Brokering a toll-free number or selling it to the highest bidder is not something that AT&T supports, as it violates our tariff with the Federal Communications Commission. Businesses have been known to broker specific vanity numbers, but the practice can lead to problems for other businesses who want to acquire vanity numbers legitimately.
I cannot say that this doesn’t happen. In a worst-case scenario, however, it can create real problems and could lead to the number being seized.
There is a legitimate way to transfer your toll-free service to another party, by filing a transfer-of-service agreement with us that holds both parties jointly liable for any balance due at the time of the transfer.
Toll-free service turned 30 this year and its growth has absolutely exploded, because of its increased use by small-business owners, people with pagers, home offices and even parents who want their children to be able to reach them at work or in the field.
It took the telecommunications business 28 years to exhaust all possible 800 numbers. One year ago, the 888 toll-free number was introduced. We are now planning to introduce a new toll-free number, 877, in April 1998 because the 888 numbers have been assigned so rapidly.
There are currently more than 7.71 million 800 numbers in service across the country and the estimated value of the toll-free service market is more than $10 billion.
–Janet Wyles, spokeswoman,
AT&T Business Markets, New Jersey
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Toll Free Service Management System News 