Toll free numbers are one of the best phone system features. These special types of telephone numbers have already been around since the United Kingdom's General Post Office introduced them in the 1960's, but they have never lost their relevance. Presently, this feature is used worldwide and in various methods.
Business
Probably the most obvious use of toll free numbers is in business. Obtaining this kind of number is one of the best ways to get customers to connect and engage with businesses. Obviously, they also give a much-needed way for customers to ask for help without being charged long-distance or international fees. Businesses have the option of keeping their toll free service within a particular locality or to expand their reach to other regions. If they want their business number to be even more memorable, they could also subscribe to vanity toll free phone numbers.
There was a time when only large enterprises could afford to go toll free, but with the rise of VoIP telephone systems which made calls a lot less costly, toll free also became inexpensive to startups and small- and medium-sized businesses. These VoIP phone systems were also boosted with other features such as visual voicemail, Internet fax, and advanced call forwarding. Today, having a toll free business number is a must for any company.
Non-profits
Another obvious use of toll free is for the added services of non-profit organizations. Since these organizations' clients are mostly from the grassroots or do not have adequate means, going toll free is an useful service. Some nonprofits use these numbers for emergency situations or for the simple purpose of offering a helpline when the need arises.
Entertainment
Google for "funny toll free" and you'll be taken to toll free sites you can call for a quick laugh. However, these prank sites could be quite insulting or boring for some people.
Family
This is perhaps one of the not-so-popular uses of tollfree but one in the most helpful. Some parents subscribe to tollfree numbers, so they could give their children free calls to home when they go off to college. By doing this, youngsters can't use excuses like "my cellphone bill is too high," "I ran out of battery," or "I couldn't find a phone."
Government
Just recently, the US government released a toll free phone number citizens could call to find out how their representatives in Congress are "voting on bills and raising campaign money." The new campaign is part of the effort to make sure greater transparency in government. Like a lot of nonprofits, government institutions also subscribe to toll free to provide their public with instant service.
If you are thinking of subscribing to toll free numbers, try getting 800, which is the oldest and thus, the most memorable. However, you might have a hard time finding one. Another good option could be to use 888. Newer prefixes are 877, 866, and 855.
Discover more on how toll free numbers can boost your strategies. Aside from the toll-free 800 number we also provide useful details regarding business phone systems as well as VoIP service providers that may help your business with its communication needs.