Types Of Phone Numbers

Geographic: Also called Fixed or Local Numbers. These numbers have an area code related to a specific city. They are tied to a particular region, such as London, Madrid, etc.

Mobile: Mobile numbers are usually used for cell phones and linked to SIM-cards. CloudTalk offers mobile numbers in a handful of countries. CloudTalk Mobile numbers are not linked to a SIM-card and can be used directly from our app. Outside of North America, mobile number ranges, typically have a dedicated prefix, and not an area code connected to a particular city.
​In most cases, you will need to use a mobile number if you want to use SMS

National: National numbers are similar to Geographic numbers, but have a prefix that covers the entire country rather than a city-specific area code. They give your business a national presence while keeping outbound call pricing the same as for local numbers. Callers reaching a national CloudTalk number are generally charged as for a local call within that country.

Toll-free: Also called freephone numbers, allow customers to call you without paying any charges. Inbound calls are billed to the number owner for all received calls instead of to the customer. If you would like to have a toll-free number on your CloudTalk account, you will fund the inbound calls from your account credit.

Shared cost: similar to toll-free numbers, but instead the number owner paying the full cost of calls, all charges are split between callee and caller.

Customer trust and conversion in target regions

Your inbound cost

Which features you can use, such as SMS

Regulatory requirements you need to meet

Geographic: Often requires a local address and sometimes a local business registration. This will vary by country, but in the strictest cases the regulators only want these numbers to be sold to local users to avoid fraud or misuse and protect consumers.
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National: Typically are less regulated than geographic numbers. These can be a good alternative if you would like a local number in a particular country but do not meet the compliance requirements for a geographic number.
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Mobile: Mobile country coverage is not be as wide as other number types. Major mobile networks (like T-mobile, Vodafone, Orange) typically own the mobile ranges within a country, and VoIP providers need special agreements or licenses to resell them. In some countries, they are strictly designated for individual ownership and cannot be sold to businesses.
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Toll-free: Usually available without a local address, but activation rules vary.
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Shared cost: Availability varies widely and may be limited.

Why do I need a local address to buy a geographic number?
Regulators and carriers often require local presence to prevent misuse and to maintain correct number assignment policies. CloudTalk typically can offer at least one number type per country. For example, since local numbers are typically the most heavily regulated, we can offer you a mobile or national number instead which usually have lighter requirements.

How long does number activation take?
You can buy and activate USA and Canada numbers instantly in the CloudTalk dashboard. For other countries, you will need to make a request in your Dashboard. If documents are required, activation occurs after verification. Special orders or regulated ranges can take longer.

Are outbound costs different if I call from a toll-free number?
Outbound pricing is based on the destination you call, not the type of your number.

Do national numbers look local to callers?
National numbers appear as local calls within that country, but instead of a city area code it shows a country wide prefix. They are useful for a country-wide presence but do not indicate a specific city.
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Can I make outbound calls on a toll-free number?
Toll-free numbers are great for helplines or customer support use, but their outbound capabilities can vary based on countries. In some cases, outbound calls from toll-free numbers are not possible in the local networks
​Toll-free numbers typically do not need a local regulatory address so they can be option for companies that need a local presence in strict countries (Germany, France, Italy etc)
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Can I use SMS on a toll-free number?
Typically Toll-free numbers are not able to send SMS. The only exceptions are USA and CANADA toll-free numbers. They can receive inbound SMS but cannot send outbound SMS unless they are verified by the operators first
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