An international business requires phone numbers abroad. Local numbers are an option, especially when targeting specific regions or cities. Even if you only have a virtual office abroad, you can often already request a local phone number.

A bicycle manufacturer identifying cities like Paris, Barcelona, and Berlin as potential markets doesn’t necessarily have to wait until they have factories, stores, or distributors there. Thanks to local numbers, they are immediately reachable for these respective markets, lowering the barrier to internationalization.

Using Local Numbers as Virtual Numbers

We’re still accustomed to the days of fixed, analog phone lines: a local phone number rings a device in a specific region. Many people still associate local numbers with this image, which is one reason why geographic numbers inspire so much trust among callers.

But it’s no longer a given that local numbers are tied to local phones. At Belfabriek, you can register local phone numbers that are virtual. This means that this local number forwards callers to a device anywhere in the world.

How does it work? Behind a normal-looking local number lies an advanced system: the Interactive Voice Response (IVR). The IVR enhances your number with announcements and menu options, records voicemail during busy times or after hours, and forwards callers to the right person in your organization. This could be at your foreign branch or just as easily at your office in the Netherlands.

At Belfabriek, you can secure virtual numbers in major cities of most countries. To request your local number abroad, you can download our digital application form and fill it out. Under “number you wish to activate,” enter the country and city where you want to request a number. You can email the signed and scanned form to our customer service. Our specialists will ensure your request is processed as quickly as possible.

Benefits of Foreign Local Numbers

The example above already illustrates how virtual numbers work. For businesses looking to operate across borders, this is an ideal solution. But let’s list all the benefits for completeness.

  • For any business Whether you’re a sole proprietor or part of a multinational, anyone can register a local number abroad.
  • Location-independent business A virtual phone number means there’s no phone jack tied to a fixed address. Instead, your callers are forwarded to any desired number, anywhere in the world.
  • Low call rates Across Europe, callers are most familiar with phone numbers in their immediate surroundings. They are recognizable, trusted, and inexpensive to call.
  • Essential and convenient features An IVR allows you to link various additional features to a phone number: a queue, a menu, call recording, call statistics, and much more. This way, you can make an ordinary-looking number very special.
  • No fine print We don’t mislead you. With us, you pay a clear monthly rate per number, along with a low per-minute rate. That’s it. The convenient features are included for free and can be enabled or disabled as needed.
  • Full control Forward the number directly, change an announcement, add an option to your menu, or view call statistics? You can do it all in real-time on your personal dashboard in your browser or in our mobile app.

Register Your Foreign Number Now

Take advantage of your visit to this site to start registering your own virtual local number abroad today. Belfabriek makes the process simple and fast. You don’t have to pay anything until we receive the green light from the relevant telecom authorities.

Depending on the country, your foreign phone number could be connected within a few business days. Our specialists can tell you exactly how long it will take to process your specific number request. Want to secure a number or have questions about foreign phone numbers? Call us during office hours at 0800-BELFABRIEK (0800-2353227).