Can I Use VoIP if the Service Does Not Offer My Area Code?

Q: I live in Council Bluffs, Iowa which is not on the list of cities to which I would have my number assigned for VOIPo service. Is this a problem?

Source: teesha dunn, via flickr

A: For a couple of reasons, no, your location should not be a problem. I'm not sure which list of cities you're looking at, but on the VOIPo site, I do see Council Bluffs, Iowa currently listed as an available location.

Even if VOIPo does not offer new numbers in the Council Bluffs area, you should still be able to use the service. The available locations really only control what area code a new, VoIP-only number begins with. If you port in your existing phone number, you keep your current area code, but if you choose to select a new phone number, you can generally pick a number with any area code available, regardless of your physical location. If it's important to you to have a number with your local area code, check with the provider to see if any are currently available. Sometimes area codes become back-ordered, but may be available again in a few days or weeks. As an alternative, if you currently have standard phone service, consider moving over your existing phone number to VoIP service.

VoIP's area code flexibility can actually be a very useful feature. Some people pick a non-local number so that far-away friends and family members can call them without paying long-distance charges, for example. With virtual numbers, generally offered for an extra fee, VoIP users can even select several numbers in different area codes, all of which will ring through to the same phone line. Most of our reviewed VoIP options can provide virtual numbers, including our top picks, Vonage, VOIPo, Phone Power, and Phone.com.

Want to know more about VoIP area codes? Check out this previous post on choosing an area code with Vonage or head over to the VoIP FAQs.

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