A UK 0800 number is a type of non-geographic "Freephone" number regulated by Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator. When customers call an 0800 number, the call is completely free for them — whether calling from a UK mobile or landline. The business receiving the call pays a small per-minute rate for incoming calls. 0800 numbers have been free from UK mobiles since July 2015 under Ofcom's mandatory regulations.

Yes, absolutely. Since July 2015, Ofcom mandated that all 0800 and 0808 numbers must be free to call from all UK mobile phones, as well as from UK landlines. This applies to every UK network — EE, O2, Vodafone, Three, and any MVNO. Your customers will never be charged to call your 0800 number, regardless of their mobile tariff, whether they're on contract, pay-as-you-go, or a SIM-only plan.

New 0800 numbers are typically activated within 1–4 hours of your order being confirmed and payment processed. Once active, you can configure your call routing settings immediately through the Aancall portal. In many cases, your number is live the same business day you order it. If you're porting an existing 0800 number from another provider, this process typically takes 5–10 business days, though your existing number continues to work normally throughout the transfer.

Yes. You can port (transfer) your existing 0800 number to us at no additional charge. We handle the entire porting process on your behalf, liaising directly with your current provider. The process typically takes 5–10 business days, and your number will continue to work normally throughout the transfer period. There is zero downtime — you will not miss a single call during the switch.

Absolutely — and this is one of our most common use cases. Many of our customers are US, Australian, Canadian, and European companies that want to offer their UK customers a free, local-looking number to call. Your 0800 number can route calls to any phone number in the world: a US mobile, an Australian office, or a VoIP system anywhere on the planet. Your UK customers call for free; your team answers from wherever they are in the world.

No — absolutely no hardware is required. Your 0800 number is a virtual number that simply routes calls to your existing phones. Whether you want calls forwarded to your mobile phone, your existing office landline, or a cloud VoIP system, everything is managed through our online portal. You can also download the Aancall softphone app to receive and make calls using your 0800 number directly on your laptop or smartphone, from anywhere in the world.