Toll-Free Services

Toll-free numbers are numbers with a noticeable three-digit code that a consumer can dial into without being charged for it. This allows consumers to call into a business, even long-distance calls, without calling charges within the country.

Toll-free numbers are often specifically associated with a business, are recognizable, and used for customer service calls. With phones still being the preferred mode of communication for 68% of consumers when in need, toll-free numbers provide an excellent way to have human-to-human touchpoints with them.

If you enable toll-free SMS on your toll-free number, the consumers can also text you.

Call centers or customer service hotlines use toll-free numbers so they can connect with anyone anywhere. Customers don’t have to worry about paying long-distance call fees with toll-free numbers, which is one of the reasons they’re so appealing.

Toll-free numbers are allotted by FCC on a first-in, first-serve basis. Businesses must be tied to a ‘Responsible Organization’ or ‘RespOrg’ to reserve and manage toll-free numbers on their behalf. Businesses can themselves manage their toll-free numbers, as long as they are registered as a RespOrg.

Before you can manage your toll-free traffic, you have to be certified by Somos, the organization tasked with managing numbers under the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) and the Service Management System Database for Responsible Organizations.

Bandwidth is one of United States’ largest RespOrgs and offers robust dashboards and APIs to support large orders and rapid provisioning of toll-free numbers. In fact, your Bandwidth toll-free calls can be up and running with just a few clicks. This helps overcome some of the hidden costs of being a RespOrg yourself.

Yes, toll-free numbers can be ported. It requires certain formalities such as completing a Responsible Organization Change Authorization. As a customer, you’ll be required to fill out a form about your business and current provider. Once you’ve ensured everything is correct, this form needs to be shared with the new provider.
Some providers may require additional information or documentation to complete the port. Sounds like a lot of work? Bandwidth’s automated number porting, including bulk porting, and dedicated team of porting specialists help enterprises move their toll-free numbers easily. 

There are different ways businesses shore up toll-free resiliency. Traditionally, most businesses manage multiple back-up providers so that when one goes out, the other can be activated. This is complicated to manage. Some providers package and aggregate multiple such redundancies but businesses still have to manage complex routing themselves in case of a disruption, requiring additional staff and other overheads.

With Bandwidth, 5x carrier redundancy is built right into our core network. Our teams monitor all major networks 24/7/365 and activate the redundancy almost instantly. Additionally, you can add Call Assure to your Bandwidth toll-free services. It activates in case of extraordinary disruptions that, in the rare event, can surpass 5x carrier redundancy to impact the core network and routes your traffic through an alternate, safe route. Learn more here.