If you're a VoIP business customer, you are privy to something that many traditional telephone customers aren't. Having local numbers allows a business to present a hometown appeal that would otherwise be lost with an out-of-town or toll-free number. If you don't believe me, call up your neighborhood marketing company.

Just think about all of the marketing implications this has on a prospective client. Suppose you had to have your vehicle repaired. You start browsing the Internet for a local repair garage. You are naturally drawn to businesses that are associated with a telephone number that is inside your area code. But, it's not enough that they are listed in your same city. A lot of cities are very large; many cities have been assigned more than one telephone area code. Why would you drive fifteen miles if you could get the identical service only a few miles away?

Marketing is only one reason why local numbers are so important to a business; or an individual for that matter. Whenever you've moved in the past, it was very difficult, if not impossible, to keep the exact telephone number that you had at your previous address. Well, now, you don't have to abandon your local numbers. With modern technology (e.g., Local Number Port, a.k.a. LNP), you don't have to make this impossible decision.

As hard as they try, traditional telephone companies simply don't have the capability of porting a number to your new location. And once you move, you are stuck with the responsibility of re-printing all of your address labels, business cards and stationery. This can cost you a lot of money.

And while it is true that some local numbers are ineligible for porting, this is a very rare occurrence. However, we strongly recommend that you check with your VoIP service provider about porting your current telephone number to their system. There may be some restrictions or contractual obligations that you must meet in order to transfer your number.

Once you've ported your number, you get to experience the biggest reward yet. You don't need to call up all of your friend and family and repeat the same telephone number numerous times. This is why losing your telephone number effects you, your business and the ones you love. Everyone has that one friend or family member who can't memorize a telephone number to save their lives. So, the beauty of a VoIP phone system is that you don't have to fret over abandoning your beloved telephone number behind.