A toll free number is an exceptional telephone number that allows individuals to call without paying any long distance or pertinent charges, no matter where they are in the country or even the world. This doesn’t signify that the call is free, it’s simply billed to the subscriber of the number instead of the calling entity. These numbers are often identifiable, specifically those that start with 1-800. Apart from the popular 800 numbers, there are other codes that also signify toll free numbers, which consist of 888, 855 and 866.

A toll free number is an exceptional phone number that makes it possible for individuals to call without spending any long distance or pertinent charges, no matter where they are in the country or even the world. This doesn’t signify that the call is free, it’s just billed to the subscriber of the number rather than the calling entity. These numbers are usually identifiable, specially those that start with 1-800. There are other codes which signify toll free numbers, which consist of 888, 855 and 866 apart from the preferred 800 numbers.

The FCC or the Federal Communications Commission supervises the subscription and reservation of these numbers, and makes it possible for specific companies referred to as ‘Responsible Organizations’ or RespORgs to give out the numbers to private and public companies. These RespOrgs are screened and licensed by the FCC to supply these numbers.

Advantages
Corporations are typically the entities which benefit the most from subscribing to these numbers. A few of the advantages that they enjoy are:

• Customers think that their enterprise is established, reliable and successful. The prevailing conception about these numbers is that only large businesses can afford them. This used to be true, but with the internet and the new FCC regulations, acquiring and maintaining one is much easier and cheaper.

• Your business has expanded marketing reach and is no longer confined to your locality. People from all over the country and the world will not hesitate to contact you because you pay for their call.

• A special number that will increase the brand of goods or services you provide. The number is part of your image and your brand. It may be even more reliable to advertise your number rather than your company name.

Phone companies are RespOrgs
Essentially, RespOrgs which are actually phone companies contact the FCC and obtain the license to use the number that a client wishes to have as his or her 800 number. The phone company is still responsible for providing the telephone system that will actually carry the number.

Call routing
The use of these special numbers is actually just a matter of proper call routing. When you subscribe to a number, you are still given a local phone number based on the phone company’s discretion, but this number is never used except by the telephone service provider’s system. Any call that comes into the number you pledged to is immediately transferred to the hidden local number.

Expenses
Billing you for the use of the number is set at a premium for the first month, in order for the phone company to acquire the service from the FCC. Succeeding months’ billing then involves listing all the calls sent and received by the number you reserved, charged by the minute or second, depending on the service provider’s package. If there are a lot of calls, your statement will be high. But if no one called you for that month, you may not have to pay anything at all.

So you see, toll free numbers aren’t that expensive or difficult to maintain for your business, and may even help your company expand.

Resources:
Learn more about toll free numbers and 800 Numbers. Choosing business phone systems for your communication needs is a enormous task. Learn how toll free numbers, 800 numbers and vanity numbers converge offering enormous savings for your Business.


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