Newsletter ArchiveSUBJECT: New Toll Free Prefix Welcome to The Internet 800 Directory Newsletter. This week I want to remind everybody that the scheduled release for the 855 toll free prefix is November 18th. If you have been reading the ICB TOLL FREE NEWS, then you know that The Toll Free Commerce Coalition (TTFCC wants to delay the release of the 855 prefix. They did the same thing just before the 866 prefixes were released, but nonetheless, they rolled out on time. This issue should again give you an opportunity to grab a vanity or easy to remember toll free number that was not open to you before. Before you get too excited, I wanted to point out that this new toll free exchange is not branded like 800, nor is it vaguely familiar to the public like 888. At this moment, the public is just not up to speed on the new toll free prefixes. When John Q Public see 1-855-xxx-xxxx they may not recognize this as a toll free number. In other words, these numbers might not work as well as 800 and 888 numbers and could cause lower returns on media advertising. Here are a couple of facts about toll free numbers that many people overlook. First, you can terminate a toll free number anywhere you want. That is, your toll free number may ring to whatever local number you have it pointed to. The number your toll free number terminates to may be easily changed (with the cooperation of your long distance carrier). The toll free number itself does not change. I know a lot of companies that have gone thru hell because of an area code change or a move. The number they spent ad dollars promoting for years is no longer the same number. When you use and promote a toll free number, this is not something you need worry about. Also, because of lower long distance costs, it is much more affordable than ever before. The Internet offers companies the capacity for expansion into the national marketplace. Toll free numbers have become key to their success. Any toll free number or web address that is easy to remember can only make that expansion more successful. If after reading this, you now want to get a new 855 toll free number, prepare a list of several numbers you would be happy with. This will increase your chances of getting a "good" number. Call your carrier as soon as possible. You may have to educate your long distance provider, so be prepared. All Contents Copyright ©1995-2001 The Internet 800 Directory Subscribe To The Newsletter: |