The stock of available toll free numbers is now so depleted that insiders say government agencies may implement another rationing of the 800, 888, 877, and 866 pre-fixes within months. Rumors of a rationing program have subscribers scrambling to obtain numbers, creating an even more limited supply.
The federal government rationed coveted 800 numbers in 1995 until the new 888 pre-fix was introduced a year later. But the U.S. supply of available 1-800 numbers, dwindling for years, is again nearly depleted. Toll free numbers enable callers to reach businesses, organizations, and non-profits without having to pay for the call. This marketing tool has been so successful that the available 1-800 numbers are decreasing while demand is growing at unprecedented rates.
The force behind the demand for toll-free numbers is not only the traditional business use: a growing market is comprised of residential customers. If rationing is implemented, obtaining a new toll free number will be more difficult than ever before.
The popularity of the 1-800 number, launched in 1967, led the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to add the new pre-fixes 888 and 877 in the mid-1990s. When availability of those numbers plummeted, 866 was added in 2000 to overcome the shortage. Since then, there have been no new pre-fixes introduced and supplies are rapidly shrinking.
There are no immediate plans to add another toll free pre-fix. In fact, the reserved 855 pre-fix numbers are not expected to be released for several years. Meanwhile, toll free phone numbers have become a staple of the business world and demand is consistently rising.
Industry insiders are recommending that anyone wishing to obtain a toll free number secure one immediately. There are an average of 8,000 new toll free numbers registered each day. With a limited number of numerical possibilities, the finite supply is nearly expended but numbers can safely and rapidly be obtained through providers such as AT&T, Verizon, or Qwest.
64 responses so far ↓
Benjamin Ward // August 28, 2008 at 10:55 pm |
oh boy – not good
smsgov // August 28, 2008 at 10:58 pm |
see also:
http://smsgov.com/2008/08/22/where-are-all-the-1800-numbers-going/
and
http://smsgov.com/2008/08/14/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-an-800-phone-number/
Jerry Nelson // August 29, 2008 at 1:05 am |
wht is the estimate time that this will last?
Justin Cook // August 29, 2008 at 1:07 am |
How is this going to affect me as a subscriber?
Billy Brooks // August 29, 2008 at 1:14 am |
Current toll free accounts will probably not be affected in any way, but people that try to get new numbers may be delayed it sounds like
Joe Stewart // August 29, 2008 at 1:33 am |
1800 numbers are just for America is this pertinent only in the USA or does it affect 0800 numbers too
Andrew Green // August 29, 2008 at 3:29 am |
i am from india and it is very difficult to get a free number from our mainline phone company. the price and wait time make it more inconvenient than simple.
Philip Bryant // August 31, 2008 at 6:03 am |
psshh, Figures.
Richard Miller // August 31, 2008 at 1:06 pm |
What can be done about this?
Willie Rivera // August 31, 2008 at 3:40 pm |
Im not sure if we can take this seriously. For all we know its more talk to jack up prices.
Aaron Bennett // September 3, 2008 at 8:11 pm |
I don’t think so. I just bought a vanity 888 number to go with my company’s name. It’s not so much because it is toll free, it is because it is a little more professional to give out an easy to remember number than just any old regional number.
Craig Washington // September 4, 2008 at 2:33 pm |
Okay, I remember a trick back in high school that someone taught me but I’ve since forgot. They would pick up the phone, dial a number, and hang up the receiver a couple times. Several seconds later, the phone would ring continuously until someone picked it up. But there was no one on the other line. Anyone remember/know how to do that?
Antonio Hayes // September 4, 2008 at 4:37 pm |
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
Frank Wright // September 4, 2008 at 6:56 pm |
Between thought and expression lies a lifetime.
Martin Powell // September 4, 2008 at 10:29 pm |
How do you use the free service
Stephen Scott // September 5, 2008 at 3:46 am |
800s are really popular . I tried to advertise my biz in a biz magazine and they denied me bc I didn’t have a tollfree! I’m going to get one today though.
Eric Hill // September 5, 2008 at 10:51 am |
Is it true that peeps are using tool free numbers for personal use too?
Jonathan Reed // September 5, 2008 at 11:52 am |
Years???? I want an 855 now!
Richard Miller // September 5, 2008 at 12:00 pm |
Can a person buy a toll free number from someone else that already owns one?
Jonathan Reed // September 5, 2008 at 2:41 pm |
I want to be in on this!
Joseph Moore // September 5, 2008 at 2:42 pm |
There is so much to know in business!
Russell Coleman // September 5, 2008 at 2:55 pm |
Can anyone recommend a good provider who has good service and can find a good toll-free?
Aaron Bennett // September 5, 2008 at 10:05 pm |
I thought, people aren’t scrambling for toll frees. But when I looked in to it they really are! I wanted something specific and everything I was searching was taken already! Dang!
Jeremy Price // September 5, 2008 at 10:14 pm |
I want to meet these “industry insiders”.
Alan Butler // September 5, 2008 at 10:21 pm |
Uh! AT&T is so expensive. Does anyone know an alternative to the big-wig gurus who want to charge the pants off us?
Willie Rivera // September 8, 2008 at 5:55 pm |
Just keep trying it only took me about 7 tries to get through.
Nicholas Cox // September 9, 2008 at 7:56 am |
1-800-I-love-brand-new-carpet
Ronald Clark // September 9, 2008 at 2:33 pm |
Nothing shows a man’s character more than what he laughs at.
Jerry Nelson // September 9, 2008 at 8:52 pm |
I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying.
Todd Hughes // September 10, 2008 at 5:58 pm |
Sports do not build character. They reveal it.
Carl Parker // September 10, 2008 at 9:42 pm |
Always forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.
Henry Campbell // September 11, 2008 at 3:17 am |
Speaking of financial institutions, State Farm Insurance/Bank has been using a voice authentication for about 2 years now. Their system has you repeat about 8 numbers back to it before you can use the telephone teller. I can honestly say that I have had less problems with their system than any other voice recognition/speaker recognition system.
Victor Perry // September 12, 2008 at 2:25 am |
my number 1. my debt collectors have been calling me alot lately
Adam Gray // September 12, 2008 at 1:31 pm |
nice
Billy Brooks // September 12, 2008 at 7:00 pm |
Phone call for Al…Al Coholic…is there an Al Coholic here?
Wait a minute…
Listen, you little yellow-bellied rat jackass, if I ever find out who you are, I’m gonna kill you!
Clarence Foster // September 15, 2008 at 5:51 pm |
To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.
Jimmy Diaz // September 15, 2008 at 9:52 pm |
good point
David Davis // September 16, 2008 at 4:49 pm |
It was about time! This is good news! Hopefully they’ll do the same with the others
Andrew Green // September 17, 2008 at 3:26 pm |
Remember that time is money.
Robert Williams // September 17, 2008 at 9:48 pm |
interesting article. much appreciated
Phillip Patterson // September 17, 2008 at 11:24 pm |
Speaking of financial institutions, State Farm Insurance/Bank has been using a voice authentication for about 2 years now. Their system has you repeat about 8 numbers back to it before you can use the telephone teller. I can honestly say that I have had less problems with their system than any other voice recognition/speaker recognition system.
Johnny Russell // September 19, 2008 at 5:19 pm |
well said
Aaron Bennett // September 19, 2008 at 6:12 pm |
A conclusion is simply the place where you got tired of thinking.
Bobby Jenkins // September 21, 2008 at 5:16 am |
This whole article is based on an incorrect assumption — that all calls cost the same. The huge majority of people have regular home phones, which do not have any sort of “all numbers are the same” plan. On top of that, not all mobile phone plans are the same. I’m a heavy mobile user, but my plan doesn’t have any special “all numbers are the same” plan, because the majority of my calls are local. The only thing that will kill 800 numbers, I think, is the end of the local/long distance distinction, which may happen, but not for the reasons the article lists.
Ernest Long // September 22, 2008 at 4:42 pm |
American Idol is gonna be a lot worse now…
Patrick Perez // September 23, 2008 at 9:40 pm |
Patience is not a virtue, it is a waste of time.
Harry Ramirez // September 23, 2008 at 11:33 pm |
Anything similar for the uk?
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Joe Stewart // February 25, 2009 at 10:49 pm |
Why is abbreviation such a long word ?
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