A UK virtual landline number for receiving prison calls
A virtual landline number is a UK geographic number — starting 01 or 02 — with no physical line behind it. With BluePhone, calls to it ring the BluePhone app on your iPhone or Android phone.
Can a prisoner call a virtual landline number?
They can call only numbers the prison approves for their phone list. BluePhone provides a UK geographic 01/02 number that receives calls in an app; it does not forward the call to another phone number. You must explain how it works accurately. The prison decides whether to approve it, and approval is not guaranteed.
Follow the PIN-list approval steps and read how incoming calls reach the app. You need an internet connection on your iPhone or Android phone; no eSIM is required.
What does a prison landline number cost?
BluePhone costs £15/month or £149/year. Prison call credit is paid separately by the prisoner. In public prisons in England and Wales, the published weekday rate is 2.48p/min to UK landlines versus 5.50p/min to mobiles, with a 10p minimum per call. This does not mean every household saves money after paying for a subscription.
Compare the call rates and your combined monthly cost. If you already have a suitable landline, you may not need a paid app service.
What you get with BluePhone
- Your own UK geographic 01/02 number, used only by your account.
- Calls in the BluePhone app over Wi-Fi or mobile data, in the UK or abroad.
- Call history and saved contacts.
- No BluePhone minute allowance.
What it is built for
BluePhone is designed for families receiving calls from prison. Prison call credit is charged at a lower rate for calls to UK geographic landlines than to mobiles, so a landline-style number can make a prisoner’s credit go further. The prison checks the number and decides whether to approve it.
What it does not do
It does not make outgoing calls, does not forward calls to another number, does not support emergency calls and cannot be ported to another provider. BluePhone is built for one job: receiving calls from prison.
- Your loved one calls from prisonThey dial your BluePhone number from the prison phone, once it is on their approved list.
- Your own UK 01/02 numberA geographic landline-style number, assigned only to your account.
- BluePhoneFinds the account the number belongs to and rings that account’s app.
- The BluePhone app ringsOver Wi-Fi or mobile data. You answer like a normal call.
No second mobile or landline telephone number is used as a forwarding destination.
Questions
Can I choose my area code?
Numbers are assigned automatically from our available UK geographic numbers. If you would like a number from a particular UK area, contact us and we will check availability; we cannot guarantee a particular area code.
Can I make calls from my virtual landline?
Not with BluePhone. It receives incoming calls only.
Can I keep the number if I cancel?
No. When a subscription ends the number is released, and it cannot be ported to another provider.
Related guides
See the BluePhone app
Screens from the BluePhone iPhone app, taken on BluePhone’s own test account. The Android app is available on Google Play.
Get your own UK number
£15/month or £149/year. iPhone and Android. No eSIM required. Incoming calls only. The prison decides whether to approve the number.
