Need an 800 Number. Please help me select a vendor.

Greetings:

I found this for you...hope it helps.

 Toll Free Voice Mail 800-VoiceMail Store

-or-

Toll Free Voice Mail Voice Nation

-or-

800 results by www.live-at.com

-or-

The nation nearly ran out of unused 800 numbers last summer when the FCC stepped in to impose ration-ing. There was concern that 888 would not be ready before 800 numbers were "ex-hausted," and that businesses would not trust the new code. These concerns have been replaced by enthusiastic acceptance.

AT&T took on the task of educating the public about 888 when an AT&T-funded survey taken last summer showed that 99 percent had not heard of the new code. Through an extensive media tour, AT&T spokespeople brought the news to TV, radio and print. After the tour, public awareness of 888 was up from one percent to 19 percent.

 For information on how to obtain an 888 number for a business, call AT&T on 1-800-222-0400. (NAPSI)

B4-U-BUY(tm) FYI - 888 Joins 800 For Toll-Free Calling

Bright Blessings.

Peace, Love & Happiness,

The Mystic Wave

 

Edited by TheMysticWave on November 30 2004 at 10:44pm

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I could not get beyond the initial search page at www.consumerreports.org, because I am not a subscriber, but an initial search of their site produced 112 hits IN their site - which looks promising -at least from my perspective.

A listing of the "top 10" would be biased in one way or another - the most toll-free numbers in service - the highest revenue earned from toll-free service - the most customer changing to _____. or some other means of measurement.

I am happy with the long distance service I sell which includes toll-free service.

Most carriers will give you a choice of numbers - limited to availability - if someone else has the number, you can't have it - very simple. My carrier usually uses your same 7 digit phone number preceded by the toll-free area code, i.e, 800, 888, 877, 866 or whatever is available. Also, if it is available you can get XXX-258-375637 (Customer (name blocked for privacy)) (The extra 2 digits a caller would dial are irrevelant and have no effect on the dialing process.)

The only real hazard after getting your own toll-free number is the risk of whether anyone else has had it and how much traffic they received - because there is strong possiblity that you may get calls trying to reach the former listing for that number.

 

Edited by SunTaxMan on November 30 2004 at 11:18pm

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Response to 's Post:

Hello TheMysticWave,

Thanks for your help. I was hoping for a comparison of the top 10 (using any reasonable method) toll free number providers. I understand the differences between 800 and the rest of them, I just want to find a trustworthy company to buy the service from. Someone like ATT, MCI, Sprint, Qualcom, Pacific Bell, etc... I've never heard of Voice Nation, live-at, or the others you link to.

Again, I am looking for some kind of comparison of the features and rates of the top 10 toll free number providers.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Response to 's Post:

Hi T. R. Miller,

Good idea on going to consumer reports. I am a member there and just tried to find anything about 800 numbers (I searched on "800 number" and "toll free number") and didn't find anything applicable. It was mostly articles that included the words "toll free number"... i.e. XYZ product's toll free number is... What did you search by?

I don't really care about the method of figuring out the top 10. Any of those metrics would be good enough to help assure me that a company isn't a fly by night operation.

Plus, thanks for the other information and advice about previous owners and the "Customer (name blocked for privacy)" toll free number. I'm still looking for a reasonable comparison of the top 10 or so... Can anyone help with this?

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

I search for "Phone service."

__________________
TR's Income Tax, Acct. & Payroll
My Goals: Successful small business and tax returns the govt. has no reason to audit!
www.SunTaxMan.com
www.BusDriverStore.com

Your desire to use one of the "big boys" in the phone industry may not be justified. In the wake of de-regulation, many small companies have come into the picture - many with good rates and good service. Indeed, staying with the big boys often means higher rates.

Once you get a toll-free number, you can keep it. Unlike cellular numbers where the portability has just recently been established, a toll-free number is yours as long as you want it. To change carriers of that number is just that - to change the carrier for that number - not a necessity to change the number because you change carrier.

__________________
TR's Income Tax, Acct. & Payroll
My Goals: Successful small business and tax returns the govt. has no reason to audit!
www.SunTaxMan.com
www.BusDriverStore.com

I'd rather use a "big boy" and pay a little more, than worry that I might have to change companies or have down time for whatever reason.

Thanks for the info, though! Let me know if you find anything more on this!

I just tried that. Lots of cell phone and long distance advice. I didn't find any toll free advice. Good idea, though!

Customer (name blocked for privacy)