Posted on June 23, 2009 by smsgov
Word of potential rationing of toll free numbers has been floating through the gossip mill lately. Rationing of toll free numbers is not a new concept. After 800 numbers ran dry in 1995 the federal government rationed numbers until the 888 numbers were launched a year later. Toll free service is essential for every business trying to get a competitive edge in tis economy. Insiders are concerned that if the existing available 800 numbers are rationed, some businesses could lose a viable marketing strategy.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 1 800 numbers, 1-800, 800 numbers, toll free, toll free ration | 1 Comment »
Posted on June 23, 2009 by smsgov
Due to the ongoing scarcity of 800 area code phone numbers, recent reports are indicating that phone companies are beginning to raise the cost to obtain 800 numbers.
Read more here.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 1 800 numbers, 1-800, 800, 800 number, 800 numbers, 800 service | Leave a comment »
Posted on June 22, 2009 by smsgov
This seems to be a hot topic these days. Under rules established in 1997 by the FCC, toll-free service providers cannot reserve a toll-free number without having an actual toll-free subscriber for whom the number is being reserved. By law, available numbers must be doled out on a first-come, first served basis off the main database maintained by the 800 Service Management System (SMS/800). Hoarding numbers is likewise illegal. A subscriber may not acquire more toll-free numbers than they intend to use. By FCC definition, “hoarding” also includes “brokering” which is the illegal lease or sale of toll-free numbers for a fee.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 1-800, 800 numbers, fcc, toll free brokering, toll free practices | Leave a comment »
Posted on June 22, 2009 by smsgov
SMSGOV.com is home to the Toll Free Advisory Committee (TAC). The Toll Free Advisory Committee (TAC) is a self regulated association of telecom companies. We work as an external layer within the toll free industry. We aggregate news and information involving Responsible Organizations and regulatory agencies including the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) and the Service Management System (SMS800.)
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Posted on June 22, 2009 by smsgov
The Google brand is ubiquitous. You’d have to make a concerted effort to avoid all the Googley things that GoogleGoogle reviewsGoogle reviews has Googled. But what if some of the most useful Google iPhone apps…weren’t made by Google at all?
Read more here
Filed under: Information | Tagged: google, google iphone, iphone, software | Leave a comment »
Posted on June 21, 2009 by smsgov
There is a misconception that changing toll free carriers will cause an interruption in phone service. Carriers need to make sure subscribers understand that in most instances service can be transferred without any down time. If working with quality companies, the subscriber should fine the transfer to be seamless. The bulk of the work is completed before the new phone company forwards a transfer request and this process should take just a few days. To educate the consumer, toll free providers should discuss the transfer process with potential subscribers who may be suffering with poor quality toll free service because they fear costly interruptions if they transfer.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 1-800, toll free, toll free transfer | Leave a comment »
Posted on June 21, 2009 by smsgov
Toll free service has gone through several incarnations over the past four decades. First, 800 numbers were primarily used by big business. This is still the case—almost all of the Fortune 500 companies have an 800 number. Then, toll free service became more affordable and easy to obtain, causing a surge in use by small businesses, online companies, and not-for-profits. Now, personal use is all the rage.
Read more here.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 800, 800 numbers, 866, 877, 888, home phone, local, local numbers, numbers, phone number, phone numbers, toll free | Leave a comment »
Posted on June 20, 2009 by smsgov
The proposed hike in the interstate telephone contribution that consumers might soon be paying into the Universal Service Fund was recently criticized by the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates. The increase would bring the USF contribution to 12.9% of a users bill, compared with the current 11.4%. Every telephone user in the country pays into the USF already. The monies are used to maintain and subsidize rural telephone service to places where it would otherwise be prohibitively expensive.
The USF is controlled by the Universal Service Administrative Company, and overseen by a joint board consisting of FCC and state-level commissioners.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 1-800, fcc, phone service, telecommunications, toll free | Leave a comment »
Posted on June 20, 2009 by smsgov
Using the DNS to store such data rather than simply mapping web addresses to IP addresses is “the most significant innovation in the domain name system since the advent of .com”, according to Khashayar Mahdavi, the CEO of London-based Telnic, which is operating the .tel registry.
Read more here.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: .tel, domain extention, domain name, tel tld, tld | 11 Comments »
Posted on June 19, 2009 by smsgov
As with any commodity in high demand, a black market for toll free numbers is growing. And we here that regulators are scrambling to control the illegal sales of valuable 800 numbers. With toll free service soaring in popularity while finite supplies of available numbers drop, attempts to illegally buy and sell choice numbers on the black market is increasing.
According to regulations enacted in 1997 by FCC, toll free phone numbers cannot be sold or brokered. These rules were approved after the FCC fielded numerous complaints about price gouging for catchy vanity numbers and popular numeric sequences. The FCC reports that anyone caught attempting to sell or broker an 800 number faces significant fines.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 1-800, black market, toll free numbers | 1 Comment »
