Posted on February 6, 2010 by smsgov
The FCC cannot provide any information about the status of a toll-free number or a request for a toll-free number on behalf of a customer. The FCC cannot reserve or hold numbers for a customer but they can mediate conflicts that arise over rights of ownership of specific numbers.
Read more here.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 800 number, 800 numbers, fcc, federal communications commission, phone numbers, toll free, toll free service, toll free services | Leave a comment »
Posted on February 6, 2010 by smsgov
Heeding recent warnings about the rapid decline of 800 numbers, subscribers are applying for toll free service at record rates. A steady stream of requests are pouring in for toll free 800, 888, 877, and 866 numbers and applications are expected to continue to rise this year.
In recent years, an average of 8,000 new toll free numbers have been doled out each day from the main database of available numbers, managed by the 800 Service Management System (SMS/800). With 800 numbers bursting in popularity while the supply of available numbers shrinks, insiders say the number of daily applications could double by the end of the year.
Read more here.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: phone service, toll free, toll free phone, tollfree | Leave a comment »
Posted on February 5, 2010 by smsgov
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.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 800, 800 number, ration, sms, sms800, toll free, toll free number, toll free numbers, toll free ration | Leave a comment »
Posted on February 4, 2010 by smsgov
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.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 888 numbers, toll free, toll free number, toll free services | Leave a comment »
Posted on February 4, 2010 by smsgov
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.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: ebay, embargo, fcc, free, numbers, phone number, ration bill, rationing, sms800, toll, toll free | Leave a comment »
Posted on February 3, 2010 by smsgov
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.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 1 800 number, 1-800, 800, 800 number, 866, 877, 888, toll free, toll free number, toll free numbers | Leave a comment »
Posted on February 3, 2010 by smsgov
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.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 800 numbers, 855, 855 area code, 855 number, 866, 877, 888, att, qwest, ration, rationing, toll free, verizon | Leave a comment »
Posted on February 2, 2010 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 February 2, 2010 by smsgov
The federal government rationed coveted 800 numbers in 1995 until the new 888 pre-fix was introduced a year later. But the U.S. supply of available 1-800 numbers, dwindling for years, is again 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.
Read more here.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 800 numbers, 855, 855 area code, 866, 877, 888, att, qwest, ration, rationing, toll free, verizon | Leave a comment »
Posted on February 1, 2010 by smsgov
As a new month begins in 2010, we are still discussing the possibility of the FCC releasing new toll free area codes as a means of bolstering the dwindling stock of available toll free phone numbers. The buzz in the industry is that these new numbers—most likely the 855 numbers–will be released within the next year or so. But when? That is anybody’s guess. Here at SMS we keep a close watch on all the changes in the telecommunications industry and we are paying special attention to the potential new stock of toll free phone numbers. You’ll read the news here first.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 855, telecommunications, toll free, toll free number | Leave a comment »