Updated September 2026
Can your business landline number ring on your mobile?
Yes. You can usually send calls to a mobile by forwarding them, or move the number to a hosted VoIP service whose app makes and receives calls. Those options look similar to a caller but work differently for you.
Choose the setup by what you need
| Need | Likely fit | Check before ordering |
|---|---|---|
| Only answer landline calls on one mobile | Call forwarding from the current service | Forwarded-call charges, caller-ID behaviour and what happens if the old line closes |
| Call out showing the business number | Hosted VoIP with a mobile app | Outbound caller-ID support, app compatibility and mobile-data use |
| Ring several people or devices | Hosted VoIP with a ring group or queue | Per-user charges, simultaneous calls, voicemail and out-of-hours routing |
| Keep physical desk phones too | Hosted VoIP with compatible IP phones | Whether handsets are supplied, rented, locked or reusable with another provider |
Forwarding is not the same as moving the number
With forwarding, the original telephone service remains live and sends incoming calls elsewhere. It can be a quick interim arrangement, but it does not by itself let a mobile place outgoing calls using the business number. A VoIP app can normally handle both directions, subject to the provider's features and configuration.
Can you keep the existing number?
Ofcom says customers moving to a digital landline can keep their phone number. A change of provider may involve a number port, so obtain written confirmation that the exact number is portable before committing. Give the new provider the account name and service address exactly as they appear on the current bill, and disclose any broadband, secondary numbers or other services on the same account.
Business number ports can have provider-specific requirements. Follow the receiving provider's instructions and agree how calls will be handled during the change rather than cancelling the old service yourself.
Six questions to put to a provider
- Will incoming calls ring the mobile app, the mobile network, or both?
- Will outgoing calls display the business number?
- Can more than one person answer, and how many calls can run at once?
- What are all monthly, call, porting and exit charges?
- What happens if broadband, mobile data or mains power fails?
- Can the number and any purchased handsets move to another provider later?
Do not move alarms or payment equipment blindly
A voice number may share a line with an alarm, lift phone, door-entry system, fax or payment terminal. Moving the number does not prove that this equipment will work over VoIP. GOV.UK advises businesses to identify connected devices and confirm compatibility with the equipment supplier or manufacturer; an adaptor, replacement or separate mobile connection may be needed.
Plan for loss of power or internet
Digital calling relies on powered equipment and a working connection. Decide whether mobile-network fallback is sufficient, or whether the router, network equipment and desk phones need battery backup. Ofcom's free minimum one-hour backup requirement is aimed at customers who depend on a landline to contact emergency services and lack a working mobile or reliable signal; do not assume it is a complete business-continuity plan.
A simple option to compare
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Sources
- Ofcom: Your landline is going digital, updated 26 August 2026.
- GOV.UK: UK transition from analogue to digital landlines.
This is general information, not a guarantee that a particular number, device or service can be transferred. Confirm the details directly with the relevant providers and equipment suppliers.