When acquiring a toll free number for my company, is it better to get a true "800" area-code toll free number rather than the other toll free number area codes?
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RyanH20
Posted 1 year ago # -
Reece Freeman
Posted 1 year ago #Ryan, there are a few aspects to cover when answering this question. First, true "800" numbers are usually more expensive than other toll-free numbers (with area codes 855, 866, 877, and 888) due to their high demand. Second, while some of the reason for their high demand is just because they are in limited supply, they also signal the seriousness of your business to the public and are easier to remember than the other toll-free area codes. If a memorable number is your primary goal, vanity numbers are also available from most toll-free number providers. If you're still unsure about what kind of number to get, check our 800 numbers comparison chart that shows the different features and prices of the top toll free number providers.
Reece, ChooseWhat Staff -
anisha
Posted 11 months ago #Thanks Reece for bringing up some needed information regarding toll free numbers. I have seen this kind of toll free number (855) below a product name but I have not been familiar with this number yet. After reading your post I have now some knowledge regarding toll free numbers like 800 numbers. I would also like to know more about how it works and what are its proper functions? I guess each country uses its own type of toll free number?!
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Casey Jones
Posted 10 months ago #Hi Anisha,
800 number prefixes in addition to true 800 numbers such as 855, 866, 877, and 888 serve the same functions as a true 800 number and work in the same manner. 800 toll-free numbers operate by charging the called party in an exchange rather than the calling party which had been tradition before the introduction of toll-free numbers.
The additional prefixes (855, 866, etc.) were added in order to expand the supply of available numbers for use. In fact, there are only 10^7= 10,000,000 possible phone numbers for any given prefix and some are more desirable than others. As Reece above me pointed out, vanity numbers are available from most toll-free providers and the additional 800 number prefixes allow for the creation of more vanity numbers. For instance I could theoretically purchase 1-800-267-7878 which has the alphanumeric conversion of 1-800-CORRUPT among other things and I could also purchase 1-888-267-7878 which while having the same last 7 digits, I could advertise as 1-888-COP-RUST. Before the addition of more 800 prefixes, the market could only provide one line for all alphanumeric representations of a 7 digit string.
While I'm on the subject, I'd just like mention that the study located here: http://www.dial800.com/Company/Clients/800-number-study/ shows that memorable phone numbers (Think 1-800-555-5555 compared to 1-800-421-9420) may increase response rates to an advertisement by 25%-69%. Therefore it may be desirable to consider all 800 prefixes in order to get the most memorable number available.
To answer your last question, while some countries use prefixes other than 800, many use 800 or a slight variation such as 1800 or 0800. For example China, Australia, The UK, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, and Brazil all use 800 numbers amongst others. Examples of non 800 toll-free prefixes include 400 in China, 1-200 in the Dominican Republic, and 020 or 0200 in Sweden.
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