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28th September 2016 blog, Business Phone Numbers

What is a Virtual Phone Number?

The difference between toll-free prefixes.

21st September 2016 blog, Business Phone Numbers

The Difference Between 800, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888 Numbers

8th September 2016 blog, Customer Service

Tips to Improve Online Customer Service

8th September 2016 blog, Business Insights

Virtual Office Systems Provides Relief: Home Business Tips

8th September 2016 blog, Business Insights

Small Business Tips: Improve Your Company Image with Call Forwarding Numbers

7th September 2016 blog, Cloud Telephony

The Invention of the Telephone

31st August 2016 blog, Cloud Telephony

International Call Forwarding Explained

How to call a US toll free number from Mexico [2025]

25th August 2016 blog, Business Phone Numbers

How to Call a US 800 Number from Mexico

10th August 2016 blog, Business Phone Numbers

9 Questions to Ask your Toll Free Number Service Provider

What is a Virtual Phone Number?

Luke Genoyer 28th September 2016 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Do you own a global business with customers across the world? If so, you might ask what is a virtual phone number. This blog gives you the information you need to unlock the true potential of your business with a virtual number and a call forwarding service.

Virtual Numbers: Definition

A virtual phone number is a local or toll free number that enables users to make and receive calls via the internet. This number is not directly associated with a telephone line and doesn’t look any different from a regular phone number. Virtual numbers are typically used with a call forwarding service so callers do not incur long-distance charges. If you don’t already use virtual numbers, you should start taking advantage of this great marketing tool. You can get these numbers for different countries, cities, and regions from a virtual phone number provider like Global Call Forwarding.

Other names for virtual numbers: cloud-based numbers, cloud phone numbers, hosted numbers, and VoIP numbers.

How Does a Virtual Phone Number Work?

Virtual phone numbers use cloud telephony and number hosting to let users communicate over the internet. Unlike a traditional landline, you can make and receive calls from a virtual phone number from anywhere, and you can route incoming calls to any location. This means your business can expand globally without opening physical offices or relocating teams, and you can improve connectivity among your remote, local, and global teams via one centralized hub.

Benefits of a Virtual Phone Number

A virtual phone number is a cost-effective way to make your business more accessible and more scalable from anywhere in the world. When you get a virtual number, you take strides towards unlocking the true potential of your business.

The main reason to own a virtual number is to make your business more accessible. When you have a hosted number in the same country as your clients, it will cost them almost nothing to call you. This will make existing clients more comfortable and will encourage prospects to call your business.

International growth is another major benefit associated with virtual phone numbers. Virtual business phone numbers enable you to operate remotely because they are not tied to any landline. A business can buy a virtual phone number in almost any market while still operating from its headquarters.

1. Establish a Global Presence for Your Brand

Most scalable businesses will understand that their target markets are not confined to any particular region. Rather, their employees are constantly seeking out growth opportunities in different countries. A virtual phone number enables you to establish a virtual presence in any potential market.

Creating a virtual presence in multiple target areas can do wonders for your brand. Potential customers around the globe will become familiar with your company and the services you provide as you advertise in new regions.

Branding is a valuable marketing component. And a professional image can propel the success of a business. A known brand can build incredible value for companies and corporations. And one of the most effective branding tools is a virtual number.

2. Cost-Effective International Expansion

Before opening a new office, you need to consider several factors. One important factor is performing market research focused on the proposed new location. Before opening a new office, it is important to consider all appropriate growth alternatives. This means identifying new target markets as well as measuring demand and competition. You may even want to consider test marketing as part of your market research. An international virtual phone number can help you communicate with and qualify prospects in that area.

Another important factor to consider is funding for the new location. Opening a physical office in a new country comes with many expenses. You will need to pay rent, hire employees, and cover additional operating expenses. Furthermore, you will need to consider accounting and foreign exchange issues.

3. Work Remotely From Anywhere in the World

Countless business opportunities exist globally. Luckily, we have hosted phone numbers from more than 160 countries around the world. This means that you can seize any opportunity no matter where you are located.

How Do I Get Virtual Numbers?

You can set up a virtual phone system for your business with Global Call Forwarding. We provide virtual numbers in over 160 countries and thousands of cities. To sign up, visit our Pricing page or speak with one of our experts. Entrepreneurs should take advantage of this great marketing tool and start growing their business today!

The Difference Between 800, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888 Numbers

Luke Genoyer 21st September 2016 blog, Business Phone Numbers

When looking for a US toll-free number, you will often come across a variety of three-digit toll-free codes such as 888, 844, 855, 866, 877, and 800 numbers.

But is there a difference between these numbers? And why are businesses still heavily demanding toll-free numbers?

Here we will detail the differences between these toll-free codes and explain how owning toll-free numbers can help a business grow.

Toll-Free Numbers: Definition and Benefits

A toll-free number is a number that is free for callers. In other words, callers can reach a toll-free number without being charged for the call. Instead, the toll-free subscriber or the owner of the toll-free number pays for the call. This presents a major benefit because customers are more likely to call a business if the phone call is free.

Owning a toll-free number also makes your business appear more professional. Imagine a business that advertises a professional and corporate 800 number or an 1800 number as opposed to a standard mobile or cell phone number. The company with the toll-free number is probably more likely to attract customer attention. It is one of the most cost-effective ways to promote your brand.

Why Is There More Than One Code?

Businesses have been using 800 numbers for almost 50 years.

These 1800 toll-free numbers first originated in 1967 and were used primarily by hotels and rental car agencies. These agencies both take reservations from across the country. They also conducted a lot of business over the phone, before the internet. It was important for customers to reach these businesses for free.

However, the market for 800 numbers became saturated as more and more businesses started using toll-free numbers. This led to an exhaustion of 800 numbers and a need for more toll-free prefixes. To satisfy the demand:

888 numbers were created in 1996,
877 in 1998,
866 numbers in 1999,
855 numbers debuted in 2010,
844 numbers came into play in 2013,
833 numbers were released in 2017.

Difference Between the 3-digit Prefixes

A toll-free number will begin with one of the following toll-free prefixes: 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, or 844. The six formats are essentially the same.

The main difference between these 3-digit prefixes is the price for the prefix. True 800 numbers tend to be a few bucks more than the other toll-free prefixes.

That aside, all these numbers perform the same function and cost the same for callers (your customers).

Which Prefix Should I Choose?

The prefix that you choose for your toll-free number depends somewhat on your advertising strategy.

800 numbers are more popular on common advertising media like television, billboards, and radio. Business analysts consider traditional 800 numbers to attract larger call volumes. A simple explanation: traditional 800 numbers are easily recognized as toll-free numbers. People are still familiarizing themselves with the other toll-free codes.

However, if the 800 number that you want is taken, then you can buy an 888, 877, 866, 855, or 844 number and get the same benefits.

How are Toll-Free Numbers Assigned?

The FCC regulates the way toll-free numbers can be used or obtained. According to the FCC, toll-free numbers are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis by entities known as “Responsible Organizations.”

The FCC’s rules prohibit toll-free service providers from warehousing or hoarding toll-free numbers. This means that a provider cannot legally reserve a number without having a subscriber in place. The FCC regulates this activity to ensure that a fair supply of toll-free numbers is available.

Porting 800 Numbers

The greatest advantage for consumers is portability. Porting means that a toll-free user can “port” or move his number to a new provider when he changes providers. Portability becomes especially useful when you have owned an 800 number for a long time. It eliminates the need to advertise a new number to clients when switching providers.

Get 800 Numbers with Us

If you want to purchase a toll-free number or port your existing number to us, then simply sign up on our homepage. You can also contact our experts for assistance if needed.

Tips to Improve Online Customer Service

Global Call Forwarding 8th September 2016 blog, Customer Service

When customers are in the process of making purchases or obtaining any services, the very first thing they do is run a search on the World Wide Web. The internet has evolved into an arena that provides infinite information on anything and everything.

What does this mean for you?

Some brick and mortar organizations view this as a threat. Others, an exciting and cheap opportunity to boost sales and increase market share. Be the proactive businessperson and step out into the virtual world to bring forth your organization in the global arena. Here are some tips:

A User Friendly Website

The debate of the design vs. content has been raging for some time. As experts, Global Call Forwarding believes that there is no hard and fast rule that prefers one over the other. It simply cannot happen. A successful website is that which incorporates all the best features, including a professionally designed layout, well developed and credible content, and an intuitive, interactive interface. Make it simple. Remember, less is more. It takes an individual 5 seconds to decide if he likes the website or not.

Start Blogging! And Make It Good!

So, we’re back to content. What is your business about? One of the most effective ways to drive traffic toward your website is by maintaining high quality blogs. This also establishes credibility with customers and website viewers.

Social Media Marketing

This is where the world is at. Some of the world’s top brands heavily invest time and importance on creating and maintaining their social media image. This is where they promote discounts, special offers, contests, etc. It is basically a way to stay connected with followers and build a larger audience of customers and fans.

Create A Forum Where Customers Can Easily Access You

The difference between a good and great company often lies in their customer service support. This is why companies all around the world focus more on “customer retention” than gaining new customers. Creating and maintaining forums allows your customers to interact with you on an avenue that you can control.

Virtual Office Systems Provides Relief: Home Business Tips

Global Call Forwarding 8th September 2016 blog, Business Insights

Home office professionals and entrepreneurs find accessibility with virtual office system benefits

Managing the day-to-day administration of paperwork, phone calls and accounting is one of the most difficult challenges of a home business professional. You don’t have the support system that you find in large corporations, with switchboards, trained customer service personnel and personal assistants. So when you’re running the show all on your own, you need help. It’s that simple.

One of the easiest ways to find help is to contact a virtual phone number provider, which can immediately make your life easier. By setting you up with a toll free forwarding number, and by providing you with the benefits that a competent provider can offer, you can propel your business to the next level. Here are some of the ways you’ll benefit:

Accommodations for travelers. Some of us travel across town, the state or the country in order to meet clients and get our business done. That’s a lot of time on the road, and if you’re not reachable, you’re losing clients. With a virtual phone number you’ll never miss another call! You can get the “follow me” voicemail solution that will find you no matter where you are. The phone service can try as many numbers as you’d like until they reach you. They can even screen your calls, so that you can decide which calls you want to take and which ones you’d like to send to voicemail.

Consultant assistance. With a phone service, you can create the important image of success a consultant needs to succeed, as well as serve your clients better and create more billable hours. Call forwarding service will allow you to maximize your availability during working hours and free yourself from calls after hours. You can control the numbers where you can be reached as well as the times of day and days of the week you are accessible.

Home business management. With a virtual phone system, you can present an image of success and professionalism that will give your customers a sense of confidence in your company. You will have a voicemail solution that allows you to work successfully from your home without sacrificing your personal life.

As a home office manager and entrepreneurs, finding help can be crucial for the success of your business. By finding a virtual office system that works for you, you can take a positive step in improving your business.

Home business and small business owners benefit from virtual office system features

Shopping for a virtual office system that can offer you things like 800 phone numbers, vanity numbers, and office management assistance can be mind-numbing. Especially if you’ve never had such a service before. Where do you start? There are dozens of companies out there that can offer you countless benefits.

Once you narrow down the main services you want, you’ll probably have lots of additional questions.

Here are some basic features that you’ll want to look for that will enhance your benefits and help your company see results:

Look for a competitive rate. Toll-free rates can be as low as 4.5 cents per minute, which is very competitive in today’s market.
Beware of lengthy contracts. Instead of getting tied up in a long-term commitment, look for a company that offers monthly subscriptions for toll-free numbers.
Rely on technical support. Make sure that the company you sign up with offers a client services department to help you with any questions that come up. You don’t want to be hung out to dry in the middle of the afternoon when you have a question or concern.
Look for customization. Your company may have special needs, like you may need rotational voicemail for different people or groups. You also might need a script for special recordings, or rather you might choose to utilize a voice talent service. Make sure you are given these options for maximum impact.
Look for accessibility. Make sure that you have call forwarding available to you. Also, investigate the features to the call forwarding service. For instance, can you choose the time of day or days of the week you would like to get calls from a particular number? Make sure you have options with this feature, as well as with Call Back and Paging options.
Number flexibility. If you have an existing 800 number, make sure you can direct it to your new system. You should also be able to attach multiple 800 numbers to your system as well.
Look for payment options. If suitable for your needs, look for a pay-as-you-go plan. This allows for additional flexibility. Another option is a prepaid minute plan, which can help you stay in control of your usage.
Consider additional customer benefits. Some companies offer customer referral programs, which might include giving you credit for every new customer you refer. These benefits can add up over a month or a year and help you save money.

As you consider signing on with a virtual office service, knowing the benefits to look for and the questions to ask can help save money and lots of time.

Small Business Tips: Improve Your Company Image with Call Forwarding Numbers

Global Call Forwarding 8th September 2016 blog, Business Insights

Small business owners and home based businesses can improve business image with advanced call forwarding services.

At some point in in time, every entrepreneur or small business owner will have one of those moments where a light bulb goes off and you realize, “Oh, my. My business is growing so fast that I can‘t keep up with everything.”

It’s a good problem to have, but it also is one that requires action. If you’re buried with paperwork, burning the candle at both ends and working more hours than you can physically spare, it’s time to get help.

One of the easiest and fastest ways to relieve some of your stress while improving your company productivity, customer relations and image, is to seek the services of Global Call Forwarding. This company features toll free services that have helped thousands of entrepreneurs like you launch and grow their business.

Here are some of the most immediate and gratifying benefits you’ll experience:

Enhanced company image
Increased productivity
Potential increase in profits
Toll free numbers
Vanity numbers
Unified messaging
Follow-me call forwarding
The ability to give off the impression of being an established corporation
Easy-to-use applications
Full range of features and options to fit your unique needs
Enhance your personal branding with call forwarding numbers

And that’s just the beginning. If you know it’s time to expand your business, improve your offerings and provide great customer service, then using a qualified voice system provider is your next step. It’ll be one of the easiest business moves you’ve ever made.

In the professional world, you are your brand. How potential clients find you and how others in your industry look at you will depend almost entirely on the personal branding strategy that you set forth. It should not be a surprise then that personal branding extends to every aspect of your professional persona. From the clothing you wear to the design on your business card your personal brand needs to be unique, memorable and simple to remember.

While personal branding is important in all aspects of your professional life, one area that it may be most crucial is your contact information. Applying your personal brand to your telephone number is easier than you might think thanks to call forwarding.

A customized call forwarding number is a great way to increase your exposure and propel your career. By changing your existing number into something simple to remember and easy to share you can start promoting your business through platforms like websites, blogs and social media—all in a completely safe fashion. Customized numbers eliminate the long and awkward sequence of numbers, making it possible for you to make yourself easily identifiable with a simple word or even your name in lieu of a standard phone number.

Whether you are handing out your number on the fly, are posting it to social media accounts or building your web presence elsewhere, a customized, unique number can really boost your personal brand. Call Forwarding numbers can protect your personal identity by unifying your personal contact information with that of your company, offering you a level of anonymity that handing out a personal number exposes. As an added benefit, changing your personal number to a forwarded number will reduce unwanted telemarketing calls.

By forwarding your number to a single, customized line you can unify multiple lines into one simple number. This makes it easier as you grow, making it possible for all potential employers or clients in multiple cities to contact you through one simple number—without requiring different numbers for different locations and area codes. Your customized number can be toll free, which increases your business persona and adds a higher degree of validity to your professional name.

Don’t let your contact information be just another forgotten number. Enhance your personal brand by customizing a forwarded number and spread your name to a whole new world of potential clients.

The Invention of the Telephone

Luke Genoyer 7th September 2016 blog, Cloud Telephony

Earlier today, Apple unveiled two new iPhones: the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 plus. The tech giant announced newer models in its immensely popular line of smartphones. Smart phones today come with advanced mobile operating systems, which combine features of a mobile telephone with features of a personal computer.

Mobile telephones like the iPhone are currently some of the most widely used communications devices in the world. In the United States, nearly everyone has a cell phone – including your kids! China has an astronomical 1,100,000,000 cell phones in use.

Although in existence for more than 100 years, telephone usage and demand has been steadily increasing. There is tremendous use for telephones in business communication in addition to the use of personal mobile phones. For such a widely used device, the history of the telephone is rarely discussed.

The History of the Telephone

Alexander Graham Bell’s greatest success was accomplished on March 10, 1876, when he completed a monumentally successful experiment with the telephone. According to his journal entry dated 10 March 1876, Bell spoke these famous words, “Mr. Watson – come here – I want to see you.” This marked the first time he was able to “talk with electricity.”

However, the story behind the invention of the telephone has been surrounded by controversy. Two inventors in the 1870s both independently designed devices that could transmit speech electronically. Within hours of each other, Elisha Grey and Alexander Graham Bell rushed their designs to the patent office.

According to official records, Bell was the first to register his patent by a matter of hours. The two entered a notorious battle over the years regarding the true inventor of the telephone. Alexander Graham Bell emerged as the winner of the legal battle, and thus was declared the official inventor of the telephone.

Telegraphs as a way of communicating

Telegrams were the major form of communication before telephones were invented. For those unfamiliar with telegraphy – a telegram is a message sent by an electrical telegraph operator using Morse code. Users were limited to receiving and sending one message at a time. Telegrams were used to transmit and receive messages over long distances.

Imagine for a second how difficult it was to communicate with somebody using telegraphy. The process required electric telegraph operators, Morse code and wires! Cell phones are so easy to use.

The wire-based telegraph system was highly successful for more than 30 years. The Western Union Telegraph Company bought out smaller companies during the 1800s and rapidly extended its lines to become the dominant player in the early telecommunications industry. In fact, Western Union even built the first transcontinental telegraph line. However, two inventors in the 1870’s would drastically change telecommunications for a long time.

Alexander Graham Bell

Alexander Bell was born on March 3, 1847 in Edinburgh Scotland. Bell’s parents and grandparents were instructors in elocution and the correction of speech. Bell dropped out of high school and university, and his early career involved teaching deaf people. He taught at the Clarke School for the Deaf and at the American School for the Deaf.

While pursuing a teaching career, Bell began researching telecommunications on the side. Bell imagined potential innovations to the telegraph system.

Multiple message telegraphs

Alexander Graham Bell imagined sending multiple messages over the same wire simultaneously. He envisioned a multiple message telegraph that would allow users to send and receive several messages at the same time, rather than a single message.

In 1974, Bell received funding from father-in-law/Boston attorney Gardiner Greene Hubbard to create the “future of telecommunications” – the multiple message telegraph.

Bell worked on the multiple message telegraph and eventually enlisted the services of Thomas Watson, a young electrician. However, the pair began exploring a new idea – developing a device that would transmit speech electronically.

The harmonic telegraph

The two discovered that different tones would vary the strength of an electric current in a wire. Bell and Watson realized they only needed to build two devices for this to work. First, a working transmitter that is able to vary electric currents. Second, a receiver that would reproduce these varied currents.

On June 2, 1875, Alexander Graham Bell was first able to hear sound – a twanging clock spring – over a wire using his “harmonic telegraph” device. Less than one year later, the telephone was born, marking the death of the multiple telegraph idea.

Being able to “talk with electricity” presented vast opportunities to communicate with others.

The future of the telephone

Apple’s announcements today did more than unveil the newest iPhone 7. The announcements showed how far telephones have come. Alexander Graham Bell would probably not recognize his “harmonic telegraphs” today.

Still, the innovations to telephones have been so useful to hundreds of millions of people. Telephones and softphones are still widely used in business today and new features exist that enable landlines to do so much more than transmit voices. In addition, many companies are opting for alternatives to PSTN. Major innovations have altered the field of telecommunications. What’s next?

International Call Forwarding Explained

Luke Genoyer 31st August 2016 blog, Cloud Telephony

Customers dial 800 numbers to make a product inquiry, get customer service, book a hotel room, etc. Many businesses today offer toll free numbers as a point of contact to allow callers to call the business for free. These businesses utilize call forwarding to direct incoming calls. Furthermore, companies that offer services internationally or wish to expand globally use an international call forwarding service. Here we explain what international virtual call forwarding is and how it can help your business.

What Is International Call Forwarding?

Call forwarding is a telephone service that redirects a call from one phone number (ie, an 800 number) to another destination phone number. The destination number is typically a call center or company headquarters, but can also be a home phone, smartphone, etc. International call forwarding can be used in a number of ways to improve a business’ system of communications.

Now, let’s look at how a call forwarding service works.

How Does International Call Forwarding Work?

When a business buys a toll free number from Global Call Forwarding, they select a new phone number and a destination phone number. Calls placed to the ‘new’ number get forwarded to your destination number. This destination phone can be located anywhere in the world.

For example, a business in the US buys a US toll free number so that customers can contact them for free. US customers will call the new US 800 number and the call will be forwarded to an existing business line. Calls placed to your USA toll free number connect automatically to a local public switched telephone network (PSTN). The Global Call Forwarding network then forwards calls, via your local carrier, to your destination phone number.

International call forwarding is primarily designed for businesses that want to establish a virtual presence in any country. For instance, you can get international toll free numbers for countries that you want to target or enter and establish a channel of communication.

So, Why Should Your Business Use International Virtual Call Forwarding?

Your competitors probably already use a call forwarding service to their advantage. Most successful companies advertise a toll free number so that customers, vendors, and business contacts can speak with a representative at no cost to the caller. Businesses that use international call forwarding have many valuable advantages. These include:

1) Increased Expansion Capabilities — A business with call forwarding can attract customers from any country. And so, if you want to add new countries, cities, states, or regions to your customer base, this is a reliable solution.

2) Flexibility and Mobility — Call forwarding enables users to receive calls anywhere and at any time of the day. You are, therefore, not limited to one geographical location, you can move around or work remotely and still provide excellent service.

3) Eliminating Roaming Charges — Avoid international, long-distance, or roaming charges by forwarding calls virtually.

4) Establish a Local Point of Contact — An important initial step when expanding a business is entering new foreign and local marketplaces. After targeting a country with sales potential, use this call forwarding service to answer calls from customers in the target country.

5) Growth, Reliability, and Scalability — In addition to helping your business grow, you can make your business more reliable with advanced call forwarding. Add new numbers, new locations, and new customers as and when needed.

6) Advanced Communication Features — Take advantage of a variety of settings to ensure that your business is always available. For example, call forwarding with sequential ringing will send calls down a sequential list of phone numbers when the first call fails.

How to Set Up Call Forwarding

International call forwarding is very easy to set up and the service can be activated quickly. The easiest way to get international call forwarding is to buy a local or toll free number from Global Call Forwarding.

On our homepage, select a local or toll free number from one of the many countries we offer. After choosing your business number, view our competitive rates to determine which plan best fits the needs of your business.

Next, decide whether you would like to add “Rollover Minutes” to your account. Rollover Minutes can save a business a lot of money if the firm has unpredictable call volume. You may also consider adding “Outbound Calling” and “Call Recording” to your account. Outbound Calling supports your outgoing or outbound calling efforts and gives you the ability to customize your outgoing caller ID. Call Recording lets you record both inbound and outbound calls and store recordings for up to 6 years.

Add these additional services to your cart, then enter your contact and payment information and checkout. Your new business number will be activated as soon as possible, in as little as two days!

Once your virtual phone number is active, there are a number of features you can use with the service. Set up call forwarding from our online control panel, which is accessible through our website. Log into your account and click the call forwarding tab to set up desired call forwarding rules.

Get Call Forwarding Today!

Call forwarding makes it possible for customers in a foreign country to call a business without incurring expensive per-minute costs. Having this feature gives you a new way to engage customers and bring new ones to your business. An international call forwarding service is a great sales and marketing tool, giving your business greater sales potential. Sign up for the service now or chat with us to learn more.

How to Call a US 800 Number from Mexico

Luke Genoyer 25th August 2016 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Calling a US Toll Free Number from Mexico

Mexico is the 3^rd largest trading partner of the United States, behind Canada and China. Because of its close proximity to the United States and advancements in IT access, Mexico is an open and welcoming market for US products and services. People in the United States also purchase goods from Mexico. In fact, the United States has a trade deficit of approximately $50 billion!

This means that the United States buys more goods from Mexico than it sends. There are opportunities for trade between US and Mexico businesses, and you can get a US toll-free number to take advantage of these opportunities.

In 1994 Canada, Mexico, and the United States signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to create a trade bloc in North America. The goal of this agreement was to facilitate trade and investment between the three countries. Trade between Mexico and the US benefitted in particular because US 800 numbers connect businesses in Mexico with US customers.

Since 2010, American trade with Mexico has grown by nearly 30 percent. Both importers and exporters will benefit when they buy US 800 numbers.

How to Dial a US 800 Number From Mexico

Every business that operates in Mexico should buy US 800 numbers so that their employees can easily call US headquarters. Communication is vital in today’s business environment, and professional contacts should be able to reach your business. Dialing a US 800 number from Mexico is easy:

Dial 001
Dial 880 for 800, followed by the phone number.

This process is simple and inexpensive. By encouraging communications, the operations of your business are streamlined. Buy US 800 numbers and your operations will run more smoothly.

US 800 Numbers Help Attract Customers in the United States

US 800 numbers can make it easier for a company in Mexico to do business with US customers. When a business advertises a US 800 number on its website, they increase the likelihood of incoming calls from US customers by 30%. This is because US 800 numbers are more convenient to dial than a local Mexico phone number.

Your business is more inviting to US callers when you provide a US toll-free number. Call forwarding services will automatically route incoming calls from the US to a destination phone number in Mexico, or anywhere else in the world.

A business that advertises US 800 numbers also appears more professional. Most successful businesses utilize toll-free numbers because a 1-800 phone number is more appealing for foreigners to call than +52 followed by a string of digits. US toll-free numbers are an inexpensive marketing tool for a Mexican business looking to sell its good in the United States.

Operating in Mexico

Cheap labor made China the #1 destination for US companies looking to outsource their manufacturing in the 1990s. The cheaper Yuan, China’s official currency, made Chinese labor more affordable and it made raw materials easier to buy. However, wages in China have been increasing in the past few years. Businesses need alternative countries to outsource their manufacturing.

Relatively low costs paired with high quality and fast response times have made Mexico a prime manufacturing location. According to Forbes, manufacturing costs in Mexico are 20 percent lower than in China. A large portion of U.S. manufacturing already takes place in northern Mexico.

Large Companies Are Moving to Mexico

Many successful businesses have already moved their factories. While experts were unable to determine the official tally of businesses closing plants in the United States, a significant number of firms have moved their operations to Mexico.

For example, United Technologies recently opened a plant in Monterrey, Mexico, with a US toll-free number. Numerous other large global companies have successful manufacturing operations in Mexico, including GM, IBM, 3M, and many others.

9 Questions to Ask your Toll Free Number Service Provider

Global Call Forwarding 10th August 2016 blog, Business Phone Numbers

When it comes to running a business, every entrepreneur understands the importance of having a toll free number. It assures professionalism, credibility, consistency, and—most importantly–it assures customer satisfaction. Since having a toll free number for your business is vital, you should make sure that you get the most out of it. In this blog post, we will discuss 10 questions, which we believe you should ask your toll free number service provider so that you get a better understanding of what they offer and whether it matches your needs.

How to Find a Reliable Toll Free Number Service Provider

When researching and finding a new toll free service provider, there are quite a few factors to consider. Here are 9 questions to ask your provider before you make a hiring decision about your toll free numbers:

1: Are you a RespOrg?

First of all, let’s understand—what is a RespOrg? RespOrg or Responsible Organization is a provider that is certified by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to supply toll free number services.

It assures that the provider or telecom company is not only well-trained but also certified to offer the best toll free number service. Having an authorized toll free service provider can vastly increase the chance of getting high-quality, reliable service. So it’s always recommended to get toll free numbers from an authorized RespOrg toll free service provider.

2: Tier-1, Tier-2, Tier-3—Who are Your ULCs?

Underlying Carriers (ULCs) are telecom companies that provide toll free as well as direct inward dialing or DID numbers to VoIP wholesalers. These wholesalers’ providers offer your business toll free service. ULCs are usually categorized with respect to their size: Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3.

1. Tier-1 carriers — also called Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs) — represent ULCs that are large telecom providers. A provider in this category is usually called the monopoly or oligopoly in the telecom industry.

2. Tier-2 carriers — also called Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs) — are the most common providers. These providers peer with other Tier 2 networks and may purchase access or get a portion of their network from Tier-1 carriers. Most often, several CLECs are bought or absorbed by ILEC in the long run.

3. Tier-3 carriers get almost all of their network from a Tier-1 or Tier-2 carrier. These carriers are small, regional carriers and are wholesale aggregators with no direct access of their own.

Tier-1 carriers are considered to be reliable, stable, better quality, wider service area when compared with Tier-2 carriers. Tier-1 operators often acquire Tier-2 and Tier-3 carriers to broaden their coverage and customer base. The type of ULC or Tier your provider falls under can greatly impact the type and quality of service you will receive. Selecting a provider then depends on the price, quality, or service area.

3: Do You Provide Failover Protection?

Failover Protection refers to the process of the primary network automatically switching to a redundant network to ensure no calls are missed, during an event of service failure or disruption. During such a crisis or emergency, your business would need to direct incoming calls to numerous alternate numbers, devices, or networks. And if your provider offers Failover Protection, then when a switch goes inactive during a call, your calls automatically carry through another switch. With this set-up from your provider, your business will not miss or drop any calls.

4: Post Dial Delay (PDD), How Long Will it Be?

Post Dial Delay (PDD) is a delay after dialing a phone number. In other words, PDD occurs when you make a call and there is a moment of silence before the ring begins. Post dial delay happens when your call passes through several channels before it reaches the ULC. The delay extends when passed around more. If you can know your provider’s ULCs, you can have a better understanding of how much post dial delay you might experience.

5: Do You Provide Tracking Service (Additional Features)?

Not every toll free number provider offers a tracking service or additional features. Depending on the type of business, simply getting a toll free number is not enough. It’s always beneficial to find a service provider who offers additional features such as call recording, monitoring, and tracking. This will help you to optimize every incoming call by analyzing it. You can browse through Global Call Forwarding’s features to get an idea of what toll free service providers offer.

6: Should I Expect Any Additional Charges?

Every provider is different and may have varying additional charges. For example, some providers charge extra for calls made outside the monthly minute limit; this is called an additional per-minute rate. Another circumstance is when additional charges are imposed when the total number of rejected incoming calls goes beyond the highest level of toll free traffic.

Receiving unanticipated additional charges is stressful and so you want to choose a provider with a predictable monthly bill and upfront additional charges. We recommend confirming with your provider what kind of additional charges you should expect.

7: What Locations Does Your Toll Free Service Cover?

Before selecting a toll free service provider, you need to know what locations and regions their service covers. For this, you need to plan out how you will handle your communication system and where your customers or end-users are located. If your provider does not cover your target markets, you may want to look for another provider.

8: What Numbers Do You Provide?

1-800 number is the traditional and most common toll free number format. However, now there are more toll free prefixes such as 833, 844, 866, 877, and 888. These numbers were developed due to a shortage of 1-800 numbers. And since there are only a few 1-800 numbers left, these variations are considered valuable in the industry.

You may even consider getting a vanity number with letters or patterns inserted within the number to make it memorable. For example, if you run a taxicab company, you can choose 1-800-Taxicab. Similarly, if you’re an online florist, you can choose 1-800-Florist. Note that most of the obvious or common words and names may already be in use, so you need to spice up your creativity to find a captivating number that is fresh and easy to remember.

9: Is Number Portability Possible?

You have a better chance to port your number if your carrier is a RespOrg. However, it is always a good idea to confirm number portability with your provider. So just before hiring the provider for toll free service, make sure that they facilitate number portability.

Global Call Forwarding’s Toll Free Number Service

With these questions besides you, you can surely ask your toll free number service provider these questions and get the maximum benefits out of the service. It will help you to find the ideal provider for you with respect to the price, quality, or service area. To learn more, speak with our experts or chat with us online!