What is a business phone system?

A landline runs over dedicated copper or fiber phone infrastructure; VoIP carries calls over your internet connection. VoIP has become the default for business because it's cheaper, works from anywhere, and bundles features — call routing, voicemail transcription, easy forwarding, multiple numbers — that landlines charge extra for or can't do. Landlines mainly persist where internet reliability is poor.

You don't need hardware, but a dedicated business number is worth having even solo. A virtual number that rings your mobile separates work from personal life, lets you set business hours, and gives you somewhere to attach voicemail, forwarding, or an answering backup. It also means your personal number isn't printed on every invoice and van.

Yes. Number porting — moving your number to a new provider — is a standard, regulated process, and your number is yours to take. Ports usually take a few business days, during which calls keep working. Alternatively, you can leave the number where it is and simply forward it to the new system, which is faster and reversible.