutions for your business. Let SaleSquared make your life easier.

Manage your calls in one place and save money.

Managing calls in one place can help businesses save money in several ways. With a unified communication platform like SaleSquared, companies can consolidate multiple communication channels, such as voice calls, text messages, and conference calls, into one system. This makes it easier to manage all communication channels and reduces the cost of maintaining multiple systems.

This article was written by Sriharish Krishna – CEO, SaleSquared.