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Business Phone Numbers

Learn what to keep in mind with business phone number types and phone etiquette to global expansion best practices.
outbound calling for International Call Centers
28th March 2018 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Do Toll Free Numbers Work Internationally?

is 877 a toll free number?
23rd March 2018 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Is an 877 Number Toll Free?

australia call recording laws
16th March 2018 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Call Recording Laws in Australia

Earning the Trust of Your Customers
8th March 2018 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Maintaining Customer Service Phone Numbers Worldwide

Buying phone numbers in multiple countries.
15th February 2018 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Buying Phone Numbers in Multiple Countries

Australia virtual phone numbers
12th December 2017 blog, Business Phone Numbers

How to Get an Australian Phone Number in 2026

call 1800 canada numbers
6th December 2017 blog, Business Phone Numbers

How to Call 1800 Numbers from Canada

6th December 2017 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Options for Sprint Wireline International Toll-Free Number Customers

International Phone Number Providers in South America
1st December 2017 blog, Business Phone Numbers

International Phone Number Providers in South America

Do Toll Free Numbers Work Internationally?

28th March 2018 blog, Business Phone Numbers

If you’re looking for toll free numbers for your business, you’ll quickly notice that there are a number of available options. Deciding which one you want can be a little confusing, particularly if you’re not sure which type of toll free number is right for your company. To resolve any confusion, here is a rundown of the different types of toll free numbers, how they work, and where they work.

International Toll Free Numbers

When you subscribe to international toll free numbers, they will be allocated to the countries of your choosing. Your customers in those countries will be able to call you without any charge to them. Instead, your company pays for the cost of the call. This is a great way to expand your business throughout the world because it provides an inexpensive and efficient way to increase your communication and marketing. It also makes it much easier for clients to contact you.

So that your customers know that their calls will be free of charge, international toll free numbers are formatted with a different prefix than other numbers. The prefix will vary depending on the country the calls are being made from, but they are easily recognizable.

How Does International Toll Free Calling Work?

Let’s say that your company is located in the United States, but you have a significant customer base in the U.K. Those British customers may be reluctant to call you because they would have to pay costly long-distance calling charges. They would also have to mess around with tricky long-distance calling codes. Market research shows that these two factors will reduce communications with your customers, decrease your leads, and cut your revenue.

This is where international toll free numbers come in. In this case, you can avoid the problem by purchasing a U.K. toll free number, from a company such as Global Call Forwarding. That makes it free for all your British customers to call you, and all calls will be easily redirected to your mobile phone, office landline or customer service center in the U.S.

How Toll Free Numbers Can Improve your Metrics

The important thing to remember when you buy international toll free numbers is that you can make each one serve its own purpose. In this way, you can track the effectiveness of your marketing strategies. For example, let’s say you are advertising your product or service in several places simultaneously. These are:

  • Your website
  • Television
  • Newspaper
  • Email newsletter

You could use a different toll-free number for each of these mediums, that way you would be able to track each lead to its original source. Armed with this information, you can adjust your marketing strategies to be more effective where necessary. You will also need to find out any restrictions before you purchase a new number, such as whether the phone number will work with mobile phones or not.

Are There Any Universal Toll Free Numbers?

Many business owners want to know if they can purchase toll free numbers that are free to call from anywhere in the world. Unfortunately, global toll free numbers, in this sense, do not exist. However, there is something similar. This is called a universal international freephone number (UIFN).

Although UIFNs aren’t universal toll free numbers, they can be used to make toll free calls from several different countries. These numbers do come with some restrictions, including:

  • Each UIFN must be registered in a minimum of two countries.
  • Each UIFN must be in service for a minimum length of time, this being at least 180 days from the day you subscribed to it.

How UIFNs Work

UIFNs take a current toll free number and turn it into an international number by adding an extra digit. Now you have an 11-digit number that doesn’t alter the integrity of your existing toll free number. For example, if your original toll free number was 1-800-FLOWERS, it would then become +8000-FLOWERS. This method allows you to maintain your original vanity number while enabling your business to receive calls from other countries. By making just this slight variation, you have extended your global reach, while also boosting your brand awareness.

If you need a toll free number that can be used in several countries, a UIFN may be a good choice for your company. Make sure to check the restrictions, and shop around for set-up fees because they can be expensive.

Virtual International Phone Numbers

If you haven’t heard of virtual international numbers, you may have heard of DID (direct inward dialing) as they are sometimes referred to. This is a type of international toll free number that is not tethered to an actual phone line. Instead, calls made via a virtual phone number are rerouted by the service provider to your office phone, customer service team, or even your personal cell phone. This type of toll free number sometimes comes with a host of special features. For example, virtual phone number provider Global Call Forwarding also offers failover forwarding, blacklisting and whitelisting, SMS forwarding, voicemail to email, and time of day routing.

Virtual toll free numbers can route calls originating from several sources such as:

  • Mobile phones
  • Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
  • Public switched telephone network (PSTN)

This means you can receive calls from all over the world from practically any platform to any platform.

When you begin your search for an international toll free number, the main thing to be aware of is that there are many competing companies in the market, each offering different packages and different services for differing fees. A certain number of different factors will influence your final choice, such as the size of your company, your budget, how much global exposure you have or want, etc. The best virtual international phone number providers do not charge activation or set-up fees, in most cases, and the virtual numbers should be available within just a few minutes. Furthermore, you should not be required to make a long-term commitment, and you should be able to cancel at any time without incurring a penalty.

Is an 877 Number Toll Free?

23rd March 2018 blog, Business Phone Numbers

A toll free number is one that can be dialed without the caller being charged. In the United States, all toll free numbers have a distinctive three-digit code. These are 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, and 833. One of the most popular uses for toll free numbers is customer service calls. Toll free numbers allow your clients to call your company without having to pay local or long-distance charges.

How 877 Numbers Are Assigned

You can obtain toll free numbers from a number of companies, such as Global Call Forwarding. As well as providing a toll free service, many of these companies will also offer other features and services. Some of these features include time-based routing, hosted call recording, blacklisting and whitelisting, voicemail to email, SMS forwarding, and failover forwarding.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) oversees the official regulating of toll free numbers. The organization sets mandates for how toll free numbers may be obtained and used. One of the requirements is that all toll free numbers must be portable, which means you can take your number with you when you’re switching service providers.

Benefits of Toll Free Numbers

Using toll free numbers for your business has several benefits including:

  • Saving your customers money: they will be more inclined to make the call if they don’t have to pay for it.
  • Boosting your brand: it enables you to build your brand effectively across different media.
  • Making your company contact information easier to remember: it will stick in your customers’ minds every time they see or hear it.
  • Giving your company a more professional appearance: your company will look bigger even if you’re operating from a home office.

Is an 877 Number Toll Free?

Not all toll free numbers are equal. Dialing a different prefix will route your call to a different recipient. For example, dialing 1-800-767-0987, will not connect you to the same recipient as dialing 1-888-767-0987. The first toll free number available was an 800 number, which has been around for about 50 years. As these numbers became saturated, other toll free numbers had to be created to meet the demand. One explanation of how the numbers differ is by comparing them to web domains:

  • Having an 800 number would be similar to having a .com domain
  • Having an 888 number would be similar to having a .net domain
  • Having an 887 number would be similar to having a .info domain
  • Having an 866 number would be similar to having a .biz domain

Why are Free 877 Numbers Important Marketing Tools?

Toll free numbers, when used correctly, can provide a valuable marketing tool for your company, particularly if you want to boost your brand. Although the numbers are toll free for your customers, your business will pay for incoming and outgoing calls. You can use toll free numbers to help with generating leads. Customers who call your toll free numbers have usually already used your services or bought your products at least once. They may also wish to place an order, or they may have some questions about your products or services. Toll free numbers offer a great way to track your leads to the source and see if your marketing strategies are working effectively.

Making the Most of a Toll Free Number

To make the most of a toll free number it’s important to choose one that is easy to remember so that it will reinforce your brand. There are two types of toll free numbers; these are known as vanity numbers and prime numbers. A vanity number is one which spells out the name of your company or something related to it. For example, if you are a wedding photographer, you may choose the vanity number 877-WED-PHOTO. A prime toll free number is one that is easy to remember because of the combination of digits. For example, 877-777-8787.

If you are looking for a vanity number, many more are still available with the newer prefixes. But bear in mind that some mobile devices don’t have alphanumeric keypads, so customers who are calling from their cell phone may have an easier time remembering a prime number. If you do wish to go ahead with a vanity number, always include the numeric equivalent alongside it in all of your advertising campaigns.

Which Toll Free Prefix Should I Choose?

Although many companies have been using 800 numbers for decades, the other toll free prefixes are becoming just as popular. However, which one you choose may have some impact on your return on investment.

For example, if you are advertising your business on television or radio, you may prefer to use 800 or 888 numbers simply because they are easier for your prospective customers to remember. Nevertheless, whichever prefix you use, a toll free number is always a good option.

If you do decide to use an 877 number, be sure to make it clear to your customers that this is a toll free number, as some of them may not be aware of this. One of the problems that business strategists often point out with using one of the less familiar toll free prefixes is that clients may misremember your number and replace the 877 prefix with 800, which will obviously lead them to a different company, perhaps even one of your competitors. But, an advantage of using an 877 toll free number is that because they are not yet as popular as 800 numbers, more of them will be available. It pays to check the 800 version of your vanity number to make sure that it is not in use by one of your competitors.

Using toll free numbers are beneficial for your business because they encourage people to call you and they help you trace your marketing campaigns back to the lead. If you use an 877 prefix, it would be wise to remember to make absolutely clear that it is a toll free number for customers who may not be aware of this. Don’t forget; you can use toll free numbers for your U.S. and international customer base.

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

Call Recording Laws in Australia

16th March 2018 blog, Business Phone Numbers

There are times when recording what people say during a phone call sounds like a great idea. Maybe you want to memorialize something being promised to you by someone else. A hosted call recording service can resolve “he said/she said” disputes. Recorded phone calls can help prove guilt or innocence in a court of law, or they can simply be used as a tool to jog your memory later on about who said what in a given conversation.

Is it Legal to Record a Phone Call in Australia

Recording a phone call in Australia is not always legal, and the laws that govern recording phone calls can not only be complex but can even differ from territory to territory.

National and Territory Laws Differ

National Australian law deals with recording phone calls by regulating the intercepting of phone signals. As a general rule, it is illegal for businesses to record phone conversations in Australia without obtaining consent from the other person. The act also makes it criminal to do anything “that will enable” wiretapping phone lines, meaning even those who install listening devices, or who assist others in recording calls in Australia, could be liable under the law.

The requirement that the parties have knowledge that a call is being recorded is why large companies that call you will often start with a disclosure, stating that your call is being recorded (sometimes for “quality control purposes,” but more likely, so that the company doesn’t run afoul of the law).

But the laws get more varied depending on which Australian territory you are in when you’re recording calls between private individuals, and when dealing with the law regarding listening devices.

Some Australian territories allow individuals to record phone calls whenever they want. For example, in Queensland, you can record a phone conversation with the consent of only one party — the other person doesn’t even have to know the phone call is being recorded. Other territories in Australia are more restrictive. New South Wales and Tasmania, for example, require that all parties give consent before a private conversation can be recorded.

Some territories have their own unique exceptions and definitions. For example, South Australia allows one-party consent recording if the recording is done on the course of someone’s “duty” or if the recording is in the “public interest.” In Australia’s Northern Territory, it is legal to record unless you have actual express knowledge that the other party does not want to be recorded.

How the Calls Are Recorded

Even in parts of Australia where recording phone calls is legal with only one party’s consent, the legality of recording phone calls often turns to how the calls are being recorded.

In Queensland, even if you are recording legally, you can only do so with a recording device that is not attached to the telephone. This means that a Dictaphone or a recorder unattached to the phone, or any other device that captures the sound as it leaves the phone — including a video camera — would need to be used to be legal. Victoria and Northern Territory have the same rules as Queensland.

Exceptions to Prohibitions on Call Recording

In some territories, the law forbids recording “private conversations.” The meaning of “private conversation” in Australian phone recording law is not very clear. Both the intent of the parties, and the circumstances of the conversation will be considered in determining when a conversation is private or not. If the conversation is not private, the recording laws may not apply and the recording may be legal however it is done.

call recording laws
Source: Shutterstock D#363709706 – Standard License

But again, the law of your territory may differ slightly. For example, in Tasmania, a “private recording” is defined more subjectively. To be private, it must be reasonably assumed that the participants wanted the conversation to be private. That’s different from asking whether it’s objectively reasonable to expect that a conversation is private.

Some Australian territories have laws that allow the recording if recording the call is necessary to protect legal interests.

There are differing court opinions on what kind of interests meet this “legal interest” exception. Generally, the interest must be related to property disputes, or to memorialize a commercial or business transaction.

Simply recording because it is your policy, or just to make sure that someone else upholds their word, or just to keep your own private record of what people say in a conversation, does not meet the exception. That includes recording someone “just in case” they decide to break their word later on.

Putting the court decisions together, a general rule of thumb arises: If you are recording for your own convenience or to gain some kind of advantage, it will not meet the legal interest exception. Rather, the recording must be to protect a legal interest. The line between these two is not so clear, which is why it is always best to get legal advice before recording phone calls in Australia.

Other Laws and Exceptions to Consider

These laws deal with someone who is a part of the conversation doing the recording. It is almost always illegal for someone who is not a party to the discussion to record any private conversations in any way.

These laws also do not prohibit law enforcement from recording phone calls, after obtaining a proper warrant from an Australian court.

And remember, even if recording a call in your part of Australia is legal, that doesn’t mean that it’s legal to publish the recording or share it with the public. Being legally allowed to record is not the same as being legally allowed to use a recording however and whenever you want.

Recordings made in violation of the call recording laws usually will be inadmissible in court. So even if you don’t get yourself in legal trouble for recording calls, the purpose of the recording may end up being useless to you, no matter how valuable what you recorded may be.

Many violations of Australian phone call recording laws carry criminal penalties, so you should do your homework and maybe even get professional legal advice before recording someone on the telephone. The last thing you need is to find yourself in deep legal trouble for doing something that was intended to help you.

Related: How to Get an Australian Phone Number

Maintaining Customer Service Phone Numbers Worldwide

8th March 2018 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Global Call Forwarding (GCF) provides our clients with toll free numbers in over 140 countries. GCF forwards calls and maintains the lines for local access for business discussions and customer service requests. The process works as follows:

  • Your existing or potential customers dial a toll free local number in their country.
  • GFC’s forwarding service sends the calls to designated call centers or central offices.
  • Your enterprise answers the call.

This toll free forwarding service assures easy-to-dial, high-quality communications in countries around the world, including those areas with poor telecommunication infrastructure.

Features Available with the International Call Forwarding Service

Global Call Forwarding provides an advanced suite of free and optional features for toll free numbers and international call forwarding services. Brief descriptions of the free features follow.

Customized Greeting – Tailor a customized greeting to give callers a great first impression. Many companies use the greeting to direct callers to the appropriate departments.

Select Country Forwarding – This feature is available with the Advanced IVR (interactive voice response) feature. This feature forwards calls based on the country of origin. For example, a call from France could reach a call center with someone who is a French speaker.

Time of Day Routing – This feature routes calls based on the time of day or the day of the week.

Sequential Forwarding – Sequential forwarding delivers calls down a list of predetermined numbers. This feature minimizes unanswered calls. The sequence can have four additional numbers.

Local Ringback Tones – This is the tone that callers hear while waiting for a connection. Forty unique ringtones from around the world are available.

Simultaneous Ringing – With simultaneous ringing, two or more phones ring simultaneously. The call connects to the first responder. This feature is highly useful for call centers.

Call Transfer – This feature places the incoming call on hold while the attendant dials a preprogrammed sequence to transfer the call anywhere around the world. The attendant can either brief the other department or transfer the call immediately.

Voicemail – Voice permits customers to reach your number 24/7. There is also a Voicemail to Email feature that sends an MP3 file of the voicemail to your email. Users can customize the Voicemail to Email feature with the Control Panel and send voicemails to two different email addresses.

Failover Forwarding – The failover forwarding feature allows businesses to program multiple numbers, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) accounts, and Tier 1 carriers. If an incoming call is busy or does not connect, the feature forwards the call to the next number.

Forward Fax – This feature receives and forwards faxes to email as image files.

Customizable Application Programming Interface (API) – The Global Call Forwarding API has features to integrate GFC’s services with an enterprise’s business systems.

Advanced IVR/PBX –  The Interactive Voice Response (IVR) feature provides a computer greeting to direct calls. Callers can use voice or telephone keypad responses. The feature also has a free Private Branch Exchange (PBX) service, a private telephone network that connects calls to individual extensions.

Account Management – This feature has a Customer Control Panel to manage the account and to change feature settings. Account Management is computer accessible, and it permits users to view invoices and call details.

Black and White Lists – This feature filters calls. It can accept or reject calls based on specific telephone numbers or area codes.

Optional Features – Three optional features are available: SMS Forwarding, Call Recording, and Rollover Minutes.

      • SMS Forwarding sends incoming text messages to an email account. As of February 2018, there are 17 countries that are SMS capable.
    • Call Recording automatically records incoming calls. This feature is useful for customer service, quality control, or liability concerns.
    • Rollover Minutes – With rollover minutes, unused plan minutes roll over to the next month.

For more information on the rates and features of international call forwarding, please read the article, “Get International Call Forwarding at Global Call Forwarding”.

The State of the Customer Service Experience as of 2016

The Northridge Group, a management consulting firm, surveyed more than 1,000 United States consumers about customer service issues. A PDF document titled, “State of Customer Service Experience 2016” gives the survey results. The online survey took place in April 2016. The survey report considered differences in generation. The generations, as defined by The Pew Research Center were as follows:

  • Millennials (ages 18 through 34)
  • Gen-Xers (ages 35 through 50)
  • Baby Boomers (ages 51 through 69)
  • Silent Generation (ages 70 and above)

Consumers want greater connectivity to their brands, and they are willing to use several communications channels. However, the companies who respond inconsistently put their reputations and customers at risk. The following paragraphs outline the key highlights from the study.

Customer Effort: Less is More

Less customer effort results in increased customer loyalty. Forty-four percent of consumers reported that companies made it hard for them to get customer service. The phone (56%) was the easiest way to resolve issues while letters (30%) were the hardest.

Not ‘One and Done’

Fifty-five percent of consumers needed two or more communications channels to resolve issues. However, the phone was the most efficient method to resolve an issue. 60% of the time, the phone resolved issues with a single contact, 54% for online chat, 47% for web self-service, 43% for mobile app, 38% for letters, 36% for social media, 35% for text message, and 34% for emails.

Speed Wins

Consumers want fast resolution of issues, and the younger they are, the less time they spend using a given communication method. Within 60 minutes, 40% of millennials switch communications channels, 31% of gen-x-ers, 19% of boomers, and 20% of the silent generation.

Hold the Phone

Telephone customer service meets expectations for 60% of consumers and exceeds expectations for 29% of consumers. When using the phone, 87% of contacts resulted in a response and an eventual resolution of issues. Ten percent of the time, the phone resulted in a response but no resolution, and 3% of the time, there was no response to the phone call.

Shall We Chat?

Online chat is gaining in popularity, especially for millennials, as 27% of them favor online chat for fast issue resolution. Eighteen percent of the consumers in the survey consider online chat as a viable alternative to the phone.

Socially Challenged

Social media is growing as a communication channel with 77% of consumers using it more than in 2015. However, 21% of those surveyed did not receive a response from their brand using social media or text.

Consumers Want to Connect with Companies

Eighty-one percent of consumers in the survey contacted customer service within the past year, and 58% went out of their way to purchase from companies with excellent customer service. In addition, 60% tell their friends and associates when they receive bad service.

Conclusions

  1. Telephone contact is the most effective method of providing customer service.
  2. The worldwide use of toll free numbers enables customers to reach your business quickly and easily.
  3. The features associated with toll free numbers and call forwarding help your customers have an excellent customer service experience.
  4. Grow your business using international toll free numbers for customer service.

Buying Phone Numbers in Multiple Countries

15th February 2018 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Global Call Forwarding makes it easy and cost-effective to buy phone numbers in multiple countries. We also provide international toll free phone numbers in over 150 countries. The “View Rates” page our website, simplifies the process of shopping for and buying phone numbers in multiple countries. Global Call Forwarding even offers a free trial for their numbers.

There are several types of international toll free numbers sold by Global Call Forwarding:

  • Toll Free
  • Toll Free Mobile Accessible
  • Toll Free Mobile Accessible (SMS Optional)
  • Nationa
  • Mobile (SMS Optional)
  • Geographic
  • Geographic (SMS Optional)

The types of numbers available, rates and monthly minutes, and additional information and restrictions depend upon the telecommunications systems and regulations of the country with the toll free number. Generally, the National, Mobile, and Geographic rates are lower than the toll free rates. However, like Toll Free numbers, National, Mobile, and Geographic rates are toll free to callers.

World’s 10 Most Populous Nations

The US Census Bureau’s 2018 estimate of the world’s population was 7,452,667,034, and the combined number of people in the 10 most populous nations equal 58% of the world’s population. Therefore, it is instructive to look at these large countries to learn about Global Call Forwarding’s toll free numbers in those countries. The following table shows the world’s 10 most populous countries and their respective populations.

 

The World’s 10 Most Populous Countries
Rank Country Population Rank Country Population
1 China 1,384,688,986 6 Pakistan 207,862,518
2 India 1,296,834,042 7 Nigeria 195,300,343
3 United States 329,256,465 8 Bangladesh 159,453,001
4 Indonesia 262,787,403 9 Russia 142,122,776
5 Brazil 208,846,892 10 Japan 126,168,156

China

There are 206.64 million fixed-line telephone subscriptions in China, 1,364.934 million cellular phones, and 730,723,960 internet users. In China, Global Call Forwarding offers Toll Free, National, and Geographic numbers that people can buy. Callers may use landlines and fax transmissions when they call the Toll Free number. However, with the National, Mobile (SMS Optional), and Geographic numbers, callers may use landlines, mobile phones, pay phones, and fax transmissions, and they can call from other countries.

India

India has 24.404 million fixed-line telephone subscriptions, 1,127.809 million cellular phones, and 374,328,160 internet users. Global Call Forwarding only offers toll free numbers for India. To make calls, callers may use landlines, pay phones or fax transmissions. They may not use mobile phones or dial the number from another country. In addition, international direct dial (IDD) capability in the caller’s phone is required.

United States

The United States has 121.53 million fixed-line telephone subscriptions, 416.684 million mobile cellular phones, and 246,809,221 internet users. In the United States, Global Call Forwarding offers US toll free and Geographic (SMS Optional) numbers. With Toll Free numbers, callers can use landlines, mobile phones, pay phones, or fax transmissions. However, they cannot dial from another country. In addition, calls from USA pay phones using toll free numbers are subject to a mandatory FCC access fee of $0.69 per call. To use the Geographic (SMS Optional) numbers, callers can use landlines, mobile phones, pay phones, and fax transmissions, and they can call from other countries.

Indonesia

Indonesia has 10,372,912 fixed-line telephone subscriptions, 385,573,398 mobile cellular phones, and 65,525,226 internet users. In Indonesia, Global Call Forwarding offers Toll Free, Toll Free (mobile accessible), and Geographic numbers. With Toll Free numbers, callers can only use landlines and fax transmissions, and international direct dial (IDD) capability in the caller’s phone is required. With Toll Free (mobile accessible) numbers, callers can use landlines, mobile phones, and fax transmissions. With Indonesia phone numbers, callers can use landlines, mobile phones, pay phones, and fax transmissions, and they can call the number from other countries.

Brazil

Brazil has 41,846,846 fixed-line telephone subscriptions, 244,066,759 mobile cellular phones, and 122,841,218 internet users. In Brazil, Global Call Forwarding offers Toll Free, Toll Free (mobile accessible), Mobile (SMS Optional), and Geographic numbers. With Toll Free numbers, callers can only use landlines and fax transmissions. With Toll Free (mobile accessible) numbers, callers can use landlines, mobile phones, and fax transmissions. With Mobile (SMS Optional) and Geographic numbers, callers can use landlines, mobile phones, pay phones, and fax transmissions, and they can call the number from other countries.

Pakistan

Pakistan has 3,067,911 fixed-line telephone subscriptions, 136,489,014 mobile cellular phones, and 31,338,715 internet users. Global Call Forwarding offers Pakistan virtual phone numbers, which allow callers to use landlines, mobile phones, pay phones, and fax transmissions, and they can call the number from other countries. However, the numbers are restricted to Pakistani nationals, and a copy of the Pakistani National ID card is required.

Nigeria

Nigeria has 154,513 fixed-line telephone subscriptions, 154,342,168 mobile cellular phones, and 47,759,904 internet users. In Nigeria, Global Call Forwarding offers Toll Free (mobile accessible) and Geographic numbers. With the Toll Free (mobile accessible) numbers, callers can use landlines, mobile phones, and fax transmissions. With the Geographic numbers, callers can use landlines, mobile phones, pay phones, and fax transmissions, and they can call the number from other countries.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh is in southern Asia, and it shares a 4,142 km border with India, a 271 km border with Burma, and a 508 km seafront on the Bay of Bengal. It is slightly larger than the US state of Pennsylvania. Bangladesh has 772,369 fixed-line telephone subscriptions, 126,391,269 mobile cellular phones, and 28,499,324 internet users. Unfortunately, Global Call Forwarding does not sell any numbers in Bangladesh. However, if one desires to establish a local presence in Bangladesh, an Indian number is a reasonable alternative.

Russia

Russia has 32,276,615 fixed-line telephone subscriptions, 231,393,994 mobile cellular phones, and 108,772,470 internet users. In Russia, Global Call Forwarding offers Toll Free (mobile accessible) and Geographic numbers. With the Toll Free (mobile accessible) numbers, callers can use landlines, mobile phones, pay phones, and fax transmissions, but they cannot call the number from other countries. With the Geographic numbers, callers can use landlines, mobile phones, pay phones, and fax transmissions, and they can call the number from other countries. Global Call Forwarding is the best place to get a Russian phone number.

Japan

Japan has 64,024,938 fixed-line telephone subscriptions, 164,265,142 mobile cellular phones, and 116,565,962 internet users. In Japan, Global Call Forwarding offers Toll Free, Toll Free (mobile accessible), and Geographic numbers. With the Toll Free numbers, callers can only use landlines and fax transmissions. With the Japan toll free numbers, callers can use landlines, mobile phones, and fax transmissions. With the Geographic numbers, callers can use landlines, mobile phones, pay phones, and fax transmissions, and they can call the number from other countries.

How to Get an Australian Phone Number in 2026

12th December 2017 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Both a country and a continent, Australia is surrounded by the Indian and Pacific oceans. The Australian continent is comprised of the Australian mainland, the island of Tasmania, and a number of smaller islands. Australia is the largest country in the region of Oceania and the world’s sixth largest country. The capital is Canberra. Other major cities include Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, and Adelaide. Australia is a self-governing British Commonwealth country. The government is a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy. It is divided into the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch. The Prime Minister since 2015 has been Malcolm Turnbull. Get an Australian phone number and enter your business in its booming economy.

Buy an Australian Phone Number

To enhance your business prospects in Australia, we cannot stress the importance and the benefits of getting Australian phone numbers. They are affordable and highly convenient. Here are the steps:

  1. Go to our Pricing page.
  2. Select Australia as the country you need a number for.
  3. Then, choose the type of number (choose from toll-free, national, mobile, or geographic).
  4. Click View Rates and Select Plan.
  5. View the results and choose from the options.

Types of Australian Phone Numbers

Global Call Forwarding offers Australia toll-free numbers, local phone numbers, mobile numbers, and national numbers.

Advantages of Buying an Australian Phone Number

You may be surprised to learn how many ways international virtual phone numbers can benefit your business. Here are several examples:

Develop a winning local presence: Don’t struggle to attract customers from beyond your immediate vicinity. Often, customers outside your area may think that you are too far away to deliver a reliable service. But if you have a local virtual number, they will have no idea that you don’t have a local physical presence and they will dial your number rather than your competitor’s.

Establish a market overseas: You may want to expand your business overseas, but you may not have the resources to set up an operation there. A virtual international number allows you to run your business overseas while you are working from your base office or even from home. If your employees have skills in other languages, you can certainly take advantage of their abilities and let them plunge into international relations, without having to make investments abroad.

Boost your image: In the world of business, your image is paramount. With virtual phone numbers, you can give the impression of owning a global empire rather than a small business. This can be particularly beneficial if you are not located in a major city, as it boosts confidence with your partners, suppliers and your customers.

How Australian Phone Numbers Work

Virtual Australian phone numbers work by providing your company with a range of local, Australian 1800 numbers and a forwarding service that reroutes your calls to the number of your choice. The number could be your office, your company call center or even your mobile phone. You can change the number at any time. Each time your Australian clients make a call, they have the ease and confidence in knowing that they are calling a local number and talking to a local company. They never need to know your physical location. They will also be happy not to have to pay long-distance charges or to have the hassle of overseas dialing codes.

Global Call Forwarding offers a cutting-edge service that provides Australian phone numbers as well as virtual numbers in more than 140 other countries. Once you have signed up for an Australian phone number, you can establish business connections and take calls from your customers anywhere in the world. For example, if your company is based in Canada, but you’d like to expand your business to Australia, virtual Australian phone numbers provide a point of contact for you in that part of the world.

Customize the ringtones on your Australian phone number to match the local ringtone. To make sure you never miss a single call, you can have your calls routed to more than one number at the same time. You can also schedule calls to route to different numbers based on the time of day.

Doing Business in Australia

Whether you are starting out with a new business, or looking to expand your current venture, Australia has great business opportunities. The nation’s current economic state makes it very affordable and attractive to foreign investors. When it comes to business, Australia is considered to be the gateway between Asia and the Western world.

Furthermore, Australia has very strong trade relationships with China.

Australia’s Economy

The Australian economy is highly developed and is one of the world’s largest mixed market economies. In terms of wealth per adult, Australia is the world’s second wealthiest nation. The nation’s economy is dominated by the service sector, which comprises 61 percent of the GDP. Some of the country’s largest companies include Woolworths, Caltex Australia, Wesfarmers, Rio Tinto Group, and Telstra. The currency of Australia is the Australian dollar.

Australia’s Six Largest Industries are:

Financial industry: Australia has several valuable assets in the financial world. Its main four banks – ANZ, Westpac, Commonwealth Bank, and National Australia Bank – are all ranked in the world’s 50 safest banks. The financial sector is one of Australia’s largest industries.

Metal and mining industries: The mining sector is Australia’s second-largest industry due to the country’s massive array of natural resources. The country is home to many categories of the mining industry including black and brown coal mining, iron ore mining, gas and oil mining, gold ore mining, copper ore mining, and bauxite mining.

Business consulting firms: Many of the world’s major business consulting firms are now based in Australia. Consulting firms fall into four categories: information technology consulting, strategy and general business consulting, sustainability consulting, and human resource consulting.

Energy and utilities: Australia has huge energy assets along with outstanding natural resources such as coal, oil, natural gas, and uranium. The nation also boasts renewable energy resources.

Industrial and material industry: Because this industrial sector garnered some big projects over the past decade, it was able to survive the financial crisis. Growth has maintained in part by the New South Wales $50 billion transport plan.

Healthcare and the pharmaceutical industry: This sector includes biotechnology and medical practice. Australia is currently undergoing a shortage of doctors and nurses, particularly in regional areas.

Using Australian phone numbers for your business allows you and your employees to work from anywhere and reach anywhere in Australia. With virtual call forwarding, the business world is your oyster.

How to Call 1800 Numbers from Canada

6th December 2017 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Are you interested in learning how to call 1800 numbers from Canada? If so, we can offer some assistance. The following article will offer the steps to take to make a 1800 call from Canada. Read on to learn more.

What are Canada 1800 Numbers?

Canada 1800 numbers are just like toll free numbers in the US, or anywhere else. These numbers do not have a specific, location-centric area code. They can be used nationally, or in the case of Canada 1800 numbers, throughout Canada and the US as well. As the name states, these numbers start with the “1800” prefix with seven digits following.

How do Canada 1800 Numbers Work?

They are toll free numbers, which means that the numbers are free for callers to dial. The owner of the number pays for all calls that are received. In the age of mobile and VoIP calling, having a toll free number has a different meaning than in the past, when callers used landlines to make calls. Even though most callers don’t necessarily need calls to be “toll free” because they inherently won’t be charged, toll free numbers are significant because they indicate business establishment. Therefore, when you have one, it indicates to your clients or potential customers that you are a well-established business.

It’s important to note, however, that you typically cannot make calls to toll free numbers outside of the country they are intended for. So for instance, if you are in Australia and you want to call a Canada 1800 toll free number, it will not work. However, if you’re in the US, it will be no different than calling any other toll free number in the US. Similarly, if you want to call the US from Canada, on a standard phone number (not a toll free number) you will just have to dial 1 + the area code, then the phone number.

How to Call 1800 Numbers from Canada

Here are the steps you can follow to make a call to a 1800 number in Canada.

Step 1: Using the dial pad your phone, enter the exact digits of the 1800 Canada number you want to call.
Step 2: Press the “Call” button for the call to be made.
Step 3: Hang up or press “End” when the call is complete.

1800 Toll Free Canada Numbers for Your Business

If your business is considering using toll free numbers to communicate with clients or potential clients in Canada, here is some more info on why they are an excellent option.

    • Professional Appeal: Toll free numbers are great when used in marketing because they are an instant symbol of being an “established” business.
    • Widespread National & Continental Reach: They give your business the ability to be reached by people anywhere in all of Canada (and the US). So, if you’re aiming to create a national or continental presence, an 800 toll free number in Canada will be great for your callers.
    • A Distinct Business Number: If you need to purchase a designated business phone number for your business and you do business in Canada or the US, a 1800 toll free number is ideal. This ensures your customers will know they are dialing a business number. While local numbers are perfect for creating a “local” presence, a toll free number indicates your company is national/ continental.

About Canada 1800 Toll Free Phone Numbers

When you purchase a 1800 number for Canada, it can be used ubiquitously in the US as well. This is because phone numbers for Canada and the United States are determined by the North American Numbering Plan, also known as the NANP, which is the governing body for the assignment of phone numbers in North America. Therefore, toll free numbers in the US and Canada are used the same way.

Conclusion

If you were interested in learning how to call 1800 numbers from Canada, hopefully, this article shed some light on the process. It’s important to remember that if you’re in North America, dialing Canada toll free numbers will be a simple process, however, if you’re elsewhere, they may not work at all. If you would like to get a Canada 1800 number for your business, contact Global Call Forwarding today to do so.

Options for Sprint Wireline International Toll-Free Number Customers

6th December 2017 blog, Business Phone Numbers

In September 2017, Sprint ceased operations of its wireline consumer long-distance service and all the service’s associated features. The discontinuance need not have detrimental results for Sprint customers, because they can easily turn to modern alternatives that will allow for cost effective long distance calling. One solution is to obtain international toll-free numbers from alternative carriers.

What is a Virtual Phone Number?

A virtual number is one that is programmed strictly for the purpose of forwarding calls to another number. Virtual numbers do not require any dedicated hardware. Calls can be forwarded to existing landlines, call centers, mobile phones, or to a voicemail box. Virtual international numbers allow your company to have a virtual presence in many countries throughout the world. Your clients, colleagues, and competitors will not ever need to know that you do not have a local physical presence.

Virtual numbers don’t have to be international. You can even take advantage of them if you are in the United States. For example, let’s say you have a real estate business that is headquartered in New York, but you want to attract customers in Philadelphia. You could get a virtual phone number with a Philly area code. These calls will be transferred instantly and seamlessly to your main business line, without any caller realizing you may not actually be in Philadelphia, enabling you to have a local presence that can propel your business in this new market.

Which Replacement Carrier Should I choose?

You should consider a carrier that provides virtual international toll-free numbers, such as Global Call Forwarding. This type of service has a number of advantages.

  • Cost efficiency: Because regional and international calls to your virtual business numbers can be redirected via toll-free Internet links, the call is answered without any additional cost to the customer.
  • Local business presence: Marketing surveys show that current and potential clients prefer to deal with local customer service providers. Having virtual business numbers allows you to establish a local presence without having to relocate or send staff to a different area. Virtual numbers also permit you to provide more personalized customer service.
  • Business image: Having a professional image is crucial, particularly if you are a start-up or small business. Virtual numbers can enhance your business profile by allowing you to create different business departments, functions or locations, even when you are working out of a non-traditional office space.
  • Consistency: When you sign up for virtual phone numbers, they are never tied to a specific device. In spite of this, your customers can always reach you by dialing the same number, wherever you are working from, without a concern over who is going to answer.
  • Security: When you use the virtual international number you can log all your calls, which enables you to easily keep track of your call costs. You can see who called, where they called from and when they called. You can also block unwanted numbers to set call limits and reduce your costs. Caller IDs can help you blacklist and whitelist numbers or redirect calls, so you don’t waste time or money.
  • Brand continuity: If you are juggling several products or services through different sources, a virtual number can help you maintain the integrity and continuity of your brand. Even if you have already established a client base who use certain numbers, emails and contact names, you can still port each of these channels to your new virtual communications system.

Advanced customizable features: Global Call Forwarding offers a suite of additional features including SMS email forwarding, black and white listing, rollover minutes, time of day routing, customized greeting, local ringback tone, and simultaneous ringing.

How International Toll-Free Numbers Can Help you Track Marketing Effectiveness

Tracking your phone calls can help you learn which of your marketing strategies are effective and which campaigns are not working. Right now, you may mistakenly think that several of your marketing plans are bringing in results. However, the only way to be sure is to actually verify your hunch with data. When you log and track your calls, you will be able to attribute your phone calls, which allows you to trace them directly to their sources.

Not only will this prevent you from wasting money on advertising, but it will also boost your return on investment. By tracking your calls you can see immediately which of your marketing efforts are converting leads to customers. This will help you better understand exactly how your customers are getting to you.

Call tracking also allows you to recapture dead leads and lost clients. You can gear follow-up calls to specific customer concerns. The extra information gleaned from call tracking enables you to know what a customer wants/ needs in order to complete an unfinished transaction.

If you are not able to clearly see what’s working for your company now, how can you make the right decisions for the future? One suggestion we can offer is to use call tracking with your virtual international toll free numbers. This can work in a number of ways to your advantage, and it can help you determine what the most effective marketing channels are. Then, you will be able to focus your efforts, and your budget accordingly to see the best results.

Can I Keep My Current Phone Number

Yes, you can retain your current number if you choose a virtual toll-free number. You also have the option to transfer your existing toll-free numbers to Global Call Forwarding. It’s a very user-friendly process, and you can complete it all in just a few easy steps. If you opt for our Value Service or higher, we will even waive the porting fees.

Do I Have to Add Onto or Replace My Current Phone System?

With Global Call Forwarding, this is not necessary. Virtual regional and international toll-free number services integrate with your existing phone system. They do not require additional equipment or software.

If you were a former Sprint Wireline International Toll-Free Number Customer, there’s no need to worry about this service being decommissioned. You can get everything you had from this service and more from a reliable virtual international call forwarding service such as Global Call Forwarding. This way you will be able to keep your international customers, allow them to call you toll—free wherever you are, and you won’t even have to change your current toll-free numbers. You get to save money, your customers will remain satisfied, and affordable communication will be available for all.

International Phone Number Providers in South America

1st December 2017 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Ecuador, Perú… the continent of South America is a dream destination and one of the most exceptional for travel and exploration. Bounded by the Pacific and Atlantic oceans as well as the Caribbean Sea, South America is home to tropical islands, stunning waterfalls, and the longest mountain range on earth.

Whether or not your enterprise is located in one of South America’s select countries, you may still want to make vital company connections in any one of these regions. Luckily there are many options for international telecommunications services. Global Call Forwarding takes an in-depth look at each of the following providers and how they may benefit your brand. Our team has reviewed features and packaged pricing options so you can make a truly informed decision when choosing the best services for your needs.

First it is important to choose which types of virtual phone numbers that will suit your needs, such as an International Toll Free Service (ITFS), toll free numbers, or local Direct Inward Dialing (DID) numbers. Once you have an idea about how you want to structure your company’s communications processes, you can read up on the international phone number providers in South America below.

Virtual Numbers in South America: Global Call Forwarding

It may be challenging to find a partner that has full coverage over South America, however Global Call Forwarding offers a range of services available in Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, and Ecuador. As you may remember reading previously, not all service providers cover every country, so be vigilant in your research. South America’s economy is made up of about 432 million people.

Global Call Forwarding Features

Global Call Forwarding is one of the best international phone number providers in South America, and a wide array of customizable services are offered. These include customized greetings and local ringback tones, call routing based on time, and black & white lists to help your employees better prioritize callers. Simultaneous ringing and sequential forwarding are best for international call centers and larger operations. You may view Global Call Forwarding’s worldwide rates here on their website. These options, along with the number of countries serviced make Global Call Forwarding an excellent option to work with for international numbers in South America.

Whether you want to manage dozens of international numbers, or you’re seeking a simple solution to streamline vital business functions, Global Call Forwarding’s team of professionals are some of the most reliable in the industry. With many years of experience in the field of telecommunications, they strive to provide a quality and cost-effective service for your company.

Packaged Carrier Provider: TollFreeForwarding.com

Tollfreeforwarding.com offers services in major countries in South America. Keep in mind, however, that some countries have more options than others. For instance, your organization in Brazil may use all the local numbers, toll free numbers, and mobile numbers you want with no exceptions. But in Paraguay, you do not have all of these choices available. You might only be limited to just one.

Though based in the United States, Toll Free Forwarding does have a strong international focus, especially in Colombia, Chile, and Venezuela. When phone numbers are used in combination with features such as Interactive Voice Response (IVR) or time of day routing, you can build up a custom service all on your own. And if a member of your team ever has any issues, you can call their designated customer support line based on timezone. Some reviewers say Tollfreeforwarding.com is both responsive and friendly. You may have to keep an eye on the time of day, though, as the times available differ depending on the day of the week.

How Does Pricing Work?

Tollfreeforwarding.com bases its pricing on your enterprise, whether you are a small startup, a growing company, or a large organization. High volume clients enjoy more benefits, such as a dedicated account manager and support team. Your business pays for services by minute “bundles.” The tiered pricing system begins as a “pay as you go” and graduates up to 250 minutes, 701 minutes, 1,300 minutes, 2,592 minutes, and 5,000 minutes. As you continue to expand services in South America, you can change tiers accordingly.

Online Number Providers: VoxBone and DIDWW

Voxbone

Voxbone is an international phone number provider in South America, however, it does not cover all countries. Currently, they offer no service in Venezuela, Uruguay, Paraguay, Guyana, Ecuador, or Bolivia. Despite this, all of their packages include unlimited usage of local landline phone numbers, which is good news. Also, there are no unexpected per-minute fees for inbound calls. If you want add-ons with your plan, you can choose from outbound calling, emergency callings, SMS and text messaging, number porting, and more.

Voxbone pricing is described on their website as “flat as pancakes.” These flat monthly rates allow you to readily understand the price of inbound and outbound communications ahead of time. To view your estimated price, simply choose your country and how many landline numbers you need.

DIDWW

DIDWW is a telecommunications company with many options for virtual and digital numbers. This provider covers a total of 73 countries globally, including most South American countries with a few exceptions. Using their cloud technology, you can redirect calls made to your toll free phone numbers using their simple online dashboard. Other features include call conferencing, call recording, online voicemail service, and a voice menu so your business can stay up to date on the latest communications technologies.

Exact DIDWW coverage and pricing requires you to enter your company name and email into their database first. However, they do promise simple, global, and transparent pricing for all of their clients. A description of billing categories can be found here on their website.

Notes About Online Number Providers

Online number providers must have a large library of numbers and area codes to choose from, and all of them need to be activated quickly and easily. This will allow for a smooth transition for your employees, customers, and vendors in South America.

When it comes to pricing, online number providers can charge your organization per month, per minute, or per channel with some limitations. When shopping for your perfect fit, keep in mind that excellent customer service is key, and before you commit to anything you should have all the necessary details. If it is not clearly explained on their website, we advise you to get in touch with their customer service department for clarification. You want a reliable partnership with an international phone number provider in South America that you can trust.