Most VoIP providers do not provide TollFree (800, 888, 877, 866) numbers. However, what you want is very easy to accomplish. TollFree numbers require you to assign a "ring to" telephone number -- the line that will actually answer incoming calls. The "ring to" number may be a home or business number, a beeper number, a cell phone number, or a VoIP number -- so long as this number has an area code plus 7-numbers. It doesn't matter where you obtain your TF number --- meaning you do not have to get it from a VoIP provider.
Dial
1-800-337-4194 and, when asked by the canned voice, enter the 10-digit TF# you are investigating. The system will tell you who controls that number (e.g., ATT, Verizon, ATX, Qwest, etc.) and provide you with a "trouble shooting" number to contact that carrier. This "controlling" carrier is called the "Responsible Organization" usually referred to as the RespOrg.
Other than attempting an on-line reverse-411 lookup or actually dialing a TF# to ask "who owns the number" -- there ain't no way to know if the number is active. And even if a TF number seems to ring and ring forever when dialed, suggesting that it has been disconnected, does not mean you can get that number (except possibly from the RespOrg that controls the number).
I will leave it to others to make suggestions regarding TollFree providers which generally charge a monthly fee for the number and per minute charges on top of that. But here's a site that allows you to see what numbers are still available in the TollFree "pool". Even though this is an ATT site, you can use any TF company that allows you to choose your own number for obtaining a "nice" number. You can select a specific TF area code or do a general 8** search.
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businessesales.att.com/p ··· =kwstollI was amazed to find that there is not one single
800 available in the "pool" nor are there any 8**-***-*000 or 8**-***-**00 numbers remaining. That does not mean that all of the 800 numbers are actually in use. It just means that all 800 numbers are now or were in the past assigned to someone -- or reserved for assignment by a TF provider such as Qwest or MCI. Many of the TF Providers do have true
800 numbers to give out.
Historically, very few TF numbers are actually returned to the TF "pool" even though the controlling TF agency SMS/800 requires TF#s to be returned to the "pool" after a certain periond of disuse.
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www.icbtollfree.com/arti ··· eId=5886-=-=-=-
Oy! I wondered who was typing while I was typing. RockyBB's brevity beat my longevity to the punch.
But since brilliant minds think alike, we both gave you the same references. But I was brave enough (or possibly silly enough) to post the AmeriTech TF lookup number. I've shown the number in tiny type so only those few BBR members with 20/20 vision will be able to read it, thereby cutting down on abuse.