---
title: "Phone Numbers"
description: "Buy or import numbers, choose SMS capability, assign agents, and manage inbound and outbound routing."
publishedAt: "2026-06-27"
modifiedAt: "2026-08-06"
category: "Channels"
tags: "Voicetta, phone numbers, routing, SIP, voice, SMS, import, countries"
navOrder: "25"
canonical: "https://voicetta.com/docs/phone-numbers"
---

# Phone Numbers

Phone numbers connect your agent to real voice calls.

Use **Phone numbers** to:

- buy a Voicetta number in supported countries,
- import a number you already own (Twilio, Vonage, Telnyx, or SIP),
- assign each line to an agent,
- enable inbound or outbound routing,
- prepare for live Guest traffic.

## Why it matters for your business

- **Save money:** route calls to an agent instead of missing them or staffing every hour manually.
- **Work faster:** buy or import and activate numbers from the app.
- **Standardize service:** each number can be linked to the correct agent and workflow.
- **Delight every Guest:** Guests call a real number and receive a consistent answer.

## Buy vs import

| Path | When to use |
|------|-------------|
| **Buy new number** | You want Voicetta to purchase and host the number for you. |
| **Import Existing Number** | You already own the number on Twilio, Vonage, your Telnyx account, or a SIP trunk. |

Import is **not** carrier porting (LOA/FOC). Imported numbers stay billed on your carrier. See [Import Existing Number](/docs/import-existing-number).

## Before you start

You need:

- an agent,
- a payment method (for buy),
- the country and number type you want (for buy),
- any required regulatory information for that country,
- a decision about inbound and outbound calling,
- a decision about SMS (see below).

## Buy a new number

1. Open **Phone numbers** → **Add** → buy flow.
2. Select the **country**. Voicetta shows countries with available inventory from the carrier — not a fixed short list.
3. Choose the number type (for example local or mobile) when offered.
4. Use **Require SMS** when you need SMS on that line (default is off).
5. Complete regulatory / identity requirements if shown.
6. Confirm monthly and upfront costs before purchase.
7. Assign the number to the correct agent.
8. Enable inbound routing.
9. Enable outbound routing only when you need outbound calls.
10. Test the number.

### Require SMS

Some countries sell **voice-only** numbers. Poland local inventory is a common example: voice is available, SMS often is not.

- **Require SMS off (default):** search includes voice-capable numbers, including voice-only inventory.
- **Require SMS on:** search only returns numbers that support voice and SMS.

If you buy a voice-only number, confirm SMS is not required for your workflow before going live.

### Regulatory requirements

Some countries require documents before ordering. Voicetta checks requirements for the selected country and guides you through verification when needed.

## Import an existing number

Open **Phone numbers** → **Add** → **Import Existing Number**, then choose Twilio, Vonage, Telnyx, or SIP.

Full steps: [Import Existing Number](/docs/import-existing-number).

Imported numbers show a source badge (Twilio, Vonage, Telnyx, or SIP) on the list.

## Manage numbers

On **Phone numbers** you can:

- filter by current agent or all workspace numbers,
- assign which agent answers each line,
- toggle inbound and outbound SIP routing,
- delete a number.

### Deleting numbers

- **Bought from Voicetta:** deletion cancels the subscription and releases the number from the platform carrier.
- **Imported:** deletion removes Voicetta routing and local records only. The number stays on your carrier account.

## Cost boundaries

Phone numbers can include:

- a monthly platform phone number fee,
- carrier or base number costs,
- possible upfront costs,
- voice usage costs during calls.

Review **Billing** and **Pricing** for the current values shown in your workspace.

## Common mistakes

- Buying a number before the agent is tested.
- Leaving **Require SMS** on when only voice inventory exists for that country.
- Forgetting regulatory requirements for some countries.
- Enabling outbound calls without checking [Calling Restrictions](/docs/calling-restrictions).
- Assigning the number to the wrong agent.
- Expecting import to port the number away from your carrier.

## Related pages

- [Import Existing Number](/docs/import-existing-number)
- [Inbound Calls](/docs/inbound-calls)
- [Outbound Calls](/docs/outbound-calls)
- [Billing, Wallet, and Pricing](/docs/billing-and-wallet)
- [Calling Restrictions](/docs/calling-restrictions)
- [SMS Channel](/docs/sms-channel)