In short: BT Cloud Voice non-geographic numbers are 0800, 0808, 03, 084, 087 and similar numbers used with BT's hosted phone system. Whether an existing one can be ported is checked case by case with the current provider. Once in place, calls to it can go to an Auto Attendant, hunt group or call queue like any other number.
What is a non-geographic number?
A non-geographic number is a UK phone number that is not linked to a place. Instead of an area code such as 01 or 02, it starts with a prefix that tells callers something about the type of service or how the call is charged. Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, sets out the number ranges and the rules for each.
Businesses use them to give one national number to customers, to offer free calls, or to keep the same number when they move premises. On BT Cloud Voice, the number is simply another way into your phone system: callers dial it, and your call routing decides what happens next.
Common non-geographic number types
In general terms, the main ranges a business meets are:
| Range | Commonly used for | How it works for callers, in general terms |
|---|---|---|
| 0800 and 0808 | Freephone sales and support lines | Free to call from UK landlines and mobiles |
| 03 | National numbers for businesses, charities and public bodies | Cost no more than a call to an 01 or 02 number and usually count towards inclusive minutes |
| 084 (including 0845) | Older national-rate service numbers | The caller pays their own provider's access charge plus a service charge set by the number's owner |
| 087 (including 0870) | Older service and information lines | Access charge plus a service charge, as with 084 |
| 09 | Premium rate services | Higher service charges and extra regulation; not usually suited to customer service lines |
We do not quote call charges here: the caller's cost depends on their own provider, and the service charge on 084 and 087 numbers depends on the tariff the number sits on. Ofcom publishes the current rules and the charges that apply to each range.
Some organisations prefer 03 or 0800 numbers for customer lines because callers can see straight away that the call will not cost them extra. If you are reviewing your numbers as part of a move to BT Cloud Voice, it is a good moment to decide whether an older number still suits you.
Can I bring my non-geographic number to BT Cloud Voice?
Non-geographic numbers are checked case by case. Unlike numbers beginning 01 or 02, which BT says can be ported to BT Cloud Voice, the answer for a non-geographic number depends on:
- Who holds the number range and which provider currently hosts your number
- The tariff the number is on, particularly for 084 and 087 numbers that carry a service charge
- Your contract with the current provider, including any notice period
- Whether the number is in use for something else, such as a marketing campaign that has to keep working throughout
We check portability with the current provider before you order, and we tell you plainly if a number cannot move. Where a number cannot be ported, it may be possible to keep it with its current provider and have its calls delivered to a BT Cloud Voice number instead. We confirm the options for each number.
As with any port, do not cancel the number or the account it sits on until the move is confirmed. See numbers and porting for how go-live day works.
Routing non-geographic numbers on BT Cloud Voice
Once the number reaches BT Cloud Voice, you can treat it like your main number:
- Auto Attendant: greet callers and offer a keypad menu, with different menus in and out of hours
- Call queues: hold callers in a queue with announcements while agents log in and out, using Call Centre ACD
- Hunt groups: ring a team of phones together or in turn
- Time and holiday schedules: send calls to voicemail or an out-of-hours message overnight and on bank holidays
- Separate routing per number: a freephone sales number and an 03 support number can lead to different teams on the same system
If you run campaigns on different numbers, Call Analytics reporting can help you see how calls arrive and how many are missed.
Calls out to non-geographic numbers
Your users will also dial non-geographic numbers, for example suppliers' 0800 and 03 lines. How those calls are charged depends on your call plan. BT's Cloud Voice features and plans guide defines UK inland calls as calls to 01, 02, 03 and some 05 numbers; we confirm what your chosen plan covers when we quote, and you can ask us for a quote at any time.
How Forever Communications Limited helps
We review every number on your account, including the non-geographic ones that are often forgotten because they arrive on a separate bill. For each one we check whether it can move to BT Cloud Voice, what the alternatives are, and how calls should be routed once it is live.
Contact us with a list of your numbers and we will check them.
Why buy BT Cloud Voice from Forever Communications Limited
Forever Communications Limited is part of Forever Group and a BT Business Partner. We supply, set up and support BT Cloud Voice for UK businesses, schools, charities and public sector organisations, from a handful of users to multi-site teams.
- A named partner who plans your numbers, call flows, user feature packs and handsets with you
- Number porting managed for you, timed to avoid downtime
- Connectivity checked first, so call quality is right from day one, with BT business broadband and BTnet available if you need it
- Help with the digital switchover, including alarms, lifts, card terminals and other analogue lines
- Training and ongoing support for the apps, Microsoft Teams integration, moves, adds, changes and faults
BT Cloud Voice is a business service. We do not sell consumer or home phone products.
Want a BT Cloud Voice quote for your business?
Tell Forever Communications what you need and we will come back to you by email with options, not a hard sell.
Contact usFrequently asked questions
Can I port an 0800 number to BT Cloud Voice?
It is checked case by case. Freephone numbers can often move, but it depends on the current provider, the range holder and your contract. We check before you order and tell you the options if a direct port is not possible.
Are 03 numbers geographic?
No. 03 numbers are non-geographic, but calls to them cost no more than calls to 01 or 02 numbers and usually count towards inclusive minutes. They are popular with businesses that want one national number.
What is the difference between 0845 and 03 numbers?
Calls to 0845 numbers carry a service charge set by the number's owner on top of the caller's access charge. Calls to 03 numbers cost no more than ordinary geographic calls, which is why some organisations offer an 03 number instead.
Can a non-geographic number ring an auto attendant?
Yes. On BT Cloud Voice it can be routed to an Auto Attendant, a hunt group, a call queue or a user, with different routing out of hours.