Phone numbers are the foundation of your ReliaRing phone system. This guide walks you through buying your first one.
Types of numbers
| Type | Best for |
|---|---|
| Local | A local presence in a specific area code |
| Toll-free | Customer service lines (800, 888, 877, and similar) |
Some local numbers can also send and receive text messages. You'll see whether texting is supported when you choose a number.
Buy a number
Step 1: Open the number search
- In the sidebar, open Phone Numbers.
- Click Buy Numbers.
Step 2: Search
- Choose your Country (United States or Canada).
- Choose a Type (local or toll-free).
- Enter a preferred area code — for example 416 for Toronto or 646 for New York.
- Optionally search for specific digits or patterns, then run the search.
Step 3: Choose and purchase
- Browse the results and pick a number you like.
- Review the number and the monthly cost shown.
- Follow the prompts to complete the purchase. The number activates right away.
Prices vary by number type and region. To check current pricing, use Billing → Rate Lookup or see the pricing page on reliaring.com.
Basic settings after you buy
Open the number from Phone Numbers → Your Numbers to configure:
- Friendly name — a label like "Main Office Line" so it's easy to recognize.
- Call handling — where calls should go: a person's extension, a ring group, a voice menu (auto-attendant), or voicemail.
- Outbound caller ID — whether this number is shown when your team calls out (set in Settings → Caller ID).
Don't forget E911
A new number is covered by an emergency address automatically: a number assigned to a person uses that person's emergency registration, and any other number uses its trunk default or the company default. Check it on the number's Emergency registration card, or on Emergency (E911) → Coverage, and click Change if the number is used at a different address. See Registering and Updating Your Emergency Address.
Already have a number?
If you want to keep a number you already use, you can transfer it in instead of buying a new one. Go to Phone Numbers → Porting to start a transfer. Your current provider stays active until the transfer completes. For the full walkthrough, see Transferring a number in.