Thursday, December 31, 2009

The Future of Toll Free: 855, 844 and 833 Numbers.

The FCC currently holds in reserve the next generation of toll free numbers, the 855, 844, and 833 numbers. The unprecedented growth of telecommunication services since 1997 has made 1-800 phone numbers a valuable commodity. The FCC released 888, 877, and 866 toll free area codes to address the low supply of 800 numbers. Now, with more and more people getting their own toll free number for business and personal use, the supply of those four toll free area codes is dwindling.

Read more here.

Labels: , ,

Thursday, December 11, 2008

How Many Toll Free Combinations Are There?

Toll free phone service has steadily grown in popularity over the past few decades. It seems every company—from corporations selling luxury items to web businesses selling one item—have their own toll free phone number.

News reports have warned that with the popularity of 1-800 numbers soaring, while supplies remain limited, the amount of available toll free numbers is dwindling. The FCC has reserved toll free area codes to address a shortage.

So, just how many toll free numbers are there?

The four area codes currently available ---800, 888, 877 & 866--total 31,000,000 toll free numbers. Each area code has 7.7 million potential combinations. (some combinations within each area code group are blocked from use by the FCC) It is estimated that 19 million (or 65%) of all available toll free numbers are currently registered.

The specific breakdown is as follows:

6.5 million 1-800 numbers
5 million 888 phone numbers
4.9 million 877 numbers
3.1 million 866 numbers

The 800 numbers, the first and most popular of the four area codes, are sometimes difficult to obtain. Many combinations are already being used-and the numbers are so effective it is rare that they are returned into the system. The newest area code, 866, still has many numbers remaining.

When the FCC releases the new 855, 844, 833 and 822 phone numbers, subscribers will rush to obtain what are considered the “best” numbers. These numbers cannot be guaranteed to any specific subscriber prior to their release.

To learn more about how to be prepared to obtain a new toll free phone number, go to Tollfreenumber.ORG.

Labels: , , , ,

Monday, December 1, 2008

The Future of 855, 844 and 833 Numbers.

We have all read about the dwindling supply of toll free 800, 888, 877, and 866 phone numbers. Now, everyone in the telecommunications business is eagerly anticipating the release by the FCC of new numbers.

The FCC currently holds in reserve the next generation of toll free numbers, the 855, 844, and 833 numbers. The unprecedented growth of telecommunication services since 1997 has made 1-800 phone numbers a valuable commodity. The FCC released 888, 877, and 866 toll free area codes to address the low supply of 800 numbers. Now, with more and more people getting their own toll free number for business and personal use, the supply of those four toll free area codes is dwindling.

Since 855, 844, and 833 numbers are not available from the government yet—no company can guarantee that a reserved number will be reserved. But providers are gearing up--getting ready to deliver these new numbers to subscribers as soon as they are released.

Check out Tollfreenumber.ORG for more information on how you can get 855, 844 or 833 number once they become available.

Toll free numbers are increasing in popularity for both business and personal use. Once the new toll free area codes are released, millions of new possibilities for vanity numbers and standard 10-digit phone numbers will be come available. If you are considering getting a toll free number, start thinking now about the perfect vanity number to enhance your company’s image and to establish brand recognition with a memorable phone number that will increase your word-of-mouth referrals and generate new business.

Labels: , ,