Posted on November 15, 2009 by smsgov
Experts say that consumers recognize that many of the advantages of 1-800 numbers outweigh standard local phone service. Toll free service is becoming increasingly common with parents wishing to keep in close contact with children and teens. Businesses with a 1-800 number see increases in sales, word of mouth referrals and a decrease in product returns. Standard local phone service does not provide any of these advantages.
Read more here.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 800 numbers, local numbers, phone numbers | Leave a comment »
Posted on November 15, 2009 by smsgov
With the fixed amount of available 800 numbers shrinking fast, subscribers who waited to secure toll free service are now learning why it is so difficult to obtain a number.
Industry insiders say the soaring popularity of toll free service combined with the failure of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to release additional numbers have created a tight supply of 800 numbers in heavy demand.
Read more here.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 800 number, 800 numbers, free, toll, toll free, voip | Leave a comment »
Posted on November 14, 2009 by smsgov
The FCC has a long history of reviewing legislation with regard to the use of toll free. For instance, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 amended section 228 to impose more stringent restrictions on the use of toll-free numbers to charge consumers for information services. On July 11, 1996, the Commission amended its rules governing interstate pay-per-call (900 numbers) and other information services to address abusive practices that threatened public confidence in toll-free numbers and left telephone subscribers vulnerable to unexpected charges for calls and information services.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: fcc, fcc law, toll free, toll free numbers | Leave a comment »
Posted on November 14, 2009 by smsgov
Toll free 800 numbers were introduced in 1967. Two decades later, when most of the 7 million possible numbers were taken, the 888 pre-fix debuted. It took just two years for that supply to run out. With the popularity of toll free service soaring and supplies dropping, the FCC then launched 877 in 1998 followed soon after by 866. While insiders initially worried that consumers would not recognize 877 and 866 as toll free, these numbers have steadily grown in popularity.
Read more here.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 866, 866 number, 866 numbers, phone numbers, toll free | Leave a comment »
Posted on November 13, 2009 by smsgov
In March 1998, the FCC ordered the fair distribution of vanity toll free numbers. The Commission concluded that assigning vanity numbers would be on a first-come, first-served basis to ensure fair allocation of numbers. The FCC decided that “a first-come, first-served process is also the most efficient method for assigning toll free numbers because it is the most easily administered and least expensive way to allocate numbers.” The FCC also announced that the the first-come, first-served system avoids disputes among subscribers over who is entitled to a particular number
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 1-800, fcc law, toll free number, vanity numbers | Leave a comment »
Posted on November 13, 2009 by smsgov
Along with hoarding, the outright sale of specific toll free numbers is likewise illegal. Some crafty entrepreneurs have attempted to skirt the regulations by “leasing” or “renting” numbers. But industry insiders say the crackdown on illegal use of toll free numbers is aimed at this practice too.
Read more here.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 800, fcc, free, local numbers, number, toll, toll free | Leave a comment »
Posted on November 13, 2009 by smsgov
Google – Breaking Announcement
Google welcomes Gizmo5
Thursday, November 12, 2009 | 2:30 PM
Today we’re pleased to announce we’ve acquired Gizmo5, a company that provides Internet-based calling software for mobile phones and computers. While we don’t have any specific features to announce right now, Gizmo5’s engineers will be joining the Google Voice team to continue improving the Google Voice and Gizmo5 experience. Current Gizmo5 users will still be able to use the service, though we will be suspending new signups for the time being, and existing users will no longer be able to sign up for a call-in number.
We’ve acquired a number of small companies over the past five years, and the people and technology that have come to Google from other places have contributed in many ways, large and small, to all kinds of Google products. Since the GrandCentral team joined Google in 2007, they’ve done incredible things with Google’s technology and resources to launch and improve Google Voice.
We welcome the Gizmo5 team to Google and look forward to working together to bringing more useful features to Google Voice.
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Posted on November 12, 2009 by smsgov
Users who are waiting to reserve a number that will soon be returned to spare now know what time a given number will automatically spare. With the implementation of SMS/800 Release 16.0, numbers scheduled for automatic spare are released at 11 pm Central.
Read more here.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 800, 800 number, sms, sms800, status, toll free | Leave a comment »
Posted on November 12, 2009 by smsgov
On the heels of the arrest of a man trying to illegally sell his coveted 800 number to an undercover FBI agent, attempts by another seller trying to auction off his valuable toll free number on eBay have been shut down.
Read more here.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 800 number, auction, ebay, fcc, toll free number | Leave a comment »
Posted on November 11, 2009 by smsgov
By law, phone numbers cannot be sold or brokered. In 1997, the FCC made the sale of 800 numbers illegal. Because of the short supply of available numbers, complaints were pouring in at that time that price gouging for the popular numbers was becoming a common practice. The FCC acted quickly, prohibiting sales.
Read more here.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 800, 800 number, auction, ebay, number, phone, resp org, resporg, sell 800 numbers, vanity | Leave a comment »
Toll Free Service Management System News 