MyNetFone, a provider of hosted voice and data communications services, has announced that it has surpassed 230,000 phone numbers ported into the cloud.

Cloud telephony is increasingly gaining traction in combination with number porting, a service that enables users to retain their phone number regardless of location within Australia when they switch to a VoIP-based phone service.

“As the cloud becomes more understood and accepted, we’re seeing far greater interest in cloud-based telephony, using Voice over IP,” says MyNetFone chief executive Rene Sugo.

“Number Porting makes it quick and simple to switch from copper to cloud, and this is reflected in the ever increasing volume of phone numbers that we move into the cloud and host on our network.”

Cloud telephony, also known as hosted or virtual phone systems, is based on VoIP technology. Essentially it uses the internet to carry voice calls and can deliver big savings and useful included features to residential users. With increasing uptake of non-landline internet such as Cable, Naked DSL and now NBN, it is much more efficient and cost effective to use these fast internet connections for voice as well as data.

“Once you move your number into the cloud, you can keep the same number regardless of where you might move in the future,” Rene adds.

“State phone codes such as 02 for New South Wales and 03 for Victoria used to be tied to physical phone exchanges, but our new-generation network doesn’t care where you are located. It can assign any phone number to any destination. In addition, using a computer-based softphone or a MyNetFone mobile app, users can call Australia from overseas at local call rates if they have an Australian number of their VoIP service.”

MyNetFone can typically port an existing copper network phone number to a VoIP cloud service in six to ten days. Once the phone number is moved away, the landline is automatically disconnected, allowing customers to save up to $400 a year on line rental. Therefore, it is recommended that households ensure they have access to a non-landline dependent internet connection such a naked DSL or cable.

“Gone are the days when it would take Telcos weeks to get your home or business phone connected due to complex manual processes. With our unique number porting technology we can have it set up in a matter of days and your number will stay the same even if you move to another state,” Rene says.

Connecting is to VoIP easy ­after picking a VoIP plan, a simple VoIP adaptor is plugged in between the modem and a user’s existing phone handset. The way the phone is used stays exactly the same, but the calls are sent over the internet instead of the landline and the cost is up to 60% less.

To make it even easier for people to switch to VoIP, MyNetFone is offering free number porting to its VoIP service and $20 bonus credit for existing and new Residential customers until 8pm AEST on 30 June 2013.

MyNetFone offers a wide range of residential VoIP and business Virtual PBX plans allowing customers to port their existing numbers to the cloud and benefit from the flexibility of cloud telephony.