New Concern Over Diminishing Supplies of 800 Numbers

Is concern growing about the diminishing stock of 800 numbers? It appears to be. Higher demand for toll free service, especially in this economy, is depleting stocks of good numbers. Studies show that telephone orders can increase up to 60 percent and word of mouth referrals can rise by 200 percent if a toll free number is advertised. These types of statistics bring in thousands of new toll free subscribers every day. And these subscribers want access to a good supply of available numbers.

If You’re Thinking About Investing in an 800 Number Don’t Hesitate

More than two-thirds of the available supply of 800, 888, 877, and 866 numbers are taken and millions of new subscribers are registering every year. Business owners who wait much longer to obtain a number might find themselves out of luck. In a competitive market, a toll free number is a valuable commodity for every business.

Read more here.

Continued Demand Means Indefinite Shortages

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.

July and No 855 Numbers Yet

Here it is July 1 and we are still waiting for news on the release of the 855 toll free area code telephone numbers. We don’t expect a release in the next few days because of the holiday but earlier this spring we did hear rumors that the new collection of toll free numbers would soon be allowed for use. We also received a tip that there is “testing” of the yet-to-be-released 855 toll free telephone numbers. We didn’t get any specifics on what type of testing is being done on these area code numbers. The new 855 numbers would provide millions of opportunities for subscribers to get new custom toll free phone number for their business or personal use.

Today Show Crowd Shows Off Toll Free

The spectator crowd at the Today show today held numerous signs advertising toll free telephone numbers–with all four toll free area codes. Ads for legal services, charitable causes, retail, and so on. Every pan of the camera revealed a new ad with a toll free phone number. We didn’t notice one ad without one in fact. Good way to get free advertising on national television and to incorporate your toll free number.

1-800 Number Supply Dramatically Reduced

With more than 8,000 toll free numbers registered each day, the supply of available numbers is quickly depleting. This scarcity is causing a rush to obtain new toll free numbers or obtain disconnected numbers returned back to the system.

Toll free numbers were introduced in 1967. By the 1980s, nearly half of all long distance calls would be toll free. Today, 98 percent of adults say they regularly use toll free numbers. Meanwhile, the supply of 800, 888, 877, and 866 numbers are at an all-time low.

Read more here.

Toll Free Taboo: Toll Free Phone Number Brokering

As with any commodity in high demand, a black market for toll free numbers has emerged in the United States, sending regulators 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.

Read more here.

Toll Free Taboo: Number Hoarding

Under rules established in 1997 by the Federal Communications Commission, 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).

Read more here.

Most 800 Numbers Unavailable

UPDATE: The scarcity of toll free numbers is having an impact on telecom businesses nationwide. At&t no longer has 800 area codes available through it’s online toll free lookup tool. A number of other providers have followed suit and stopped offering the 800 numbers to their telephone subscribers.

Read more here.

Pool of U.S. Toll Free Numbers Running Low

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, 888, 877, and 866 numbers are decreasing while demand is growing at unprecedented rates.

Read more here.