Why does a local number matter?
A number with a local area code tells people you're a real business near them. A Wellington caller sees an 04 number and knows you're down the road, not a call centre somewhere. It's also the number your AI phone answers, so it's the front door to the whole thing.
With Prepaid.ai, the local number is part of every plan. You pick the country, and how quickly the number turns up depends on that country's rules.
A local business phone number, country by country
| Country | What the carrier asks for | When the number arrives |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Nothing | With your plan |
| Canada | Nothing | With your plan |
| New Zealand | Contact details and a physical address | After the carrier approves |
| Australia | Contact details, an address and a proof of address document | After the carrier approves |
| United Kingdom | Business details and two documents | After the carrier approves |
Carriers do change what they ask for. So the exact list for your number is read from the carrier at the time and shown in your dashboard when you get to that step.
United States. No regulatory documents. Choose your plan and your number is set up and attached to your AI.
Canada. Same as the US. No documents, and the number arrives with your plan.
New Zealand. The carrier wants your contact details and a physical address. It has to be a real street address in the area the number belongs to, so a PO box won't do. There's nothing to upload. The New Zealand pricing page has the plans in NZ dollars.
Australia. Contact details, your address, and one document that proves the address. Australian numbers are reviewed under the country's scam prevention rules, so expect a review rather than an instant yes. See the Australian pricing page.
United Kingdom. Some details about the business and two documents. Your dashboard tells you which ones before you upload anything. Plans are on the UK pricing page.
Why do some countries ask for documents at all?
Phone numbers are regulated, and every country sets its own rules for who can hold one. Several have tightened those rules to fight scam calls, which mostly comes down to proving a real person or business, at a real address, is behind each number.
The check is done by the phone carrier, not by us, and it follows the country's rules. We can't skip it. We wouldn't want to. What we can do is tell you clearly, before you rely on a number, what each country wants and how the process goes.
What verification looks like from your side
You choose a plan. If the country needs verification, you're told straight away what the carrier will ask for, by email and in your dashboard.
You fill in the details and upload any documents. Files go to private storage that only the verification process uses.
We send it to the carrier, and your dashboard shows that it's with them. That's useful: it means the next move is theirs, not yours, so you're not left wondering if you've missed something.
We check for the carrier's answer every night. If it's approved, your number is set up and attached to your AI in the same step, and the email names your new number. If it's rejected, the email gives the carrier's reason in its own words, so you can fix it and send it again.
None of this holds you up in the meantime. You can keep talking to your AI in the browser and tuning what it says while the carrier does its thing.
What do I do with the new number?
Use it. The local number that comes with your plan is the line your AI answers, so it should be the one customers find. Put it on your website, your Google listing, your invoices and the sign out front.
A separate business line has a quiet upside too. Your personal mobile stays personal. Customers ring the business, the AI answers every call, and the ones that need you are put through or flagged.
If you're just starting out, that's simple: the new number is your number. If you've been trading a while, swap it in wherever people look first and give regulars a heads up.
The local number is included in your plan, so there's nothing extra to pay for it.
What does a plan cost?
Each prepaid plan runs 30 days and includes a local number, the AI answering and a set of minutes. Prices are set in each country's own currency. In the US, Lite is US$29 for 100 minutes. The numbers page and the country pricing pages have the rest. Recharge before the plan ends and you keep your number.
Starting from scratch? How to set up an AI phone walks through the whole thing, number included.
FAQ
How long does verification take?
It depends on the carrier and the country. Your dashboard shows when it's with the carrier, and you get an email as soon as there's an answer.
What if my verification is rejected?
The email gives you the carrier's reason. Fix what it asked for and submit again.
Is the check the same for every business?
The carrier sets the list for each country and number type, and it can change. Your dashboard shows the current list for your number before you upload anything.
Do I lose my number if my plan ends?
Not straight away. After a plan lapses there's a 25-day grace period in which recharging keeps your number.
Can I try the AI before I verify anything?
Yes. During the 7-day free trial you talk to your AI in the browser, with no number and no card.
