Wildix and x-bees: moving your UK office phones to the cloud

In many UK offices, the phone system still lives in a cupboard: a PBX box, a bundle of ISDN or analogue lines, and a maintenance contract renewed every year. That set-up is running out of time. BT Group is retiring the old copper phone network, including ISDN, by 31 January 2027, as we explain in our guide to the PSTN switch-off.

For many businesses, the natural replacement is a cloud phone system. This guide compares the two approaches, explains what Wildix and x-bees offer, and sets out how to move without losing your numbers.

On-premise PBX vs a cloud phone system

Cost

An on-premise PBX means buying hardware up front, then paying for maintenance, upgrades and the lines that connect it to the outside world. When the hardware reaches the end of its life, you buy again.

A cloud phone system is usually a per-user monthly subscription. Wildix says its cloud PBX lets you "deploy instantly with zero hardware investment", because the system runs in the cloud rather than in your building. You still budget for handsets if you want them, a good internet connection and setup. Compare the total cost over three to five years, not just the monthly figure.

Flexibility

Adding a new starter to an old PBX can mean a licence, a handset and an engineer's visit. With a cloud system, users, extensions and call routes are changed from a web interface, and you pay for the users you have.

Hybrid and remote working

This is where the difference is greatest. With a cloud system, a user's office number goes with them: on a desk phone, in a web browser or on a mobile app. Calls can be answered at home or on the road, and customers still see the office number. Call queues and hunt groups work the same whether staff are in the office or not.

What to plan for

A cloud phone system depends on your internet connection, so check bandwidth, Wi-Fi coverage and a backup connection. Also think about power: our PSTN guide covers battery back-up and power cuts.

---

What Wildix UC&C offers

Wildix is a unified communications and collaboration (UC&C) platform. According to Wildix's cloud PBX page, it includes:

• Your own PBX: each customer gets a single-tenant instance, which Wildix describes as "secure-by-design".
• Calls anywhere: desk phones, audio and video calls in the browser using WebRTC, and an app for iOS and Android with push notifications.
• Video meetings: WebRTC audio and video conferences, including with external guests.
• Chat: instant messaging and file transfer between colleagues.
• Business features: click-to-dial, call pop-ups and integration with web apps such as CRM and ERP systems.
• Security: TLS/SRTP encryption, two-factor authentication and protection against DoS attacks. Wildix states it is SOC 2 Type I and Type II compliant.
• Older equipment: "full support for existing analog equipment through our media gateways", useful for door entry, lifts or fax lines you cannot replace straight away.

CRM integrations

Wildix's integrations page lists connectors for CRMs including Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho and Microsoft Dynamics CRM, along with Microsoft 365, Google and WhatsApp Business. In practice, this means the customer record pops up when they call, and calls are logged against the contact.

---

What x-bees adds

x-bees is Wildix's platform for customer-facing teams. Wildix describes it as offering "chat, voice and video calls" with your teams, prospects and customers in one place. Its main features include:

• native Salesforce integration, so you can view and update records without leaving x-bees;
• AI features such as transcriptions, conversation summaries and sentiment analysis;
• calendar scheduling with Google and Microsoft 365, and WhatsApp messaging;
• an x-bees mobile app for iOS and Android.

A simple way to think about it: Wildix UC&C runs your phone system and internal communication; x-bees focuses on conversations with customers. Many businesses use both.

---

Working with Microsoft Teams

If your staff already use Microsoft Teams, you do not have to choose between them. Wildix's free teams4Wildix plugin lets Teams users make and receive calls through a Wildix PBX without additional Microsoft licences, using a Wildix tab inside Teams. If you are weighing up Microsoft's own calling options, see our guide to Teams Phone vs Direct Routing.

---

Keeping your existing UK numbers

Your phone numbers are part of your business, and moving to the cloud does not mean giving them up. Ofcom's guidance is that you can keep your existing landline number when you switch provider. This is called number porting, and you should tell your new provider that you want to keep your numbers.

To keep it smooth:

• List every number, including ones you rarely think about, such as fax, alarm and direct-dial ranges.
• Make sure the details match. The porting request is checked against your current provider's records, so the account holder name, address and numbers must be exactly right.
• Do not cancel your old service first. Leave it in place until the port has completed, or you risk losing the number.

NETON can also supply new UK numbers and SIP trunks if you want extra numbers, such as a local number for a new area.

---

A simple step-by-step migration plan

1. Audit what you have: numbers, lines, extensions, hunt groups, voicemail, opening hours, call recording, and any non-phone devices on lines, such as alarms or card machines.
2. Check your network: broadband capacity, Wi-Fi, and a backup connection for sites where phones are critical.
3. Design the new system: who needs Wildix, who needs x-bees, call flows, out-of-hours messages and integrations.
4. Build and test: set up the cloud PBX, apps and handsets, and test calls before anything goes live.
5. Train your team: short sessions on the desk phone, browser and mobile app work best.
6. Port your numbers: agree a port date, and keep the old service running until the port completes.
7. Switch over and review: check every call route on day one, then remove the old PBX and cancel the old lines.

For a multi-site business, repeat steps 4 to 7 site by site.

---

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep my existing UK numbers when I move to Wildix?

Usually, yes. Ofcom's guidance is that you can keep your landline number when you switch provider, through number porting. Keep your old service running until the port has completed.

Do I need new desk phones for a cloud phone system?

Not necessarily. Wildix works in a web browser and on iOS and Android apps, so some users may not need a desk phone at all. Wildix also supports existing analogue equipment through its media gateways.

What is the difference between Wildix and x-bees?

Wildix UC&C is the business phone system and internal collaboration platform. x-bees is built by Wildix for customer conversations, with Salesforce integration and AI transcripts and summaries. Many businesses use both.

Does Wildix work with Microsoft Teams?

Yes. With the free teams4Wildix plugin, Teams users can make and receive calls through a Wildix PBX from a tab inside Teams, without extra Microsoft licences.

---

Sources

1. Cloud VoIP PBX — Wildix
2. x-bees UCaaS platform — Wildix
3. Integrations — Wildix
4. teams4Wildix — Wildix
5. x-bees Mobile User Guide — Wildix documentation
6. Switching landline provider — Ofcom