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Hosted Telephony Solutions

Flexible business phone systems without the cost and hassle of on-site infrastructure.

What is a hosted telephony system?

A hosted telephony system is a cloud-based business phone system that allows you to make, receive and manage calls over the internet, without the need for on-site hardware.

Instead of relying on traditional phone lines and equipment, your system is hosted securely by a provider and accessed through desk phones, laptops or mobile devices. This gives your teams the flexibility to work from anywhere, while maintaining a consistent, professional communication setup.

Hosted telephony solutions also include features such as call routing, voicemail, reporting and integrations with other business systems, helping you manage communication more effectively as your business grows.

What is a hosted telephony system?

A hosted telephony system is a cloud-based business phone system that allows you to make, receive and manage calls over the internet, without the need for on-site hardware.

Instead of relying on traditional phone lines and equipment, your system is hosted securely by a provider and accessed through desk phones, laptops or mobile devices. This gives your teams the flexibility to work from anywhere, while maintaining a consistent, professional communication setup.

Hosted telephony solutions also include features such as call routing, voicemail, reporting and integrations with other business systems, helping you manage communication more effectively as your business grows.

Analogue phone lines are being switched off in January 2027

Openreach estimates that around 1.5 million analogue lines are still running. In January 2027, the UK’s legacy analogue landline network (the PTSN) is being permanently switched off. Traditional copper wire connections are replaced by digital, internet-based voice services (VoIP).

If you’re still using these systems, or you’re not sure, reach out today for advice. The longer you wait, the more it’ll likely cost your business.

What a hosted telephony solution does for your business

The right hosted telephony system reduces cost, improves flexibility and makes day-to-day communication easier to manage. We’ll find you a solution with all the features you require, so you’re not compromising, and you get what you really need.

Answer calls from anywhere

Give your teams access to a full business phone system from any location, supporting remote and hybrid working.

Reduce hardware costs

Remove the need for on-site hardware and ongoing maintenance, helping lower upfront and long-term costs.

Voicemail to email

Messages are transcribed and sent to your inbox as written text, so you can read them without dialling in.

Business hours routing

Set your opening times once; calls outside them go to voicemail or divert to a mobile.

Call analytics and reporting

See how many calls came in, how many were answered, and how many hung up waiting.

CRM integrations

Connects to Teams, Salesforce, HubSpot and Microsoft 365, so the customer’s record opens as the phone rings.

Mobile and desktop apps

Staff dial out on the business number from their own phone, keeping personal numbers private.

AI call summaries

A written transcript and summary after every call, so nobody needs to take notes during the conversation.

How to compare hosted telephony suppliers

Many suppliers look practically identical on paper. They all promise reliability, flexibility and lower bills, and the demos all go well.

But you’ll start to notice the difference when it comes to customer service, installation, and contract renewals.

These are some of the questions we ask on our clients’ behalf. You should always have this list handy when you’re talking to a new supplier:

What to check

Ask them this

The answer you want

Uptime

“What uptime figures are in your contract, and what happens if you miss it?”

A written SLA guarantee saying how uptime is measured, what doesn’t count, and what money comes back.

Support

“Who answers at half eight on a Monday, and are they internal or external?”

Published response times, a named person to escalate to, and support included in the price.

Contract flexibility

“What happens if I need half as many people on it next year?”

Room to add and remove users, a clear exit, and all numbers confirmed in writing.

Integrations

“Does your solution integrate with X system we use?”

The integrations you need on the plan you’re buying, or an open API if you need something custom.

Hardware options

“Can I keep my handsets, and keep the company that carries our calls?”

Support for mainstream vendors like Poly, Yealink and Cisco, plus the option to keep your existing call contract.

What working with us looks like

Venn Group’s recruiters worked mainly from their mobiles. Every time a consultant left, their candidate conversations left with them. On top of that, they needed a new system that connected to a CRM the firm had built itself (not every platform comes with the custom APIs needed for this).

We shortlisted three suppliers. When the requirements changed partway through, we went back out to the market rather than pushing on with a list that no longer fitted. The system they chose puts business numbers on consultants’ mobiles, links to their CRM, and writes up calls automatically for coaching. We helped them not only reduce costs, but maintain records of all calls happening on behalf of their business.

“PrimeTel really went above and beyond to find a solution tailored to our specific needs. They made it easy to negotiate with our new vendor and ensured we could implement the new technology quickly.”

– Justin Paton, Head of IT, Venn Group

What your business looks like with hosted telephony

With a hosted telephony system, you’ve got four ways to answer the same call:

On a desk phone

A normal-looking phone on the desk, for people who want one. Most systems work with handsets from Poly, Yealink and Cisco, but we’ll check with you before suggesting telephony options.

On a laptop or computer

An app that turns a computer into a phone. Staff use a headset and get everything they’d have on a desk phone.

In a web browser

Nothing to install at all. Useful for temporary staff, contractors, and anyone whose computer is locked down by IT.

On a mobile

An app for iPhone and Android that makes and takes calls on the business number rather than the employee’s own. Their personal number stays private, and when they leave, the call history and contacts stay with you.

Frequently asked questions

What is a hosted telephony system and how does it work for businesses?

A hosted telephony system is a cloud-based phone system that allows businesses to manage calls over the internet rather than through traditional on-site infrastructure. Instead of installing and maintaining physical PBX hardware, the entire system is hosted and managed by a provider, with users accessing it through desk phones, laptops or mobile apps.

In practice, this means your business phone system becomes far more flexible. Calls can be routed intelligently, users can work from any location and features such as call reporting, voicemail and auto-attendants are managed through an online interface. Hosted telephony solutions are designed to adapt as your business grows, making them a long-term alternative to legacy systems.

What are the benefits of hosted telephony services compared to traditional phone systems?

Hosted telephony services offer some advantages over traditional phone systems, particularly in terms of flexibility, scalability and cost.

With a traditional system, businesses are tied to physical infrastructure, which can be expensive to install, maintain and upgrade. Hosted telephony removes that requirement, allowing businesses to access enterprise-level functionality without upfront capital investment.

It also enables remote and hybrid working, improves call handling through advanced routing and reporting, and allows businesses to scale quickly by adding or removing users as needed. Over time, this leads to lower operational costs and a more adaptable communication setup.

How do I choose the right hosted telephony provider in the UK?

Choosing the right hosted telephony provider in the UK involves more than comparing feature lists. While many providers offer similar functionality, there can be significant differences in reliability, call quality, support, pricing structures and long-term scalability.

Businesses should consider how well a solution integrates with existing systems, how it performs across multiple locations and whether it can support future growth. It’s also important to assess service levels, uptime guarantees and the level of support provided.

Running a structured comparison of hosted telephony providers helps ensure you’re selecting a solution that works in real-world conditions, not just in a sales demo.

What is the difference between hosted telephony and hosted IP telephony solutions?

Hosted telephony and hosted IP telephony solutions are closely related and often used interchangeably. Both refer to cloud-based phone systems that use Internet Protocol (IP) technology to deliver voice services.

The term “hosted IP telephony” emphasises the underlying technology, specifically that calls are transmitted over IP networks rather than traditional phone lines. “Hosted telephony” is a broader term that includes the full system, including features such as call management, reporting, integrations and user access.

In most business contexts, both terms describe modern cloud-based telephony systems that replace legacy PBX infrastructure.

Are hosted telephony solutions suitable for multi-site and growing businesses?

Yes, hosted telephony solutions are particularly well-suited to multi-site and growing organisations. Because the system is cloud-based, all users and locations can operate within a single, unified phone system, regardless of geography.

This makes it easier to standardise call handling, manage users centrally and maintain a consistent experience across different offices or regions. It also simplifies expansion, as new users or locations can be added without installing additional infrastructure.

For growing businesses, this flexibility is critical, as it allows the communication system to scale alongside the organisation without requiring major changes or reinvestment.

Testimonials

What are customers saying?

“My team was extremely impressed by how proactive and supportive PrimeTel were throughout the process. They offered us reliable, genuine expertise, and always went above and beyond to answer our questions. PrimeTel really made the whole experience feel streamlined, and easy.”

Shaun McKiernan Operations Manager at Thompsons Solicitors

“Working with PrimeTel was straightforward and genuinely valuable. They quickly understood what we needed, guided us through the options, and kept the process moving, helping us secure the right solution commercially and operationally. I’d happily recommend them to other organisations looking for a trusted technology advisor.”

Matt Philpot IT Manager at MJ Allen

“PrimeTel really went above and beyond to find a solution tailored to our specific needs. They made it easy to negotiate with our new vendor and ensured we could implement the new technology quickly.”

Justin Paton Head of IT at Venn Group

Contact Us

So much more than just consultancy; this is a partnership.

If you’re serious about making your investment in new tech work for you, it’s time for a conversation.