Toll Free Service Now Available through Fiber-Optic Lines

Some companies such use exclusively fiber optic technology. Other toll free number service providers still use the less reliable VoIP, which does not provide the consistent connections of fiber optics. In fact, in some circumstances with VoIP, if the power fails, phone calls cannot be transmitted at all.

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Media Coverage of Toll Free Service Boon to Industry

Over the past year, the number of media reports touting toll free service has mushroomed. The advantages of 1-800 numbers are now widely recognized and reported. It can take new businesses several years to create an established professional image. Customers are sometimes wary of new ventures and may lean toward recognizable companies. But start-up entrepreneurs now have an opportunity to win customer confidence literally overnight. The day they start offering potential customers a 1-800 number, they reap the benefits of this proven marketing tool.

FCC to Possibly Restrict Toll Free Service

Telecommunications industry sources now say an unthinkable embargo on new toll free phone service in the United States is a real possibility within the next year. Facing a severe shortage of available 800-numbers, a skyrocketing demand for toll free service and an emerging black market for 800 numbers, insiders say officials feel they are left with no choice but to impose an embargo.

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Toll Free Service over VoIP?

VoIP converts voices into digital signals that travel over the Internet. However, it has become difficult to perfect these systems and missed connections and interrupted service are a common problem. VoIP allows the calls to be made from a computer, a special phone, or a regular phone. To use VoIP, a broadband, or high speed, connection is required. If the caller is using a regular phone, the connection is converted to a normal telephone connection before it reaches its destination.

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1-800 Hotlines For Civil Services

Every one of the 50 States have 1-800 hotline phone numbers advertised for citizens to report crisis situations, health concerns, child neglect, environmental problems, and to request constituent assistance. Nationwide, smaller government agencies–counties, towns, and villages—are likewise beginning to offer their residents 1-800 numbers to report concerns and to ask questions.

A Brief Synopsis on the Functions of Toll Free Numbers

When choosing toll free service, subscribers typically can select from a menu of services—calls routed to land lines, faxes, emails etc. and a variety of other features that suit their needs and their budget. Once a number is assigned, it stays with the owner permanently. If a company grows or moves locations, the numbers remains, safeguarding the connection to all their customers.

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No Mystery Behind 800 Shortage

Where are all the 800 numbers going? Industry experts say toll free service is now a staple of any type of business. Small business owners, following the lead of the CEO’s of nearly half the Fortune 500 companies, are securing toll free vanity phone numbers as a strategic marketing tool. Personal use of toll free numbers has skyrocketed as parents secure an 800 number to stay in touch with their teens, college-aged children, and elderly parents.

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How Does the FCC Effect Toll Free Service?

FCC’s rules designate the criteria for determining the status of each toll-free number, and prohibit “warehousing” and “hoarding” of toll-free numbers. However, the FCC does not oversee the assignment of toll-free numbers and does not have direct access to the toll-free number database maintained by the 800 Services Management System (SMS/800).

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Many Look Forward to Release of 855 Numbers

There have been shortages of good toll free numbers in the past. Remember, that to overcome shortages of 1-800 numbers, the 888 and 877 numbers were introduced in 1996 and 1998 respectively. Then, in 2000 the 866 numbers were added. Toll free numbers have become such a valuable commodity that the stock is once again depleted. Many people are asking……Where are the reserved 855 numbers? Will they be released soon?

What are your thoughts on the 855 numbers?

How Does the SMS800 Effect Toll Free Numbers?

The SMS/800 Data Center houses the main database of available toll free 800, 888, 877 and 866 phone numbers for the United States and Canada. The SMS/800 maintains and updates the database and keeps records of the owners of each number and the service providers. Available numbers on the database are assigned to subscribers on a first-come, first-served, basis.

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