How To Call UK From India Using UK Virtual Phone Numbers?

Senior Writer: Paras Kela

Date: August 22, 2024

The UK-India trade relationship is thriving, with annual trade reaching £39.7 billion in the four quarters to the end of Q1 2024. Moreover, India was the UK’s 11th largest trading partner. This robust economic partnership means businesses in both countries have significant customer bases across borders and need efficient communication solutions to serve their clientele.

In this blog, we will guide you through the process of calling from India to the UK, explain UK virtual phone numbers, and showcase how they can benefit your business.

So, let’s start with how to call the UK from India.

Expert Advice

Choose a reliable UK virtual phone number provider that offers good call quality and transparent pricing. Ensure the service integrates well with your existing communication tools and provides features like call forwarding and voicemail. This will help maintain clear and professional connections while keeping your expenses manageable.

How To Call the UK From India?

Whether you’re reaching out to clients, colleagues, or loved ones in the United Kingdom, the process is straightforward and involves just 4 simple steps. Here’s how to dial a UK number from India using a cell phone or landline.

Step 1: Dial India’s Exit Code

To make calls to the United Kingdom from India, you must first dial India’s exit code– 00. An exit code, also known as International Access Code or International Direct Dialing (IDD) code, is a number that informs the telecommunication carrier that you are making an international call. If you’re calling from a cell phone, you can use “+” instead of 00.

Step 2: Dial The Country Code of the UK

After entering India’s exit code, enter the UK’s country code– 44. The country code 44 must be entered for any international calls made to the United Kingdom. However, if you dial the UK from abroad using STD (Subscriber Trunk Dialing), you do not need to enter the country code 44 since the call is already on the trunk network.

Step 3: Enter The Area Code

The 3rd step is to enter the area code. Every city in the United Kingdom has its area code. For example, London has a phone area code of 020, Birmingham has a code of 0121, Edinburgh has a code of 0131, Glasgow has a code of 0141, and Liverpool has a code of 0151. However, when dialing a UK number from India, you do not need to add the initial 0– simply input the following digits.

For example, if you call the UK from India to reach someone in London, the number you dial on your smartphone would be 00-44-20 + the local UK phone number.

Step 4: Enter The Local Phone Number

Once you’ve entered all of the necessary information (India’s exit code, the UK country code, and the area code), enter the local UK phone number you’re trying to reach. The number for a landline must be 8 digits long, whereas the number for a cellphone is typically 9 digits long.

So, when calling the UK from India, the full number structure looks like this:

• For a UK Landline: 00-44-Area Code-XXX-XXXX
• For a UK Mobile: 00-44-7-XXX-XXX-XXX

This is suitable for occasional calls, but for businesses making frequent calls to the UK, more efficient solutions like UK virtual phone numbers or VoIP systems are recommended. These options offer features like lower costs, the ability to contact multiple numbers simultaneously, and call monitoring and analytics.

Explore More : What Is the Best Time to Call UK?

What Is A UK Virtual Phone Number?

A UK virtual phone number is a business phone number that isn’t tied to a physical telephone line or specific location. These numbers can be used to make or receive calls from the United Kingdom on various devices, including cell phones, softphones, and VoIP desk phones.

Virtual phone numbers are an excellent solution for businesses with a global presence and client base, especially those looking to establish or strengthen their presence in the UK market. For businesses frequently calling the UK from India or vice versa, a UK virtual phone number can streamline communication and potentially reduce costs.

How Will UK Virtual Phone Numbers Help Your Business?

UK virtual phone numbers offer several significant advantages over traditional phone systems, including reduced costs, better call quality, advanced features, and mobility. Here’s an in-depth look at how they can benefit your business, especially when calling from India to the UK or vice versa.

1- Projects Professional Image

A UK virtual number projects a professional image by allowing businesses to establish a local presence in various regions, regardless of their actual location. They enable seamless communication with clients through features like call forwarding, voicemail, and automated greetings, creating the impression of a well-structured organization. Additionally, UK virtual numbers support professional branding by offering customizable caller IDs and providing a consistent, polished communication experience.

2- Cost-Effective Solution

UK virtual numbers provide substantial cost savings compared to traditional international calling methods. This is especially beneficial for businesses frequently calling UK numbers from India. Instead of paying high international rates for each call, you typically pay a flat monthly fee for the virtual number service.

Many providers also offer unlimited calling plans, which can dramatically reduce your communication costs. Moreover, you can avoid the expenses associated with setting up and maintaining a physical office in the UK while still maintaining a local presence.

3- Area-Specific Numbers

Virtual phone number providers often allow you to choose numbers with specific UK area codes. This means you can establish a virtual presence in multiple UK cities without the need for physical offices.

For example, you could have a London number (020), a Manchester number (0161), and a Glasgow number (0141), all routed to your office in India. This multi-city presence can be particularly advantageous if you’re targeting customers in specific regions of the UK, as it allows you to appear as a local business in each area.

4- Better Call Quality

Virtual phone systems typically offer superior call quality compared to traditional international calls. When calling from India to the UK, you can expect clear, crisp audio with minimal latency or echo. This is because virtual phone calls are transmitted over the Internet using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology, which often provides better sound quality than traditional phone lines.

5- Advanced Communication Features

UK virtual numbers often come bundled with a range of advanced features that can significantly enhance your business communication capabilities. These may include:

• Call forwarding: Route calls to different numbers based on time of day or other criteria.
• Voicemail-to-email: Receive voicemail messages as audio files in your email inbox.
• Call recording: Record calls for training or quality assurance purposes.
• Auto-attendants: Set up automated menus to direct callers to the right department.
• Conference calling: Host multi-party calls with ease.

6- Flexibility and Scalability

As your business grows or your needs change, you can quickly add or remove lines without significant infrastructure changes. This is particularly valuable for businesses with fluctuating call volumes or seasonal peaks. You can easily increase your capacity during busy periods and scale back during quieter times, ensuring you’re always operating efficiently without overpaying for unused capacity.

7- 24/7 Availability

With features like call forwarding and voicemail-to-email, you can ensure that calls are always answered or promptly returned, even outside of UK business hours. This is crucial when managing the time difference between India and the UK.

You could, for example, set up the system to forward calls to your India office outside of UK business hours, ensuring round-the-clock coverage. This can significantly enhance customer satisfaction and give you an edge over competitors who may only be reachable during standard UK business hours.

UK Virtual Phone Number For Calling UK from India

We’ve chosen these UK virtual number providers for calling the UK from India based on their features, reliability, and customer support. However, the best choice for you will depend on your specific business needs and budget.

1. CallHippo

CallHippo provides a cloud-based phone system tailored for startups and small businesses. It offers virtual phone numbers from over 50 countries, including the UK. You can make and receive international calls through its desktop and mobile apps. Moreover, CallHippo’s real-time analytics and call recording features support effective campaign management and quality assurance.

Features

1. Unlimited calling within the USA and Canada.
2. Auto-attendant (IVR)
3. Ring groups
4. Business app integrations

Pros

• The system supports integration with 100+ business apps.
• CallHippo offers flexible pricing plans for different business needs.
• The service provides detailed call analytics for performance tracking.

Cons

• Users may experience occasional connectivity issues.
• Some plans use metered calling, which can increase costs for high-volume users.
• The mobile app has limited functionality compared to the desktop version.

Pricing

1. Starter: $18/user/month
2. Professional: $30/user/month
3. Ultimate: $42/user/month

2. Phone.com

Phone.com offers a cloud-based phone system for small to medium-sized businesses. It provides efficient communication management through a user-friendly interface. The platform supports a professional image with local and toll-free numbers, flexible call handling, and integration capabilities with various business tools.

Features

1. Dial-by-name directory
2. Click-to-call and call forwarding
3. On-hold music
4. IVR menus

Pros

• Offers international phone numbers in 31 countries, expanding your global reach.
• All plans include unlimited extensions.
• Offers mobile apps for both iOS and Android, enabling on-the-go management.
• Provides API access for custom integrations with other business tools.

Cons

• Plans do not include inbound toll-free minutes.
• Some advanced features are restricted to higher-tier plans.
• Customer support has limited hours for lower-tier plans.

Pricing

1. Basic Plan: $12.99 per user per month
2. Plus Plan: $19.99 per month per user
3. Pro Plan: $29.99 a month

3. Grasshopper

Known for its straightforward product offerings, accessible features, and affordable prices, Grasshopper is a popular choice among solo entrepreneurs and small businesses. It makes it easier to connect with UK clients and partners and helps enhance your professional image and credibility in the UK market.

Features

1. Toll-free numbers, vanity numbers, local numbers
2. Custom greetings
3. Call forwarding

Pros

• Grasshopper offers toll-free, vanity, and local numbers.
• The system includes custom greetings for a professional image.
• It provides easy extension and voicemail management.

Cons

• Grasshopper has limited advanced features compared to some competitors.
• The system does not support call recording.
• It lacks some integrations with popular business tools.

Pricing

1. Solo: $26 per month
2. Partner: $44 per month
3. Small Business: $80 per month

4. Google Voice

Google Voice is a cloud-based virtual phone system that enables seamless calling from India to the UK. Although it doesn’t have advanced features, it does well for solopreneurs and small businesses that need to make a few calls to the UK from India. Moreover, the cost starts from as low as $0.01 per minute, which makes it best for companies looking for a cost-effective way to make calls from India to the UK.

Features

1. Block unwanted callers
2. Free calls to the USA
3. Conference calls
4. Voicemail transcription

Pros

• It is easy to set up and use with an existing Google account.
• Google Voice transcribes voicemails into text for convenient reading.
• Supports call screening and spam filtering to manage unwanted calls.

Cons

• Google Voice does not offer toll-free numbers for businesses.
• It lacks auto-reply functionality for managing missed calls and messages.
• Only integrates with Google apps, restricting use with other software.

Pricing

Google Voice plans also require a Google Workspace subscription. The subscription starts at $6 a month per user.

1. Starter: $10 per user per month
2. Standard: $20 per user per month
3. Premier: $30 per user per month

5. eVoice

eVoice is a virtual phone service that provides businesses with a simple yet professional phone system for effective communication. It allows you to manage business and personal calls on one phone, offers customizable features, and runs on your existing devices. When calling from India to the UK, eVoice can facilitate seamless communication by routing calls efficiently.

Features

1. Time-based routing
2. Global call forwarding
3. Local and toll-free phone numbers
4. Auto attendant
5. Virtual voicemail

Pros

• It offers a 14-day free trial to explore its features before committing.
• eVoice provides affordable pricing plans suitable for various budgets.
• It supports screen-sharing with up to 2,000 users for large meetings.
• eVoice includes toll-free dial-in numbers for professional communication.

Cons

• The platform has a lengthy activation period for vanity numbers, up to 72 hours.
• eVoice offers call recording, outbound faxing, and web conferencing only as premium add-ons.
• It lacks integration with crucial business tools and applications.

Pricing

1. Elite 11 Monthly – 11 users $13.50 monthly per user
2. Elite Monthly – 1 user $14 monthly per user
3. Elite 6 Monthly – 6 users $13 monthly per user
4. Elite 10 Monthly – 10 users $10 monthly per user

How to Get UK Virtual Phone Numbers?

Acquiring a UK virtual phone number from CallHippo is easy and straightforward. Here’s how to get a UK virtual number.

1. First, create an account with CallHippo.
2. Select the United Kingdom as your country of interest.
3. Choose a location or state for your UK phone number.
4. Pick your favorite UK business phone number or UK toll-free number.
5. Select a package and make the payment.

That’s it! Make calls with your UK virtual phone number and start enjoying services right away.

Summing Up

The United Kingdom is one of the biggest trade partners of India. However, traditional phone systems are inadequate for business phone calls.

On the other hand, UK virtual phone numbers offer a powerful solution for businesses looking to establish a strong presence in the British market while operating from India. They provide a cost-effective, professional, and feature-rich alternative to traditional international calling methods. However, compare the top UK virtual number providers to choose the one that fits your needs.

FAQ

1- How to call a UK number from India for free?

To call the UK from India for free, use internet-based services like WhatsApp, Skype, or Zoom. These apps allow voice and video calls over Wi-Fi or mobile data. Ensure both parties have the same app installed and a stable internet connection for the best call quality.

2- How to call London from India?

To call London from India, dial the UK country code (+44), followed by the London area code (20), and then the local phone number. For example, if the local number is 12345678, you would dial +44 20 12345678. Consider using a reliable VoIP provider like CallHippo to reduce costs.

Paras Kela

Paras Kela brings a wealth of IT knowledge to his writing, with a strong focus on technical content. In recent years, he has specialized in virtual telephony solutions, creating clear and insightful content. His passion for technology, experience in the IT field, and dedication to learning new trends make complex topics easy to understand.

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