how does one obtain a 1-800 number

[samin62]

hey, I was wondering how would someone obtain it. It can be 1800, 1866, 1877, etc. Basically those toll free numbers. What is the process?

[PianoGuy]

Contact your phone company. Here in the West, Shaw Cable provides toll-free numbers for no monthly fee and $0.06/min. Your local phone company would probably offer a similar deal. You could save some money if you're interested in using VoIP. You wouldn't actually need to operate your own VoIP equipment or use your internet connection. For example, VoIP.ms charges $1.49/month plus $0.0445/min to receive a call to your toll-free number and forward it to a Canadian landline.

Note that while your phone company may be the most expensive, they would also offer the product with the best audio quality. Any time you forward a phone call to another phone company, you reduce audio quality. Sometimes this is perceptible, and sometimes it is not - the only way to find out is to try. VoIP.ms has a minimum deposit of $25, but they will refund your unused balance if you are unsatisfied with the service.

Whoever you choose, make sure you are permitted to "port" your number away later if you decide to change phone providers. There's nothing worse than being unsatisfied with your service provider, and then discovering you have to pay a $500 fee to release your number.

[soblecram]

+1 for voip.ms

Easy to setup, I have one that i use when I travel. if the callerid matches my phone, it gives me a dial out (DISA) so I can call anywhere in NAmerica for about 4.5cents; if anyone else calls it it routes to my home phone and my cell at the same time...

[samin62]

thanks for the posts!

this is the same process for small business's? I want to appear professional, so I want this 1-800 number.

[mslolo]

thanks for the posts!

this is the same process for small business's? I want to appear professional, so I want this 1-800 number.

Just contact your telco and ask for a quote. A toll-free number works by directing calls made to it to terminate on a number you specify. You will need to provide what number to use as the "terminating" number (i.e your landline home or business line or your cell number etc) Depending upon if you've other services with them there may be a minimal or no monthly charge for one. You will be charged per minute for every call made to it. You can define the area of coverage i.e. only calls from within Canada or Canada and US calling. And you only want to promote this to people who are outside of your local free calling area as ALL calls are charged per minute even a call made from next door to the toll-free number.

[PianoGuy]

Yes, it's the same procedure, no matter who you are

However, if you require a phone book listing for your business, you should verify with your provider that this is possible.

[samin62]

That is a lot of help! Thanks guys!

I just ringed up Roger (or "robers" as people in this area of interwebz say it). They are looking at the availability of the number I want. Waiting for an answer now. Do you guys recommend any other company like Shaw or something?

[flafson]

There are lots of companies where you can check what numbers available online and then get it. I would assume a company like Rogers would charge more though.
I use both Ring Central and PATlive and they are both alright, but i think PATlive is cheaper.

[iforgotmymeds]

I have just started a small business. I ended up going with virtual Pbx out of the states. Not the one in Canada. Seemed good on BBB. Functional
It's has been good in my limited use so far. I liked the number of minutes I got and the two way faxing. Voicemails go to my email. There is the standard one month free trial to check it out

[amw3000]

+1 for voip.ms

Easy to setup, I have one that i use when I travel. if the callerid matches my phone, it gives me a dial out (DISA) so I can call anywhere in NAmerica for about 4.5cents; if anyone else calls it it routes to my home phone and my cell at the same time...

Sorry I don't mean to hijack but I hope you have a PIN setup for your DISA. It's so easy to spoof a number!

[OracerO]

That is a lot of help! Thanks guys!

I just ringed up Roger (or "robers" as people in this area of interwebz say it). They are looking at the availability of the number I want. Waiting for an answer now. Do you guys recommend any other company like Shaw or something?

How much is Rogers charging for it?

[fightbriz]

One does not simply "obtain" a one eight hundred number.

hey, I was wondering how would someone obtain it. It can be 1800, 1866, 1877, etc. Basically those toll free numbers. What is the process?

[Anatomy]

That is a lot of help! Thanks guys!

I just ringed up Roger (or "robers" as people in this area of interwebz say it). They are looking at the availability of the number I want. Waiting for an answer now. Do you guys recommend any other company like Shaw or something?

I always use http://www.tollfreenumbers.com/ to locate new toll free numbers; both les.net and voip.ms have obtained numbers I found from this website for me but if it is a truly fantastic DID or critical to your business it might be faster to secure the number with the tollfreenumbers.com website... then you can port to your chosen provider at your leisure.

[soblecram]

Sorry I don't mean to hijack but I hope you have a PIN setup for your DISA. It's so easy to spoof a number!

Yes, there is a PIN, and you also have to know my cell # (Everyone that calls me uses an old cell # that I ported to voip.ms a few years back, and just forward to whatever provider I am with currently)