Toyota Recall Info With Toll Free

Toyota is, like so many companies do, using toll free phone numbers to handle their customer service. In the midst of a crush of calls related to their recent recall troubles, Toyota has implemented toll free numbers with bilingual service to answer all their customers concerns. After dealing with the inconvenience and danger of the recall, customers do not want to pay to call the company for information. This is true with any company in any circumstance. Toll free numbers are a necessity and more numbers are needed to address the growing demand for toll free service.

Remind Contacts To Research Providers

It is important that those of us in the industry remember, and remind all our contacts, to carefully research toll free phone service providers. Make sure they are legit and established. And always remember that under federal law anyone can always transfer or “port” a number to another provider that can offer better rates, more flexible plans, and an array of features. There is no reason to settle for substandard service when a number can be transferred. A good service provider will help, wont charge exorbitant fees, and will do most of the work. This good service benefits the entire industry.

Toll-free Portioning Proposal Denied at SMS800.

By a narrow defeat, telecommunications insiders say a proposal to ration the limited supply of existing toll free numbers has suffered a loss at 800 Services management System (SMS/800).

Rumors that a rationing program for the few remaining 800 numbers was imminent circulated through the telecommunications industry earlier this month. Supplies of 800, 888, 877, and 866 numbers are so depleted that availability is at an all-time low. But some say rationing the numbers, as the federal government did in 1995, is not the answer and could have a negative impact on the business community.

Read more here.

What is the SMS800 and what function does it serve?

By law, all toll free phone service providers must deal with SMS/800 while assigning or reserving numbers for their customers. SMS/800 keeps records on the status of all 800 numbers, service providers, and call routing options.
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. SMS/800, started in the mid-1980s, manages all these numbers.

Read more here.

Faith-Based Toll Free

We have been aware that churches and faith-based organizations have regularly used toll free to connect with their followers. Now there is word of a new nationwide spiritual community using toll free to bring people together. The Bless Me Network, a Chicago based company has launched a service that allows people to call a toll free number and speak with members of the Clergy. This one of a kind service is the first to launch in the United States. The Bless Me Network, a non-profit organization,will provide counseling and spiritual guidance. Customers call 1-888-9-BLESSME (1-888-925-3776) and then choose to be connected to either a priest or an ordained minister.

T.A.C. Bulletin – Decline of Available Toll Free Numbers Continues To Cause Alarm

Last week, a member of the Tollfree Advisory Committee at SMSGOV.com acknowledged that the scarcity is causing a surge of subscribers scurrying to obtain the available toll free numbers. If supplies deplete much further, small businesses nationwide could see disastrous economic fallout. Toll free numbers are known as an effective marking strategy that increases customer base and boosts revenue.

Read more here.

Toll Free Budgeting May Deny or Delay New Service Applications

Facing an extreme dearth of 800 numbers, telecommunications experts are now concerned that a toll free number ration could delay new phone service applications. And in the midst of an economic meltdown, U.S. business owners could not imagine worse news.

Read more here.

Toll Free Phone Service Embargo Possible in the U.S.

Recent reports have referred to the situation as the ‘the perfect storm” meaning the shortage of numbers, the soaring demand, and the failure of the federal government to release reserved numbers have all collided to create a situation in which rationing, an embargo or even a complete depletion of 800 numbers is possible.

Read more here.

Prospective Rationing Of Toll-free Phone Numbers On Horizon

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.

Read more here.

Toll Free In Travel on Fire

Toll free phone service in the travel business has always been big but within the past year, it has become even hotter worldwide as small inns, B&Bs, car service industries and online travel services have all included toll free phone numbers to connect with travelers. With competition for every tourist dollar so high, toll free is helping small businesses compete with the big guys in every aspect of the travel industry.