> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.famulor.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Buying phone numbers

> Search, buy, and manage numbers through the platform marketplace

The platform includes a **number marketplace**: search available numbers by country and type, buy them in a click, and they are routed to your account's telephony automatically — no carrier account needed.

## How buying works

<Steps>
  <Step title="Search">
    Go to **Settings → Numbers → Add a number → Buy a number** and pick a country. When more than one number type is buyable, or you have a workspace/user regulatory bundle, tabs appear above the list (Local, Mobile, and your bundle name). A single type with only a global unlock shows every available number with no tabs — same as before.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Complete regulatory requirements (if any)">
    Many countries legally require identity or address verification before a number can be activated — see below.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Buy">
    The monthly price and any setup fee are shown up front. Complete the secure checkout. The number remains pending and cannot receive or place calls until payment is confirmed.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Payment-confirmed activation">
    A verified payment event provisions routing and activates the number. Failed, expired, or unpaid purchases automatically release the held number and grant no call access.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Assign an assistant">
    Point the number at an assistant — inbound calls are answered from that second on. The same number can be used as outbound caller ID.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Country availability & pricing

Available countries and number types are shown in the marketplace. It sells **local, mobile, and national** numbers; **toll-free is not currently sold**. The checkout shows the monthly price and any one-time setup fee before purchase. Prices differ by country and number type.

## Regulatory bundles

Some countries and number types require **identity verification** before you can buy. The buy page shows only the types that are still locked. Everything else can be purchased immediately.

After regulatory approval, eligible numbers become available for purchase and calling.

### How to verify

1. Open **Settings → Verification** (or **Buy a number → Custom number / Submit verification**).
2. The country list includes countries that require regulatory verification. API clients can use `GET /api/v1/phone-numbers/verifications/catalog`.
3. Choose country, number type, end-user type (business or individual), and the required area code or prefix. National digits such as 0831 become +49831 for Germany. The form fields and accepted documents are loaded **for that combination** from the live regulation catalog.
4. Submit the case. Status updates appear on the Verification page (`pending review` → `approved` / `rejected`). If rejected, submit a **new** case with corrected details.
5. After approval, marketplace search/purchase for that country and type is unlocked for the workspace.

You can also:

* List catalog / cases via the public API (`/api/v1/phone-numbers/verifications`, `/api/v1/phone-numbers/verifications/catalog`)
* Use MCP tools `list_verification_catalog`, `list_number_verifications`, `submit_number_verification`, `get_number_verification`

<Note>
  Plan ahead for regulated countries: review often takes a few business days (varies by country and document quality).
</Note>

## Outbound SMS

SMS-capable numbers (marketplace mobile numbers, or Twilio-imported numbers with SMS capability) can send outbound SMS through the platform after you enable **Allow outbound SMS** on the number’s SMS tab.

* **Marketplace numbers:** SMS credits include the platform fee plus carrier pass-through.
* **Twilio BYOC import:** SMS credits charge only the platform fee; Twilio carrier cost is billed on your Twilio account. For US 10DLC → US traffic, the number must be registered with an approved A2P 10DLC campaign in Twilio.

Public API: `POST /api/v1/sms/send`. MCP: `send_sms`. See [SMS](/api-reference/sms) for per-segment billing and the send API.

## Complimentary (plan free) numbers

Some plans include a limited number of complimentary **local** marketplace numbers for selected countries. Mobile, national, and other number types remain paid. If the workspace plan is canceled or payment remains overdue, complimentary numbers are released automatically. Paid marketplace numbers are unaffected.

Manual release of a complimentary number is **immediate** and cannot be undone.

## Releasing a paid marketplace number

When you release a paid marketplace number:

1. Renewal is canceled at the end of the current billing period.
2. The number **stays fully usable** (inbound/outbound) until that period end.
3. At period end, the number is released and can no longer be used.

Complimentary / unpaid / failed purchases are still released immediately. There is **no refund** and **no proration** — the setup fee is one-time and is never returned.

## Phone number limits

Your plan determines how many phone numbers the workspace can use.

## Carrier costs on calls

Besides the monthly number fee, call-minute pricing can vary by destination country. See [How minutes are billed](/billing/minutes).

## Choosing how to connect a number

The marketplace isn't the only way to get a number working with an assistant:

| Option                                          | Direction          | What it needs                                                                        |
| ----------------------------------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Buy from the marketplace** (this page)        | Inbound + outbound | Nothing to bring — search, buy, assign (regulated countries need verification first) |
| **[BYO SIP trunk](/telephony/sip-trunks)**      | Inbound + outbound | A number you already own at a SIP-compatible carrier                                 |
| **[Carrier import](/telephony/carrier-import)** | Inbound + outbound | A Twilio, Telnyx, or Vonage account — routing is set up for you                      |
| **[Verify a caller ID](/telephony/caller-id)**  | Outbound only      | A phone number you already own, verified once — no porting or SIP setup              |

Buy a marketplace number for a new setup. Bring your own SIP trunk when you already have carrier numbers you want to keep using — or let carrier import wire them up automatically if those numbers live at Twilio, Telnyx, or Vonage. Verify a caller ID when you only need your own number to show up on outbound calls — for example, an outbound sales campaign that doesn't need to receive calls.

Want the line you already answer today to reach an assistant instead? Keep that number where it is and [forward it to your Famulor number](/telephony/call-forwarding-setup).