Toll Free Numbers

Toll Free Numbers

Toll free numbers are an easy, no-cost way for your customers to interact with you. Buy a toll free number for your business today, and let your customers call you for free.

A Toll Free Numbers allows callers to connect with businesses without being charged for the call. In other words, the business incurs the charges for all the calls landing on these numbers.

It is generally identified by a dialling prefix number (800, 866, 855, 1-800, etc.) which is specific to a geographic area code.

There is a public perception that the companies that have toll-free numbers are well-established, so having one for your business gives out the impression that your business is successful and operates on a national level. A toll-free number for your business can boost your sales opportunities.

How to call toll-free numbers?

A business toll-free number is dialed out the same way as any other number. But how to dial toll-free numbers from mobile? Customers can call the toll-free number the same way they call other numbers. The cost incurred, however, depends on the mobile service provider.

Can toll-free numbers be called internationally?

Yes, they can. However, it might lead to additional costs. Toll-free numbers are designed to be country-specific, therefore being free of cost within the country’s borders. Every country has its own set of rules for accessibility, coverage and dialling format associated with toll-free numbers. When a call is made to those numbers across borders, it might incur international call rates.
However, businesses can get international business phone numbers, which are local numbers for each country, the calls to which are then routed through the Internet to your contact centre. You can see more about how it works here.

How does a company apply for this service?

Apart from telecom operators, there are cloud telephony companies like we provide business toll-free number services to companies looking for a free customer facing number. So any company no matter the size can opt for this service. If you are planning to get a toll free number for your business, it helps to have a checklist of your requirements and share it with the operator providing the service.

• Why toll-free number is important for your business
• What is the budget limit
• Do you want an international toll free number

This is not an exhaustive checklist, but it gives you an idea to work with.

Who can subscribe for toll-free phone service

Toll-free telephone numbers are particularly common as customer care number and can be utilized by any organization irrespective of the size, such as:

• Enterprises/organizations with a larger customer base
• Retail and service industry
• Hospitality business
• Businesses that want to be available for customers all the time
• Organizations providing after sales support

Toll-free number vs local number- what’s the confusion?

How do you differentiate a toll-free number from a local number? And are both the numbers the same? There seems to exist a confusion the two; let’s help you with that.

A toll-free number is a free phone number that your customers can dial without being charged, no matter how lengthy or long-distance the call is. The call charges are incurred by the business availing the service. These numbers begin with a specific prefix depending upon the country of usage:
For example, In India, toll-free numbers begin with a prefix 1800, in Indonesia, the prefix is 0800, in the UK, they start with 0800 or 0808 and so on…

One question that we often get is “Are toll-free numbers free internationally?” Unfortunately, the answer is no. This is because a lot of factors are involved in an international call.

Local number

As the name suggests, a local number is a phone number with a city-specific dial-code. For example, numbers in Bangalore start with 080. The caller incurs the cost of the call, and hence it is not a free number. A local number is useful for a business with offices in multiple locations making it easier to reach out to local customers.
For example, a business in India can set up a local number in Singapore, allowing callers to reach their market across the world for the same cost as a local call.

What’s the difference between DID numbers and toll-free numbers?

Direct Inward Calling (DID) numbers

DID numbers are virtual numbers that businesses use to route calls to their existing telephone lines. Usually, these numbers are programmed to direct incoming calls to specific team members, without each of those numbers having a physical phone line.