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Pickle inbound numbers allow your business to receive calls on 13, 1300 or 1800 numbers with flexible routing, reliable delivery and detailed call reporting.
This article provides a high-level overview of how inbound numbers work, when to use them, and the key features available.
What Are Inbound Numbers?
Inbound numbers are non-geographic business phone numbers that let customers call you from anywhere in Australia.
They are not tied to a specific location and can be routed to many different destinations such as:
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Business landlines
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Mobile phones
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Cloud phone systems or call centres
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Multiple destinations for redundancy
Pickle provides inbound numbers with network-level routing and analytics, helping businesses manage calls more effectively.
Types of Inbound Numbers
Pickle offers three main types of inbound numbers:
13 Numbers
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Short, easy to remember
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Good for established brands
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Typically higher monthly service charges
1300 Numbers
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Widely used for general business enquiry lines
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Cost-effective and flexible
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Suitable for most businesses
1800 Numbers
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Free for most landline callers
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Improves accessibility for customers
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Business absorbs inbound call usage charges
Choosing the right type depends on your business goals and how you want callers to experience your service.
Learn more: Choosing between 13, 1300 and 1800 numbers
Key Features of Pickle Inbound Numbers
Flexible Call Routing
Inbound numbers can be routed using:
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Time & day rules — Route calls differently during business hours, after hours or weekends
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Geographic routing — Direct calls based on caller location (state, area or postcode)
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Overflow & failover — Redirect calls during peak volumes or outages
Routing happens in the network before calls reach your phone system.
Learn more: How inbound call routing works
IVR Menus & Announcements
You can play welcome greetings, instructions or interactive menus (e.g. “Press 1 for sales”) to guide callers before they connect.
Learn more: IVR menus and call announcements
Public Holiday & Special Date Handling
Inbound numbers can have special routing for public holidays, closures or events so calls are managed consistently without manual intervention.
Learn more: Public holidays & special date routing
Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery
Because routing is network-level, inbound numbers remain reachable even during:
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Internet outages
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Phone system issues
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Office closures
Failover rules automatically redirect calls to backup destinations.
Learn more: Business continuity & disaster recovery for inbound numbers
Reporting & Analytics
Pickle provides:
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Near-real-time dashboards
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Call volumes and patterns
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Answered vs missed calls
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Caller locations
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Hour-by-hour breakdowns
These reports help you optimise staffing, routing and performance.
Learn more: Understanding inbound call reports & analytics
Billing & Charge Transparency
Inbound numbers incur:
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Monthly service charges
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Usage (call) charges
Charges vary by type of number and call characteristics but are clearly itemised on your invoice.
Learn more: How inbound calls are charged
When Businesses Use Inbound Numbers
Inbound numbers are ideal if you want to:
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Present a national contact number
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Use routing to improve customer experience
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Share calls across multiple teams or locations
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Support marketing campaigns
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Improve reporting and operational insights
Whether you’re a small business or enterprise, inbound numbers help simplify how customers reach you.
Get Started
You can order a new inbound number or request a port directly through Pickle.
To get started:
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Choose the inbound number type you need (13, 1300 or 1800)
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Decide whether you want a new number or to port an existing number
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Provide your preferred call routing details
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Add any announcements or IVR menus (if required)
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Review and activate your inbound service
You can begin this process online here:
👉 https://thinkpickle.com.au/products/virtual-phone-numbers
If you’re unsure which number type is right, or need help planning routing before you submit your order, Pickle Support can assist.
Related Articles
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What are inbound numbers (13, 1300 & 1800)?