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Understanding the Different Types of Telephone Numbers in Russia

27th October 2020 International Business, Learn

Want to learn more about the different types of Russian phone numbers available? In this post, we detail the different Russian phone number types and uses.

Different Types of Telephone Numbers in Russia

Russia has a variety of phone number types with different purposes that range from free calling to mobile to emergency special numbers. The country dialing code for Russia is (+7) and the trunk prefix is (8).

If you plan to do business in Russia, then understanding the difference between numbers types proves necessary. Russia uses an open dialing plan with four levels for local, zone, country, and international.

Russian phone numbers are administered by the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media. They are under a unified numbering plan with Kazakhstan.

Let’s look at the different types of phone numbers, their format, and how to get a Russian telephone number.

1. Russian Local Numbers

Russian local numbers or geographic Russian numbers are phone numbers most commonly used by local businesses and residents. Individuals using these numbers incur local calling charges. Local numbers have a distinct area code for the region they are assigned to. For example, you can get local Russian numbers for the following major Russian cities with these area codes:

  • Moscow (495)
  • Omsk (3812)
  • Saratov (8452)
  • St Petersburg (812)

The format for Russian geographic numbers is: 8 (area code) xxx-xx-xx

As a business, you can get a Russian local number from a virtual provider even if you are not located in Russia. You can have incoming calls routed to your office, situated anywhere in the world. Locals call a local number which then gets forwarded internationally to you. This gives local Russians an inexpensive way to connect with your business, even if it is overseas.

2. Russian Toll Free Numbers

Toll free Russian numbers work like any toll free number: they are free for Russian locals to call. The toll free prefix used is (800). This means that businesses, customers, leads, vendors, etc., can call your business from within Russia for free. Again, virtual providers will give you the opportunity to use a toll free Russia phone number from outside the country. Therefore, if you want to expand your business to this country but don’t want to move there, you can still offer sales and customer support through toll free numbers.

The format for toll free Russian numbers is: 8 (800) xxx-xx-xx

3. Russian Mobile Numbers

Russian mobile numbers starting with prefixes (939) or (958) are mobile numbers with SMS capabilities. That means that these numbers can receive instant messages. Using mobile numbers can help your business offer SMS as an alternative to phone calls, increasing accessibility.

The format for Russian mobile numbers is: 8 (939) xxx-xx-xx

4. Russian Special Numbers

Russian special numbers are emergency numbers for local Russian residents, such as:

  • 101 – Fire brigade
  • 102 – Police
  • 103 – Ambulance
  • 104 – Gas service
  • 112 – General emergency
  • 107 – Directory assistance, Rostelecom
  • 109 – Directory assistance (free, limited info)
  • 009 – Directory assistance in Moscow
  • 100 – Talking clock in Moscow
  • 115 – Info on electronic government services

How to Get a Russian Phone Number

To get a Russian telephone number, simply sign up on our homepage. We offer Russian virtual numbers, toll free numbers, and mobile numbers. You can also get a universal toll free number (UIFN) that includes Russia, among other countries. To sign up or learn more, call us at 1 (888) 908 6171 or chat with our global experts online today!

Top 9 Virtual Phone Number Providers [2024]

4th June 2020 Learn

Choosing a virtual phone number provider can be a daunting task. There are so many service providers that exist in today’s market. This guide helps you navigate the best virtual phone number providers in 2024.

What is the Best Virtual Phone Number Service

Virtual phone numbers (also called hosted phone numbers) are telephone numbers that route calls over the internet; that is “virtually.” VoIP services make a lot of sense for small and medium sized businesses. In fact, studies show that more than 30% of all businesses worldwide are using some type of virtual number service.

It can help businesses reduce telephony costs while scaling their communication systems. There are so many options available today that can expand the capabilities of any business phone system.

What Are the Types of Virtual Phone Numbers?

There are several different types of virtual phone numbers available from providers in 2024. We consider the most common types:

  • Local phone numbers: assigned to specific states or cities within a country
  • Toll free numbers: assigned to specific countries with a designated prefix; charges the receiver instead of the caller
  • International toll free numbers (ITFN): toll free numbers for international countries; best for businesses with global offices

Hosted phone number services are typically made possible through international call forwarding. This enables providers to offer number originations in a certain country while they forward calls to other countries worldwide.

Key Factors Considered in Our Evaluation

The most important things to consider when choosing a virtual phone number provider are service, quality, and reliability. First off, we recommend choosing a provider that has been in business for more than ten years. It is also important to choose a provider with an outstanding reputation for call-quality and customer support.

We evaluated the best virtual phone number providers based on more than twenty different factors. Here are some of the many factors that we considered in our evaluation:

  • Pricing: this includes the total pricing for virtual phone number service. We consider whether their plans are priced monthly or annually and whether services are billed annually versus monthly. Some virtual number providers also charge per user. Also, setup costs were taken into consideration.
  • Convenience: it is important to choose a provider that offers convenient ways to get numbers and manage your services.
  • Ease of Use: we always recommend choosing companies that have an easy to use control panel to manage service features.
  • Service Features: IVR is essential in today’s business environment.
  • Customer Support: service and support should be a company’s top priority.
  • Reputation: we checked the Better Business Bureau for complaints against companies in our list.

Who are the Best Virtual Phone Number Providers?

We have put together a list of 9 virtual phone number providers for your convenience based on features offered, variety of plans, set-up/cancellation options, etc.

*Note: Prices and information about the providers mentioned here are current and subject to changes.

1. Global Call Forwarding

Features:

  • Variety of hosted phone numbers: toll free (160+ countries), local, ITFN, UIFN, vanity
  • Mobile accessible numbers
  • SMS-enables numbers
  • Unlimited extensions for different departments
  • SIP trunking and VoIP phone systems
  • Call forwarding options
  • Outbound calling (customizable caller ID function)
  • Call recording (inbound and outbound)
  • Customizable IVR systems

Cost: Global Call Forwarding offers 5 different virtual number plans based on business needs: $12.95/mo, $23.95/mo, $78.95/mo, $158.95/mo, $248.95/mo

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contract: No; cancel anytime

Free trial: 7-day free trial for business accounts

2. Jive Communications

Popular Features:

  • Call management tools
  • Call blocking
  • Custom schedules
  • Find Me/Follow Me feature
  • Integrations
  • Unlimited SMS and messaging

Cost: Contact a Jive representative

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contracts: No; cancel anytime

Free trial: First month free

3. Talkroute

Popular Features:

  • Toll free, local, vanity numbers
  • Outbound calls
  • Interactive voice response (IVR)
  • Call Logs and Reports
  • Single and multi-digit extensions

Cost: Talkroute offers 4 different virtual number plans: $19/mo, $39/mo, $59/mo, and $99/mo.

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contracts: No; cancel anytime

Free trial: Yes, 7-day trial

4. Vonage

Popular Features:

  • Call screening
  • Do Not Disturb function
  • Call monitoring
  • Voicemail (transcript form)
  • Integrations: Salesforce and Zoho

Cost: Vonage offers three virtual phone number plans: $19.99/mo/line, $29.99/mo/line, and $39.99/mo/line.

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contracts: No; cancel anytime

Free trial: 14-day free trial

5. CallHippo

Popular Features:

  • Local, toll free, and vanity numbers
  • Call conferencing
  • Call queuing and barging
  • Smart call forwarding
  • Simultaneous ringing
  • Call recording
  • Analytics and reports

Cost: CallHippo offers 4 virtual business number plans: $18/user/mo, $24/user/mo, $40/user/mo, and customized solutions with features of all the previous plans.

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contracts: No; cancel anytime

Free trial: No

6. RingCentral

Popular Features:

  • Unlimited calling
  • Call recording
  • Voicemail-to-text
  • Analytics and reports
  • Flip calls between devices
  • Call screening

Cost: RingCentral has 4 virtual phone number plans: $29.99/user/mo, $34.99/user/mo, $44.99/user/mo, and $59/99/user/mo.

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contracts: No, cancel anytime

Free trial: Yes

7. OnSIP

Popular Features:

  • Unlimited voice and video calling
  • Call recording
  • Website chat
  • Inbound bridge
  • Voicemail boxes
  • Polycom phones included

Cost: OnSIP has 2 virtual business number plans: $18.95/user/mo and $49.95/mo for each account + 2.9¢ per minute.

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contracts: N/a

Free trial: Yes, 30-day

8. Phone.com

Popular Features:

  • International, toll free, and local numbers
  • Call routing
  • Unlimited extensions
  • Texting services
  • Call management tools (call transfer and forwarding options)
  • CRM integration
  • Voice tagging
  • Ring-ready phones

Cost: Phone.com offers 3 pay-per-minute virtual number plans: $12.99/mo, $19.99/mo, and $39.99/mo. They also offer 3 unlimited plans: $29.99/mo, $37.99/mo, and $49.99/mo.

Set-up fees: N/a

Long-term contracts: N/a

Free trial: No, 30-day money back guarantee

9. Nextiva

Popular Features:

  • Unlimited calling
  • Unlimited video conferencing
  • Call recording
  • SMS
  • Mobile VoIP app

Cost: Nextiva offers two virtual phone number plans: $20/user/mo and $27/user/mo

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contracts: No

Free trial: Yes

Get Virtual Phone Numbers From a Trusted Provider

We can help you get virtual numbers most suitable for your business needs. For an efficient and reliable virtual phone system, consider virtual phone number provider Global Call Forwarding. To learn more, speak to an expert at 1 (888) 908 6171 today!

Coronavirus: How to Keep Communicating During Isolation

24th March 2020 Learn

Coronavirus (COVID-19) has slowed our lives down and has practically brought the entire world to lockdown. In these uncertain times, it is easier than ever to lose contact with important people and connections. So, how do you maintain relations and keep communicating during isolation?

Coronavirus: Communicating During Quarantine

Coronavirus has taken the world by surprise, causing many of us to practice social distancing and work from home, if possible. In such times, communication becomes more important than ever. Whether it is checking in on family and friends or completing business tasks, the right tools can help you stay in contact and take care of business.

Keeping Business Communications going

Most non-essential companies have been ordered to shut down in different cities, states, and countries. However, there are still many companies that can conduct operations virtually or remotely. This involves putting faith in employees while also ensuring daily and weekly tasks or projects are completed. If your business is working remotely, here are some tools you and your team can use to make communication easier:

  • Office chat tools such as Slack, Google Chat, WhatsApp groups, etc.
  • Video conferencing tools such as Skype, Google Meet, Zoom, etc.
  • Virtual numbers with call forwarding to forward incoming business calls to personal or home phone lines.
  • Toll free numbers to make it free for customers and clients to reach you.

Most chat and video conferencing tools are available for free. They work over your internet or WiFi connection and offer good quality calls. This will help you be in quick and constant contact with your remote employees. You can create group chats for different departments as well as collaborate by sharing important files and documents.

You can also get virtual numbers such as toll free numbers from Global Call Forwarding, or port your existing number. Virtual numbers work over the internet and through an online account management system. You can set up incoming customer calls to be forwarded to specific employee numbers. For example, you can have calls made to your customer service line directed to your customer service team working remotely. Or, have them sent to your receptionist who then directs them to the right department.

Presently, to keep things even more convenient and cost-effective, you can get $5 off Global Call Forwarding’s Value, Power, Premium, and Enterprise plans with the COVID19 promo code. This will help you maintain essential communications between your business and its valued customers with call forwarding, even during a pandemic like coronavirus. Purchasing and setting up a virtual number is quick and easy.

Personal Communications

Social distancing is much harder for some people over others. But it does not mean that you need to stop all kinds of interaction. With technological advances, it is possible to stay connected even in uncertain times through communication apps such as:

  • Instant messaging over the internet using iMessage, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, etc.
  • Social media: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, etc.
  • Video chats: Google Hangouts, Skype, Google Duo, WhatsApp, etc.

These apps and tools make it easy to keep in touch with friends and family through texts and video capabilities. You can create and share audio, images, videos, GIFs, etc. In fact, Netflix has an interesting and fun “Netflix Party” feature that even lets you watch shows and movies with your loved ones along with a group chat element. While virtual, this still maintains some degree of social interaction that can be comforting during this time.

Stay Positive and Keep Talking

Everything does not need to come to a halt during the coronavirus pandemic. Thanks to the internet and virtual communication capabilities, you can still stay in touch with the people you care about. Whether it’s grandparents stuck indoors or employees working from home or keeping a sick friend company, stay positive and keep communicating.

Avoid Coronavirus: Practical and Useful Information

17th March 2020 Tips

It’s no secret, everyone has the coronavirus on their mind. And while a global pandemic can be overwhelming and terrifying, it is important to focus on the things that we can control. So, what are some things you and your family can do to avoid the coronavirus?

How to Avoid Coronavirus?

News outlets are flooded with information (and misinformation) about the virus, its spread, and how one can avoid contracting it. In such a time, where there is an abundance of information and data available, it becomes necessary to go to the right sources. Governmental websites and global health websites are the best places to get news about the virus on a local and global level. You can track COVID-19’s movement globally and locally with data provided by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) here. Make sure you have the right information and do as recommended by health professionals.

Keep a Watch on Symptoms

First and foremost, keep an eye on possible symptoms. According to the CDC, the main symptoms relating to COVID-19 are:

  • Fever,
  • Cough,
  • and Shortness of breath.

Emergency symptoms include:

  • Difficulty breathing,
  • Pain or pressure in the chest,
  • Disorientation, and
  • Bluish lips or face.

At the first sign of these symptoms, you must contact your healthcare provider for advice and next steps.

Work from Home and Setting Up Virtual Communications

Thanks to advancements in technology, it is quite possible to switch to virtual business mode and work from outside of your office. You can set up virtual communications for your business by buying or porting your virtual business number to a virtual phone service provider like Global Call Forwarding and forward incoming calls to your and your employees’ personal or home phones temporarily. Right now, you can get $5 off our Value, Power, Premium, and Enterprise plans with the COVID19 promo code so you can maintain important communications even during this time. You can quickly purchase and set up a toll free number and forward incoming calls to our personal or home phone. This way, customers in need of your service can still contact you free of cost and no matter where you work.

Additionally, you will want to set up video conferencing and chat opportunities to schedule and conduct online meetings and discussions. Video conferencing apps and software like Zoom or Skype can enable video conversations. Furthermore, your teams can also use online content management tools like G Suite, Microsoft Projects, etc. These systems help keep track of important tasks and projects and ensure that work continues on.

As with the threat of any disease or illness, the recommendation is to always use preventative measures. The same goes for the coronavirus. Part of social distancing includes staying and working from home. This will reduce the risk of being exposed to others who may have the virus at your workplace or ride-shares, and so on.

Social Distancing, Self Isolation, and Quarantine

You’ll notice the overuse of terms such as “social distancing,” “self-isolation,” “quarantine,” and “flattening the curve” in the media regarding COVID-19. But what do these terms mean and how do you know what needs to be done? John Hopkins Medicine defines these terms for us.

Social Distancing: Means to avoid large crowds such as social events, sporting events, festivals, concerts, and more. The general recommendation is to avoid places and groups with more than 50 people. Social distancing means deliberately increasing physical space between you and other people. Maintain at least six feet of distance. Cancel plans, switch to video meetings, work from home, and so on.

Quarantine: Individuals who may have been exposed to COVID-19 will be asked to self-quarantine. The recommendation for this quarantine is to stay at home for at least 14 days to ensure you do not have the virus and do not spread it to others. If you have recently returned from traveling to a place where the virus is currently active or have been in close contact with someone who has the virus, then self-quarantine is the next step for you.

Self Isolation: People who have confirmed they have Covid-19 will be asked to self-isolate, which basically means keeping those infected away from those who are not. You can self isolate at home or the hospital or at a care facility. Protective equipment may be used to keep the germs at bay.

Flattening the Curve: Refers to using protective measures to slow the rate of the virus’ spread. The motive behind these measures is to ensure that doctors, hospitals, and clinics have rooms and supplies for infected individuals and patients.

Be Aware and Stay Safe

Coronavirus is a fast-spreading virus affecting individuals, businesses, and economies across the world. It has been a hard few months and it may continue for a few more. Do what you need to do, to keep yourself and your family members safe.

Keep in mind, you can get $5 off our Value, Power, Premium, and Enterprise plans right now with our COVID19 promo code. So, if your business is looking to transition to entirely virtual/ working from home, there is no better time to get a virtual number. For more information about cloud communication tools offered by Global Call Forwarding, call us at 1 (888) 908 6171.

Using Virtual Telephone Numbers With My Cisco Phone System

4th March 2020 How To's, Learn

Cloud communication is the future. Making calls over the internet instead of traditional phone lines can increase efficiency and reduce costs. To set a VoIP office system, you will need a VoIP service provider offering virtual numbers as well as an IP phone or a softphone to make calls from. Here, we will look at how to use virtual telephone numbers with Cisco phone systems

Cisco Phone System: An IP Solution

Cisco is a telecom company offering a variety of phone products and software to enable better communications. Paired with virtual numbers from Global Call Forwarding, you can build a strong office phone system that will support your internal and external communications. So, how do you use virtual numbers and VoIP service with your Cisco phone system?

Purchase Virtual Numbers

To use virtual numbers through your Cisco phone system, first purchase virtual telephone numbers from Global Call Forwarding. We offer toll free, local, and international toll free numbers for more than 160 countries across the world. You can get one or multiple numbers as you see fit.

To purchase numbers:

  1. Sign up for a new number on our homepage.
  2. Under “Select Your New Phone Number,” enter the necessary information for the new number you desire.
  3. Then, on the right, enter the destination number. This is where you want incoming calls to be forwarded.
  4. View rates and select one that is suitable for you.
  5. Add additional communication features such as Call Recording software and Outbound Calling.
  6. Complete your purchase and activate your number(s).

Make a Note of your SIP Information

Once your numbers are ready to be used, you will need to locate your SIP information to use later for configuration purposes. You will need certain information such as your SIP PIN number, the password, and the domain.

To locate the PIN number for your account:

  1. Log into the Global Call Forwarding control panel.
  2. Under Account Overview, select Outbound Calling.
  3. In the first column, locate your PIN number.
  4. Then, navigate to the right side and click on the Tools icon.
  5. A pop-up will appear.
  6. Scroll down to Password.
  7. Now, note your SIP PIN number and Password.
  8. The domain for Global Call Forwarding is mysipaccount.net.

Configure Your Cisco Phone System

A Cisco phone system is a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) phone system that, once configured, will enable you to make quick and easy calls over the internet. However, it needs to be connected to your VoIP provider first. Begin by setting up your device:

  1. Remove device materials out of the packing box.
  2. Connect the main desk phone to the handset by connecting its coiled cord to the “Handset” port on the backside of the desk phone.
  3. Then, connect the desk phone and the internet. Plug one end of the ethernet cable into the “LAN” port of your desk phone and the other into a port on your internet modem.
  4. Now, your phone is powered on and connected to the network.

The next step is to locate the phone’s IP address. This depends on the type of model you have. The most common way to find the IP address is through the Network configuration menu within the Setup menu on the phone.

Now, type this IP address into your internet browser and it should open up a Cisco webpage. Here, enter your Cisco login information. Check the documents included with the phone for the login and password. Contact the seller, if you cannot find the necessary information.

Once logged in, navigate to Basic settings and under Voice > Ext 1, enter your SIP PIN, password, and domain/proxy. On saving, your phone should now be compatible with your VoIP provider.

Using VoIP with Cisco Phone Systems

As you can see, the set up here is pretty easy and straightforward. Once you have everything ready to go, you can make high profile calls with high call quality and reliability. Build your IP office system and watch it increase efficiency and manage calls better.

The Benefits of Buying Local Phone Numbers in Bulk

17th January 2020 Learn

Bulk Phone Numbers Are a Smart Addition to Any Business.

They give your business an authentic presence in particular target markets and make your company more accessible to individuals in local and international areas. Given the fact that your business needs a new phone number for each targeted area, the need to get bulk toll free numbers is a high-priority. Therefore, the more that you purchase in bulk, the greater the benefits for your business.

Let’s take a look at the many benefits that come with using bulk local numbers from Global Call Forwarding, including:

  • Tracking Marketing Efforts
  • Easy Access for Your Customers
  • Improving Regional Marketing Efforts
  • Streamlining Your Business
  • Cost-Effective Global Business Expansion
  • Utilizing Advanced Features to Remain Competitive

Track Marketing Efforts

By using multiple local numbers, you can track where the majority of calls are coming from. For instance, with the intuitive dashboard from Global Call Forwarding, you gain insight into how effective your advertising campaigns are. Additionally, you can also view the effect of regional marketing campaigns, which appeal to different target demographics. Most importantly, armed with this insight, you can make more intelligent decisions about marketing, distribution, and more.

Easy Access for Your Customers

When using localized phone numbers in international markets, you make it easy for customers to contact you. In other words, there are no long-distance fees, no service blockages, and no issues when dialing out of the country. That is to say, bulk local numbers consolidate particular regions and open up communication there. For instance, purchasing bulk local numbers in Europe can facilitate communication between countries that ordinarily have restricted access or require separate SIM cards for callers.

Improve Regional Marketing Efforts

Each domestic market that your business wants to interact with has an inherent bias towards domestic businesses. Having a presence in multiple markets but differentiating each one with a local number is a valuable asset to your company.

For example, the United States is a country comprised of 50 states, 16 territories, and the District of Columbia (a federal district). To get adequate coverage, you may want to purchase a local phone number for the major cities of the U.S. For larger organizations, you can buy local phone numbers for each state/territory to ingratiate your business.

Streamline Your Business

The routing capabilities of virtual phone numbers can sum up all of the bulk phone numbers and redirect them to one destination phone number. This means that you don’t have to constantly switch between numbers or constantly redirect inbound calls.

Further, using an add-on like simultaneous ringing ensures that all connected phone numbers ring to multiple devices. Whether your employees use a laptop, headset, softphone, and more, inbound calls are streamlined. This is valuable for providing customer service as fast as possible, never leaving a potential call unanswered.

Cost-Effective Global Business Expansion

It has never been easier to grow your business than buying local phone numbers in bulk. From emerging startups to established enterprises, bulk local phone numbers immediately give your business a presence in whatever market you’re looking to penetrate. Simply choose a local phone number, advertise it to your audience, and begin to receive calls.

Furthermore, there’s no need for opening up a branch office in a new area, which has been an insurmountable barrier for many SMBs and startups. With bulk local phone numbers, your business can save time and resources to focus on other aspects of your organization

Utilizing Advanced Features to Stay Competitive

The bottom line is, when you purchase bulk local numbers with Global Call Forwarding, you’re gaining the ability to use advanced tech in your business model. Likewise, we offer businesses and individuals a wide range of add-ons and features that can revolutionize how you compete in your industry. For example, some of these include:

Buying Phone Numbers in Bulk is a Good Idea

Global Call Forwarding can help your business get bulk local numbers hassle-free. Consequently, the process is 100% online and/or with the assistance of our expert representatives. Above all, if your organization is still on the fence about getting bulk local free numbers, consider the benefits of having them and contact us today!

Building Credibility with Professional Toll Free Numbers

13th January 2020 Learn, Tips

If there’s one thing that new businesses need when they enter the market place, it is the credibility to attract customers. And there’s no better way to do so than with the help of professional toll free numbers from Global Call Forwarding. In this article, we will explore a number of ways that professional toll free numbers build credibility with customers around the world.

Getting Professional Toll Free Numbers

Think about the last time you contacted a high-level organization, like a government organization, non-profit, or multinational corporation. Or, what about a high-volume business, like law firms and large retailers? Chances are that in each case, those entities offered a toll free number to the public to enable communication that would otherwise be pricey – or impossible.

As you may be aware, toll free numbers help accommodate the broadest audience for your business by picking up the charges that would normally be incurred by the caller. Instead, your business foots the bill to enable all callers to reach your business. By offering this service, your business gains an edge over lesser organizations that demand more out of prospective customers. Even subconsciously, customers immediately appreciate a business that makes it problem-free to contact them.

Geographical Agnosticism

One way to build credibility is to have a national presence instead of being tied down to a specific area code. With toll free numbers, your organization’s toll free numbers help to create something called “geographical agnosticism.” This component enables your business to gain a professional sheen that automatically implies that your organization has the capabilities to handle inbound calls from nearly anywhere.

And because most toll free numbers are national, geographical agnosticism can help obscure where your business is calling from, particularly if it is located in a less-favorable location or one not known to carry the same weight as major cities.

Accommodating International Customers

One particular challenge that comes with offering toll free phone numbers is that international callers are not able to receive these benefits when dialing a phone number located outside of their country and/or numbering plan. Instead, these callers are saddled with long-distance fees, saddled with the chore of dialing outside of their country, and may not be able to complete the call depending on their telecom service providers’ requirements. This can reduce credibility in the eyes of international markets and may render your efforts useless. Is there a better way to guarantee ease of communication?

Yes, there is. Luckily, with the help of Global Call Forwarding’s services, you can use two forms of toll free numbers that help bridge the gap: ITFS numbers and UIFNs (International Toll Free Numbers and Universal International Freephone Numbers, respectively). Both types of toll free numbers enable international callers to reach your business without incurring charges or service blockages. In most cases, these phone numbers match the area code and remaining digits identical to “normal” toll free numbers that those customers are already used to, which is something your international callers will certainly appreciate.

Professional with Toll Free Numbers Customer Service Directory
Source: Stockphoto.com O#23559 – ID#100077897772

Adding Professional Toll Free Numbers Directories to Your Business

Going back to our first example, another component you’ve probably encountered with large, high-volume organizations is first encounters a directory that allows you to self-select which person and/or department you’d wish to speak with, as well as provide information relevant to your inquiry (i.e store hours, frequently asked information, voicemail services, staff list, etc.). One common form of directory available from Global Call Forwarding is called Interactive Voice Response (IVR), which uses spoken voice commands to navigate through your company’s directory, which can reduce the hassle of constantly dialing numbers to navigate (or eventually dialing ‘0’ to reach an operator to guide you, if available).

Global Call Forwarding also offers PBX services, which is short for “Private Branch Exchange.” Essentially, by using a PBX, you can expand one phone number into many sub-directories for callers to reach various departments and staff members, usually by dialing * and the appropriate digits. Callers appreciate this and it helps build professional credibility, particularly when multiple calls need to be made quickly and directly.

Better Functionalities with Add-ons from Global Call Forwarding

Because modern professional toll free phone numbers are powered by cloud computing (supplanting the limitation of landlines), there is a host of new advancements that can be added to regular phone service to augment how your business operates. Let’s cover a brief list of some of the most popular add-ons to build credibility:

CallMe Click: As the name implies, when you use CallMe Click, a visitor to your website can initialize a call from their device to reach your business with a simple click. This makes contacting your business more instantaneous instead of having the customer dial the number manually. This allows for fast action, allowing for almost-instant connection with a customer, and wasting no time.

Time of Day Routing: This add-on enables inbound calls to be routed to a specific destination depending on when a call is placed. For instance, if callers reach your business outside of regular business hours, those calls can be forwarded to another destination, such as a call center in a favorable time zone or voicemail.

Call Recording: This add-on records and stores calls made between your phone number and the public. By using call recording, you can more adequately assess if your staff is following company protocol to establish the best customer service possible and follow best-practices – a crucial component to building credibility.

FreedomVoice vs Global Call Forwarding Business Phone Service and Pricing

5th September 2019 Reviews

Need a service that provides a VoIP phone number and a number of useful features without breaking the bank? It’s probably reassuring then, to know many different business phone services are available to choose from. FreedomVoice and Global Call Forwarding are two of the most competitive options out there. If you don’t know which company to choose for your business phone number needs, keep reading. In this article, we provide information to find out more about the best business phone deals. This way, you can confidently choose the best phone service providers on a global scale.

The Similarities Between the FreedomVoice and Global Call Forwarding

Both FreedomVoice and Global Call Forwarding offer some of the same business phone solutions. The feature we’ll focus on in this article is VoIP phone numbers. Essentially, these are phone numbers with any local area code in the nation. And, you can use them to reach specific audience bases. Plus, since they route over the internet, they don’t require you to purchase big, expensive telephone systems. Rather, they give businesses the capability of using any type of business phone system. These systems include cloud-based systems, PBX phone systems, and even mobile devices.

Both organizations can provide these numbers with easy installation. And, both organizations offer virtual phone numbers that are easy to use. However, there are some differences between these companies. And, recognizing these differences could save you and your business loads of time, money, and energy.

Comparing the Pricing of Each Business Phone Service

Companies that offer great business phone services, like Global Call Forwarding, deal with business owners who strive for success. To be successful, a business should look for ways to save money on the services they use every day. So, comparing VoIP service pricing is important. Especially if you have a business that relies on making or receiving business phone calls. When it comes to pricing for VoIP numbers, there is a difference between FreedomVoice and Global Call Forwarding.

What FreedomVoice Costs

According to their website, FreedomVoice offers three different pricing structures. The first comes with 400 minutes to use and is priced at $9.95 per month. The second is a plan that comes with 1,200 minutes and is priced at $19.95 per month. With either of these two plans, you can go over the allotted number of minutes. But, the company will charge you an extra 3.9 cents for every additional minute you use. For companies that do more phone business, there is an unlimited minute plan that costs $29.95 per individual user. However, this plan is designed for businesses who have four employees or fewer.

FreedomVoice vs Global Call Forwarding Business Phone Service and Pricing
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What Global Call Forwarding Costs

On the other hand, Global Call Forwarding also offers various pricing packages to choose from. The first starts at only $7.95 a month, which is less than what FreedomVoice offers. This means you can have a virtual phone number for your business for less than $8 a month depending on the type of service and phone number. Furthermore, you also can choose the applications, features, and phone numbers you need. This way, you only pay for what you use, rather than what your phone service provider wants you to pay. Plus, with no hidden fees and a transparent pricing structure, you always know what to expect with billing. And, you’ll never run into costly surprises, like you would with competitors.

Get a VoIP Phone Number for Business Today

Think that a VoIP phone number is what you need to take your business to the next level? Don’t regret your phone service provider decision. Go with the company that can customize a phone service to meet your exact business needs: Global Call Forwarding. When you choose us as your business phone service provider, you can take advantage of our 15-day free trial. This way, you can see if a VoIP phone number is what you need. And, do so without having to commit or even pay a single cent. Furthermore, there are no contracts. So, there is no commitment and you can cancel your plan at any time, for any reason. Finally, take advantage of the best business phone deals available by getting a discount for high volume orders. This means that if you need more than one virtual phone number, there could be even more savings in store! To get started with your VoIP phone numbers through Global Call Forwarding, reach out to us now.

Creative Uses for Virtual Phone Numbers in Marketing

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The truth is that creative uses for virtual phone numbers in marketing depend on appealing directly to customers, especially those who are located abroad. There’s nothing more off-putting than being unreachable by listing an out-of-country phone number, where callers will expect long distance fees, service blockages, and the hassle of dialing outside of the country just to reach your business.

There are a number of creative uses for virtual numbers in marketing, including:

  • Vanity Phone Numbers
  • International Appeal
  • Business Cards
  • Social Media

Virtual Numbers in Marketing: Vanity Phone Numbers

Vanity phone numbers are virtual phone numbers that contain a visually appealing set of digits that can be spun into your business’ advertising campaigns. By aligning your brand with a particular word or memorable sequence of digits, customers are more likely to remember what products and services you offer, as well as reinforce your brand’s message each time they are exposed to the vanity phone number.

One place that you’re likely to encounter vanity phone numbers is billboards. Large volumes of drivers can see your creative virtual phone numbers in marketing that other businesses might not be bold enough to attempt. By coupling billboard advertising with other forms of marketing, your brand will appear to be everywhere – which is the goal of every advertising campaign.

Creative Virtual Numbers for Marketing: International Appeal

If you had the choice of comparing two businesses side-by-side with all attributes being similar except for the fact that one had numerous phone numbers geared towards processing international customers, which business would you say has more of an international appeal?

virtual phonhe numbers in marketing
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Virtual Numbers from Global Call Forwarding

Luckily, Global Call Forwarding offers virtual phone numbers in more than 140+ countries worldwide, with countless cities and regions at your disposal. These virtual phone numbers circumvent typical barriers to open communication globally, which means that your advertising efforts aren’t stymied by challenges of traditional telecommunications.

Furthermore, Global Call Forwarding enables you to choose between a variety of phone number types, including toll-free numbers that work internationally. These include ITFS numbers and UIFNs, both of which project a professional image. Normally, when a domestic toll free number is offered, international callers are out of luck and must pay fees just for the privilege of calling your business. However, with Global Call Forwarding’s vast array of ITFS numbers and UIFNs, your business can fully optimize its marketing efforts worldwide.

Creative Uses for Virtual Phone Numbers in Marketing: Business Cards

When you’re networking with potential clients in-person, every detail must be on-point and allude to the fact that working with your organization is the right choice for mutual success. That’s why one of the most important creative uses for virtual phone numbers in marketing is including them on your business cards. From staff members to your sales team, virtual phone numbers listed on business cards show that your organization is able to tailor its in-person marketing efforts for clients of any country and calling preference.

Because of the cost-effectiveness of virtual phone numbers, it is possible to subscribe to multiple phone numbers that appeal directly to your wide customer base and post them on your business cards as needed.

Creative Uses for Virtual Phone Numbers in Marketing: Social Media

Global Call Forwarding understands how pivotal a social media presence is in your marketing efforts. In addition to obviously listing your phone numbers, Global Call Forwarding offers a popular add-on that bridges the gap between customers scrolling through your posts on their smartphones and actually contacting your business.

The solution? A popular add-on called “CallMe Click.” CallMe Click enables users a one-click option to initialize a phone call on their device, whether that’s a smartphone or any other Internet-enabled audio-equipped device. By placing this add-on via links on your websites and social media presence, your potential customers can immediately seize the opportunity of your efforts and speak to your company instantly. This immediacy can help take advantage of the reach of your social media content and build a customer base quickly.

As you can see, these creative uses for virtual phone numbers in marketing can help aid your business when it wants to reach a wider audience. Of course, with some imaginative thinking in your advertising efforts, you can adapt the power of virtual phone numbers in a myriad of other ways that can expand the appeal of your business.