What are different types of phone lines?

From technology point of view, phone lines are divided into 3 types: Landline, Mobile, and VoIP, as described below:

1. Landline Phone - A landline phone is a phone that connects to the traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) through physical telephone lines. It must be used at a fixed location like home or office.

2. Mobile Phone - A mobile phone is a phone that connects to the cellular network using the wireless technology. It can be moved to any place that is covered by the cellular network.

3. VoIP Phone - A VoIP phone is a phone that connects to the Internet using the computer network technology. It can be moved to any place where Internet is accessible.

In some countries or regions, phone numbers for landline, mobile and VoIP phones are assigned with different groups of phone numbers. For example, Singapore assigns:

• Phone numbers starting with 6 for landline phones.
• Phone numbers starting with 8 or 9 for mobile phones.
• Phone numbers starting with 3 for VoIP phones.

Another example is France. It assigns:

• Phone number area codes of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 for landline phones.
• Phone number area codes of 6 and 7 for mobile phones.
• Phone number area codes of 9 for VoIP phones.
• Phone number area codes of 8 for special phone lines.

Assigning different groups of phone numbers for different types of phone lines has a problem for phone users. You want to switch from one type of phone line service to another, you can not keep your old phone number. You must give up your old phone number and get a new phone number.

In some other countries or regions, landline, mobile and VoIP phones are sharing the same phone number pools. This allows you to keep your old phone number when switching from one type of phone line service to another. For example, United States allows landline, mobile and VoIP phones to share the sample phone number pools.

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