The History of the Toll Free Number
January 17, 2009
It is hard to believe that toll free numbers have not been around since the age of the dinosaur, but the fact is that toll free numbers didn’t come on the market until 1967. The numbers were devised so that phone companies did not have to employ so many human operators to transfer all of the calls being made. Toll free number were originally known as INWATS or Inward Wide Area Telephone Service. The very first company to use the new toll free system was the Sheraton hotel.
Interestingly, AT & T owned every 800 phone number until 1984. A few years later, in 1991, the FCC saw to it that toll free phone service became diversified. It was then that other telephone providers began to carry and offer the convenience of toll free numbers. Soon after 1991, the amount of toll free 800 numbers began to lessen. The federal government stepped in and allocated more numbers to use for toll free phone service. The prefixes 888. 877, and 866 were incorporated to be used as toll free numbers in addition to the traditional 800 number.
Toll free service has become so affordable in recent years that there will soon need to be yet another extension of toll free number prefixes. The designated numbers, yet to be launched, will include 855, 844, 833. and 822. These numbers will soon be needed to keep up with the demand for toll free numbers from both business and personal use.
Toll free numbers have come a long way since the 1960’s. Now, toll free service also comes with invaluable technology that make communication even easier for any sized business. Features like automated attendant and Follow Me calling have become a significant resource for business owners and their staff while the toll free number is still one of the most powerful marketing tools a company will use.
Posted in Benefits of Toll Free Numbers, Toll Free Basics, Toll Free General
