by 21st Webb LTD | Jun 15, 2026 | Servcies, VoIP
One of the biggest advantages of VoIP is that it is not tied to a single physical phone line in the same way as a traditional landline. For small businesses, this can make a major difference. Calls can be handled through desk phones, mobile apps, softphones or other compatible devices, helping your team stay reachable whether they are in the office, working from home or visiting customers.
VoIP can also give small businesses access to features that make them appear more professional. Instead of relying on a basic answerphone, businesses can use voicemail to email, call forwarding, conference calling, additional numbers and call recording options. 21st Webb’s IP Telephony packages have previously highlighted features including unlimited calls to UK landlines and mobiles, voicemail to email, conference calling, mobile apps, handset options, additional UK area code numbers and call recording add-ons.
Another benefit is scalability. With an old landline setup, adding new lines or changing how calls flow around the business can be slow or expensive. With VoIP, it is usually much easier to adapt the system as your business changes. If you add a new member of staff, open a second location or want calls to reach mobiles during busy periods, a hosted VoIP system can be configured around how your business actually works.
VoIP also pairs well with modern broadband services. As traditional phone-line-based services are withdrawn, many businesses will move to broadband products such as SoGEA or FTTP, which provide internet access without relying on an old analogue phone service. 21st Webb also offers business broadband options including SoGEA and FTTP packages, making it easier to plan both connectivity and calling together.
For many small UK businesses, the question is no longer whether VoIP is a useful upgrade. The better question is which VoIP setup is right for your business. A small team may need a simple hosted phone package, while a larger or more customer-facing business may benefit from call routing, multiple numbers, call recording and mobile app access.
Upgrade your business phone setup with 21st Webb VoIP and IP Telephony, and ask us which package best fits your team.
by 21st Webb LTD | Jun 8, 2026 | Servcies, VoIP
The PSTN switch-off is not just a technical change happening in the background. For small UK businesses, it could directly affect how customers contact you, how your staff communicate, and how certain connected services operate. If your business still uses a traditional landline, ISDN line, fax machine, alarm line, card terminal, door entry system or lift phone, it is important to understand what may be affected.
The UK is moving away from the old analogue phone network and towards modern IP-based communication. BT Business states that services which cannot be moved automatically will stop working from 31 January 2027 unless they are moved to a suitable IP technology solution. For small businesses, leaving this until the last minute could mean unnecessary disruption, rushed decisions or avoidable downtime.
This is where VoIP becomes a practical replacement for the traditional business landline. Instead of relying on legacy copper phone infrastructure, VoIP uses your broadband connection to make and receive calls. Your business can still have a professional phone number, but with more flexibility around how calls are answered, routed and managed.
For example, a small office might want desk phones for staff, while a mobile team may prefer apps on smartphones. A shop may want a single main number with voicemail to email, while a growing business may need multiple numbers, call routing and call recording. 21st Webb’s IP Telephony offering is built around this kind of flexibility, with hosted VoIP systems positioned as a business communications platform.
Switching before the deadline gives your business time to test, adjust and improve your setup. Rather than treating the PSTN switch-off as a forced migration, it can be used as an opportunity to make your phone system more professional, scalable and suitable for modern working.
Need help planning your move away from landlines? Speak to 21st Webb about VoIP, broadband readiness and business communications.
by 21st Webb LTD | Jun 1, 2026 | Servcies, VoIP
For many small UK businesses, the office landline has been a reliable part of day-to-day operations for years. Customers know the number, staff know how to use it, and it has simply become part of the way the business runs. But with the UK’s traditional phone network being retired, many businesses are now asking the same question: should I switch my business from a landline to VoIP?
The short answer is yes — and for most businesses, the sooner you start planning, the better. BT has confirmed that services relying on the old PSTN network will need to move to an IP-based alternative before 31 January 2027, or they may stop working or be moved to a limited service. This includes traditional phone lines and other services that depend on legacy analogue connectivity.
VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, allows your business phone service to run over your internet connection rather than a traditional copper phone line. For a small business, this can mean more flexibility, easier call handling, better remote working options, and access to features that would often have been expensive or complicated on older landline systems.
At 21st Webb, we offer IP Telephony and VoIP services designed to help businesses modernise their communications without making the process confusing. Our VoIP options can support useful business features such as voicemail to email, conference calling, mobile apps, handset options, additional UK numbers and call recording add-ons.
If your business still depends on one or more landlines, now is the right time to review how you use your phones. Whether you are a sole trader, shop, office, trades business, consultancy, hospitality venue or small team, switching to VoIP can help you prepare for the PSTN switch-off while improving the way your business handles calls.
Prepare your business for the future with 21st Webb VoIP and IP Telephony, or contact 21st Webb to discuss the best VoIP package for your business.
by 21st Webb LTD | May 25, 2026 | Hosted Unifi Controller, Microsoft 365, Servcies, VPN, Web Hosting
By now, the answer to “what do I need to set up a professional online presence for my new business?” should be clearer. You need a reliable website, professional email, secure online access, and the right tools to help your business operate efficiently. But a truly professional setup should not only work for where your business is today; it should also support where your business is going next.
As your business grows, your digital needs may become more advanced. You might need better website performance, more email accounts, additional Microsoft 365 licences, secure remote working, managed network access, cloud storage, or bespoke web-based systems. Planning for growth early helps prevent your business from outgrowing its technology too quickly.
This is where working with one provider can be especially valuable. Instead of treating your website, email, hosting, VPN, and network services as separate problems, 21st Webb can help bring these elements together into a more joined-up business technology setup. That means fewer disconnected systems, clearer support, and a more consistent experience as your business expands.
For businesses that need managed network infrastructure, 21st Webb’s Hosted UniFi Controller service can also support professional network management across offices, venues, shops, hospitality sites, and other business locations. Combined with services such as Web Hosting, Microsoft 365, and VPN access, it forms part of a wider digital foundation for modern businesses.
Setting up a professional online presence is not about buying one product and hoping for the best. It is about building a reliable foundation: your website, your communication, your security, and the systems that help your business operate. With the right setup from the beginning, your new business can look professional, work efficiently, and grow with confidence.
by 21st Webb LTD | May 18, 2026 | Servcies, VPN
After setting up your website and professional email, the next question is how to keep your business secure. A professional online presence is not only about looking credible; it is also about protecting your systems, data, and customer trust. New businesses often rely on laptops, mobile phones, public Wi-Fi, cloud platforms, and remote access, all of which can introduce security risks if they are not managed carefully.
A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, can be a valuable part of your business security setup. It helps protect internet traffic by creating an encrypted connection, which is especially useful when working away from the office, using public Wi-Fi, travelling, or accessing business tools remotely. For modern businesses, where work often happens from multiple locations, this extra layer of protection can make a real difference.
VPN services can also help businesses maintain more consistent and private access to online resources. Whether you are checking emails in a café, updating your website while travelling, or accessing internal tools from home, a VPN can reduce exposure and help keep business activity more secure. It is not a replacement for good passwords, multi-factor authentication, or secure devices, but it is a useful part of a wider online security approach.
21st Webb’s VPN Service is designed to support users who want safer, more private internet access. For new businesses, it can be a practical way to add an extra layer of protection to everyday online working, especially for owners and staff who are regularly on the move.
By this stage, your business has the essentials: a website, professional email, productivity tools, and secure online access. The next step is thinking about reliability, scalability, and how your digital setup can support growth as your business becomes more established.
