Missed calls when staff work from home
The office phone rings unanswered while your team works from home in Earley or Woodley. A cloud system rings their laptops and mobiles instead.
Business Phone Systems in Reading
Reading IT Support installs and runs cloud phone systems across Reading and the Thames Valley. You usually keep your 0118 numbers, and we move you off copper before the switch-off.
Get a phone system quote or call 0118 359 2276- Keep your 0118 numbersPorted from your current provider
- Any deviceDesk phone, laptop or mobile app
- Ready for the switch-offOff copper before January 2027
- Office hoursMon to Fri, 8am to 5pm
The short answer
What is a cloud phone system?
A cloud phone system runs your business calls over the internet instead of copper lines. Your numbers and call menus work on desk phones, computers and mobile apps wherever staff get online.
- Number porting for your existing 0118 numbers
- Desk phones plus desktop and mobile apps
- Microsoft Teams calling
- Call queues, hunt groups and call menus (IVR)
- Call recording and call reports
- Closed-hours and holiday call routing
What's included
What our cloud phone systems include
Every system we install covers the features below. We switch on the ones you need and leave the rest out of the way.
Number porting
We port your 0118 numbers, so customers keep dialling the number on your vans and website. We can add new local or national numbers.
Desk phones and apps
Staff use a desk handset, a laptop softphone or the mobile app. Outgoing calls show your business number, so personal mobile numbers stay private.
Microsoft Teams calling
If staff already work in Teams, we can put external calls in the same app. Our Microsoft Teams support page explains how.
Call queues, hunt groups and menus
A short menu sends callers to sales, accounts or support, and hunt groups ring phones in order or all at once.
Call recording and reports
Record calls for training or disputes and see call activity in one dashboard. It links to CRMs including Salesforce, Zoho and Zendesk.
Closed-hours routing
After 5pm, calls go to voicemail, an on-call mobile or an answering service. Bank holiday and closure schedules switch over by themselves.
Phones in Reading
Phone systems built around how Reading works
Your 0118 number tells callers you're local. These are the phone setups we see most across Reading and the M4 corridor.
RG1Town centre & Abbey Quarter
Older buildings around the Abbey Quarter and Market Place often run alarms, lift phones and faxes on copper. We trace and move each line.
RG2 · M4 J11Green Park & Reading International Business Park
Multi-tenant buildings by junction 11 run voice, email and files over one connection. We size the line, prioritise voice and add a backup link.
Elizabeth line · GWRStaff on the train to London
Staff on the Elizabeth line or GWR take office calls on the mobile app, and outgoing calls still show your 0118 number.
RG7 · RG31 · M4 J12Theale & Calcot
Trade and logistics firms off junction 12 take orders early and late. Closed-hours rules send urgent calls to whoever is on call.
Problems we fix
Four phone problems we fix for Reading firms
Copper lines being withdrawn
Openreach aims to close the analogue network by the end of January 2027. We trace every line and move it before then.
Paying rental on lines nobody uses
Many businesses still pay for ISDN channels, old fax lines and dead numbers. We cancel the spare lines and port the numbers you keep.
Calls breaking up on weak broadband
Voice needs a steady connection more than a fast one. We test your line, put calls first on the router and upgrade where needed.
Line and number audit
We list your numbers, lines and handsets, plus anything else still on copper, such as alarms and card terminals.
Call flow and quote
We map who answers which calls, design your menus and queues, and send a written quote.
Porting and install
We order the number port, set up handsets and apps, and show your staff how to use them before the switch.
Support and changes
Your staff call one number for new users, menu changes or faults.
Frequently asked questions
Business phone system questions from Reading firms
Can I keep my 0118 number if I move to a cloud phone system?
Yes, in most cases. We port your existing 0118 numbers from your current provider to the new system, so customers keep dialling the same number. A few numbers on older or specialist services need extra checks, and we confirm each one before you commit.
What happens when the analogue phone network switches off?
Openreach aims to close the analogue PSTN and ISDN network by the end of January 2027, and new analogue lines are no longer on sale. Any service still running on copper, including phones, alarms and some card machines, needs to move to a digital line or cloud service before then.
Do I need new desk phones?
Not always. Some existing handsets work with a cloud system, but older analogue and ISDN phones do not. We check your current kit during the audit, and many staff choose the desktop or mobile app in place of a handset.
Will a cloud phone system work with Microsoft Teams?
Yes. We can connect your business numbers to Microsoft Teams so staff make and take external calls inside the Teams app on their laptop or mobile. Staff who prefer a handset on the desk can have one on the same system.
What internet connection does a cloud phone system need?
You need a stable business broadband line or leased line with enough upload capacity for your busiest hour of calls. Each call uses little bandwidth, but it needs a steady connection. We test your current line and advise on an upgrade or backup if it falls short.
What happens to my alarm and card machine lines?
They need checking before the switch-off. Many intruder alarms, lift emergency phones and older card terminals in Reading still dial out over copper. We list each one, then work with you and the equipment supplier to move it to a digital or 4G connection.
What happens to my calls if the internet goes down?
Calls still reach you. The system runs in the cloud, so if your office connection fails, calls divert to mobiles or another site, and staff can answer on the mobile app over 4G or 5G. We can also add a backup connection for the office.