What is a landline phone number? Types, pros and cons and more

Remember when the office landline rang nonstop? Every call came in to a single desk phone, and you’d be charged for every minute your team spent. Fast forward to today, and teams can answer calls on anything from smartwatches to laptops. Technology has come a long way, so is a traditional landline service still the right choice for business today?

In this article, we’ll explore what a landline telephone service is, review its pros and cons, and introduce a business phone alternative that offers flexibility, mobility, and essential features such as voicemail, call forwarding, and so much more that businesses need. 

What are landlines?

Landlines may seem vintage, but they’ve long been the backbone of telecommunication. So, what exactly is a landline phone?

For those unfamiliar or in a generation too young to have experienced it, a landline is a plain old telephone service (POTS) that connects calls through a network of physical copper wires or fiber optic cables. Unlike mobile phone numbers, which rely on cellular networks to transmit radio signals, landlines send voice data through these wired connections, providing a direct line to the person on the other end. This setup has significant implications for businesses — especially regarding call quality, reliability, and security.

How do landline phone numbers work?

Here’s how it all comes together: when you place a call from a landline, the signal travels through the phone’s hardware, flowing through a complex network of physical wires and switches known as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). This global system of interconnected copper wires and fiber optics directs the call to its destination, where the signal is translated back into audio for the person receiving the call. 

Landlines differ from mobile phones in terms of how they work. While landlines use physical lines to transmit phone calls, mobile phones transmit radio waves that are distributed over cellular networks. This is why landlines are fixed line services, and mobile phones can be taken anywhere (with cell towers in the area). 

Types of landline phones

If you’re considering a landline telephone service, you can choose between two types of landlines: traditional corded phones and cordless phones.

Both connect to the PSTN through a wall jack, but cordless phones add a base that allows you to take calls on a wireless handset within range. Whether you want a local or toll-free phone number, a landline can be customized to reflect your business’s reach. Landline services have a long-standing reputation for stability and reliability, but as you’ll see, they come with limitations that may not align with today’s business needs.

Pros and cons of landline phone numbers

Landlines have served businesses reliably for decades, but with today’s tech options, it’s important to weigh their strengths and limitations. Here are the pros and cons of using a landline phone number for your business:

Pros of landline numbers

1. High audio quality: Landline phones are known for their audio clarity. Since calls travel over physical copper wires and cables, sound quality is typically clearer and more stable compared to calls on a mobile device, making it ideal for conversations where clarity is essential.
2. Useful in emergencies: In certain emergency situations, especially during severe weather or power outages, traditional landline service can keep working when other options may fail. Many landlines connect directly to the PSTN and don’t rely on external power, making them a potentially lifesaving backup.
3. Enhanced security: Landlines present fewer cybersecurity vulnerabilities than mobile devices. The physical connection of a landline reduces the chance of interception or digital threats, which can be a significant advantage for businesses handling sensitive calls.

Cons of landline numbers

1. Limited mobility: A major drawback of a landline phone service is its lack of mobility. Even with a cordless model, you’re tethered to a physical location, which can be restrictive for businesses with remote teams or employees who travel frequently.
2. Expensive for long-distance calls: Because landlines rely on physical wires to carry calls, long-distance and international calls can become costly. For businesses that frequently communicate with clients or partners outside their local region, these charges add up quickly.
3. Lack of advanced features: Landlines have not evolved to offer the flexibility modern businesses need. While they’re great for basic phone calls, they don’t support features like shared numbers, CRM integrations, desktop apps, or business text messaging. For teams that rely on modern communication tools, these limitations can reduce their productivity.

Landlines offer dependability and excellent call quality but lack features that make communication smoother for today’s businesses. Thankfully, there are alternatives that offer the best of both worlds.

VoIP phones: The modern business phone alternative

If you’re looking for a phone service that’s as flexible as your business needs, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is worth serious consideration. Unlike traditional landlines, VoIP phones work over an internet connection, allowing you to make and receive calls from virtually any device — a smartphone, laptop, or desktop. This approach comes with a range of features that make it particularly well-suited for businesses.

VoIP isn’t just a replacement for landlines; comparing VoIP vs cellular service it’s also a significant upgrade. Here’s what makes VoIP a powerful choice for today’s businesses:

1. Easy to set up: Getting started with VoIP is quick and simple. You don’t need specialized hardware from a phone company or complex installations. In most cases, you can set up a VoIP system in minutes, enabling your team to use their mobile devices to make and receive calls seamlessly.
2. Cost-effective: VoIP phones are affordable and flexible for businesses of all sizes. While landline costs can vary with added features and long-distance charges, VoIP costs are straightforward — many VoIP service providers offer flat rate pricing that includes essential features, helping you keep costs predictable and manageable.
3. Built for team collaboration: VoIP systems are designed to work with teams. Shared numbers allow multiple team members to manage calls, voicemail, call forwarding, and call blocking together. . With the right settings, you can ensure that important calls get answered, no matter who’s available. Plus, if you need input from a colleague, you can easily tag them to loop them in. 
4. Enhanced messaging features: VoIP phones support more than just phone calls. With VoIP, you get advanced messaging options, including SMS and MMS for businesses. Features like auto-replies, scheduled texts, and templates (or snippets) allow you to communicate effectively and efficiently. Want to share images, videos, or files? MMS messaging lets you handle it all from one platform. It also offers spam call detection and management tools to reduce interruptions.
5. Thousands of third-party integrations: VoIP systems integrate easily with popular tools like CRMs, help desks, and team collaboration software. By connecting your telephone service to platforms like Slack or your customer support tools, you’ll be able to keep all your essential communication channels in sync, making it easier to manage customer interactions and maintain continuity across teams. 

Switching to VoIP offers your business more than just a way to make calls; it brings flexibility, scalability, and a suite of features that enable your team to collaborate together more effectively from a work phone number. Whether you’re a startup or an established business in the US or Canada, VoIP is a modern communications solution that helps you stay connected with customers in smarter ways.

VoIP vs. landline: Which is right for you?

Still wondering if a landline or a VoIP phone system is best for your business? Here are a few key factors to consider between VoIP and a landline:

1. Work better together with your team

VoIP phones are built with collaboration in mind, allowing teams to work together more effectively. With VoIP, you can share a phone number so multiple team members can handle incoming calls and texts together. With a landline, you need a dedicated team member to attend to incoming calls, and you can’t message customers from multiple devices. 

VoIP phones also help your team tag colleagues to deal with high-priority situations. You can quickly bring your team together in a VoIP desktop app to troubleshoot a customer issue. Landlines, on the other hand, still require you to get on a call with your team to get on the same page. It’s incredibly inefficient for your team to discuss every issue on a call instead of getting the context they need asynchronously. 

2. Essential messaging features

Text messaging has become necessary for businesses to build strong relationships with customers. 

Over 66% of people worldwide engage with brands through text messaging. If you want to keep up with customer expectations, messaging capabilities are essential.

While landlines are limited to voice calls, VoIP phone systems offer robust messaging features. With VoIP, you can send and receive both SMS and MMS messages directly from your computer or mobile phone, making it easy to text with customers wherever you are. 

VoIP phones also enable you to message your customers when it’s convenient for you and them:

• Auto-replies give you the ability to automatically respond to customers when your team is unavailable. 
• Scheduled texts help you schedule messages based on your customer’s time zones.
• Snippets help you respond to common questions quickly with pre-written text templates.
• MMS messaging lets you send photos, videos, and GIFs to your customers — practically impossible with a landline. 

3. Save time by automating admin tasks

VoIP isn’t just a communication tool; it’s designed to help you work smarter. For example, a VoIP phone system can automatically record and transcribe calls with automatic call recording and AI call summaries, then update your CRM with the key details — no manual note-taking needed.

With VoIP, you can also use advanced tools like AI call tags, which automatically categorize and highlight essential details from your call history. This makes it easy to spot trends and gain insights that help you improve your customer interactions over time. Landlines, on the other hand, don’t come with any of these time-saving features, which means more administrative work for your team.

As you consider your telephone service options, keep in mind that VoIP systems offer far more flexibility, convenience, and functionality than traditional landlines. For businesses focused on staying responsive and efficient, VoIP provides the tools to streamline communication, collaborate effectively, and deliver an excellent customer experience.

Ready to switch to VoIP? Port your landline to a VoIP service in minutes.

OpenPhone: The best VoIP alternative to landlines

OpenPhone is a collaborative phone system for teams. It brings your calls, texts, and contacts into an intuitive app that works across all your devices, so you never miss a customer. Rated #1 in customer satisfaction on G2, OpenPhone is trusted by over 50,000 businesses, from fast-growing startups to Fortune 500 companies.

• Keep everyone aligned with shared phone numbers, which lets teammates work together to seamlessly support customers.
• Use AI to transcribe and summarize calls and provide next steps.
• Work more efficiently with automations and integrations.
• As your team grows, easily add new numbers and customize them to ensure callers get routed to the right place.
• Build stronger relationships with a mini CRM for your team’s contacts, complete with custom properties and notes.

Get started with OpenPhone today with our seven-day free trial.

FAQs

How do I find out my landline phone number?

If you’re trying to track down your landline number, start by checking your phone provider’s account portal. Most providers list your phone number on their website under your account details. You can also contact your provider’s customer service team; they can quickly confirm your telephone number for you.

What’s the difference between a mobile phone and a landline phone?

The key difference lies in how they connect calls. Landlines use physical copper or fiber optic cables, which carry voice signals directly to the recipient through a network of wires. Mobile phones, by contrast, use cellular networks and radio signals, allowing them to make calls without being tethered to a specific location. 

Learn more about how to forward your landline to a cell phone.

How can you tell if a phone number is a landline?

If you’re curious whether a specific number is a landline or a mobile number, you can use a phone number validator.