CALEA requires telecommunications carriers to modify their equipment, facilities, and services to aid surveillance capabilities. Initially there was some question as to whether this would apply to VoIP—Voice Over Internet Protocol service—but in 2005 the courts ruled that indeed VoIP must comply with CALEA.
Read more here.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: calea, california, Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, phone numbers, phone service, toll free | Leave a comment »
As telecommunications experts, we are actively spreading the word about the scarcity of good toll free numbers. Are we succeeding? Business owners should be educated and prepared for the shortfall at a time when they may need the advantages of toll free the most. With the economy still floundering, this dearth of available 1-800 numbers comes at a time when economists are advising business owners to shift their marketing tactics to direct response—including using toll free to attract consumers and sustain relationships with existing customers. We know that toll free helps businesses. But getting good numbers, with supplies dwindling, is becoming a challenge. The best advice, still, is to obtain a good toll free phone number today.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 1-800, telecommunications, toll free, toll free service | Leave a comment »
When the popular 800 numbers became scarce, the FCC introduced the 888 and 877 numbers in the mid-1990s and the 866 pre-fix in 2000. Available stock of toll free numbers is quickly depleting and industry insiders are awaiting the release of the 855 numbers currently reserved by the FCC. Insiders say these numbers may not be released for several years.
Read more here.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 800 number, 800 numbers, fcc, federal communications commission, phone number, toll free, toll free service | 1 Comment »
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.
Read more here.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 800 numbers, service management system, sms-800, sms800, toll free numbers, toll free service | Leave a comment »
If approved, this would be the second time toll free numbers were rationed. The federal government rationed coveted 800 numbers in 1995 until the new 888 pre-fix was introduced a year later. Industry insiders are eagerly awaiting the outcome of this latest rationing proposal. Telecommunications experts are reportedly concerned that a toll free number ration could delay new phone service applications in the midst of one of the worst U.S. economic downturns in decades.
Read more here.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: 800, free, number, numbers, phone, ration, toll, toll free, toll free numbers, toll free ration | 1 Comment »
http://www.wctv.tv/news/headlines/44160027.html
Filed under: Information | Tagged: swine, swine flue, toll free hotline | Leave a comment »
Experts warn that the U.S. supply of available 1-800 numbers, dwindling for years, is now nearly depleted. Toll free numbers enable callers to reach businesses, organizations, and non-profits without having to pay for the call. This marketing tool has been so successful that the available 1-800 numbers are decreasing while demand is growing at unprecedented rates.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 800, 800 number, 800 numbers | 1 Comment »
In the aftermath of the tragedy at the American Civic Association., the U.S. Department of Justice has set up two toll-free telephone numbers and is providing funding to assist victims and their families.
The toll-free number for within the U.S. is 1-866-361-9056, and the international access number is 1-916-962-6285; the Department will accept the charges from collect international callers. Both numbers are available on a 24-hour basis and will be manned by operators with full translation support for at least the next two weeks. The special numbers are designed to assist victims and their families with information about victim services, and provide a means for the general public to help with victim support or to contact law enforcement.
http://www.wbng.com/news/local/42609622.html
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 800, 800 number, 800 numbers, department of justice, DOJ, toll free, toll free number, toll free numbers, usdoj | 1 Comment »
Technology Marketing Corporation (TMC), based in Norwalk, CT and founded in 1972, is the world’s leading business to business and integrated marketing media company, servicing niche markets within the communications and technology industries. Last week, they issued a report on their website regarding SMSGOV.com and the limited availability of toll free numbers that could have a substantial impact on small companies nationwide.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 1-800, 800, 800 number, news, tmc, tmcnet, toll free | Comments Off on TMCnet Reports on SMSGOV, RE: Toll-free Shortage
The bitter feud between Jamaica’s two major mobile providers has intensified with Digicel now accusing LIME of refusing to open up toll free numbers to other telecom operators, a charge denied by LIME, the former Cable & Wireless Ja (C&W).
According to Digicel, its revenue stream is being adversely affected because, along with other operators, it is unable to sell toll free services to corporate customers. Digicel complained that LIME has a monopoly in that segment of the market and corporate customers are “forced to use C&W/LIME’s toll free service and accept whatever prices and service standards C&W/LIME chooses”.
“By refusing to comply with the OUR’s directive to open up toll free numbers to competitors, C&W/LIME is acting in a blatantly anti-competitive manner and making a mockery of the regulatory regime here in Jamaica,” Helga McIntyre, legal and regulatory manager for Digicel Jamaica, told Caribbean Business Report (CBR).
“It’s unacceptable; for the good of corporate organisations, consumers and competition, C&W/LIME must be shown the error of its ways,” she added.
LIME, however, denied the accusations and said that the firm was in fact instrumental in the creation of a toll free regime in which Digicel can now offer service to its customers. In a statement to CBR, LIME said it wrote to the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) on March 11, 2009 advising the regulatory body that:
– It is not true that LIME is preventing Digicel from providing toll free numbers to its customers. Digicel can assign toll free numbers and provide toll free service to its customers and is not hindered in doing so by LIME; and
– LIME is concerned about the use of toll free numbers to provide a particular form of Indirect Access called two stage dialling (2SD) and the matter is currently under appeal and LIME is awaiting a ruling.
However, a third party, Flow, has entered the fight, and has supported the argument put forward by Digicel. Flow’s public relations manager Denise Williams told this newspaper that Flow’s ability to provide cost-effective services to its customers has been hampered. She accused LIME of being “anti-competitive and a major hindrance to the growth of the industry”.
“In the end, it is the customer who ultimately pays the price,” said Williams.
Last month, LIME, peeved by a 21 per cent price increase imposed by Digicel on its landline customers, made a formal complaint to the Fair Trading Commission (FTC), appealing to the agency to take action in putting a stop to what it described as Digicel’s “anti-competitive, discriminatory and predatory conduct”.
In February, Digicel filed a $1.7-billion lawsuit with the Supreme Court of Jamaica against LIME contesting the price structuring of LIME’s Homefone product and its handling of bad debt regarding retail fixed to mobile rates.
Director of consumer and public affairs at the OUR, David Geddes, was said to be off the island and could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 800 number, 800 numbers, digicel, jamaica, lime, mobile, toll free, toll free number, toll free numbers, USVI, virgin islands | 1 Comment »
Toll Free Service Management System News 