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0845 or 0870?
0333 or 0800?
0871 or 0844?
These are just some of the options available to businesses that require new telephone numbers.
Each individual number range has its own different merits (which are discussed below), although they all have one thing in common: They are all non-geographic numbers.
“Non-geographic” means that the numbers do not have traditional area codes, starting 01 and 02. This can be particularly useful for businesses that want to appeal to customers that are located outside of the company’s area and many regional, national and online businesses take
advantage of this fact. They also offer companies much more privacy if they are a home-based operation.
Non-geographic numbers simply ‘sit’ on top of existing landline numbers, which continue to receive calls so there is no disruption to business.
Many organisations opt for non-geographic numbers over landlines because they:
- Allow them to smarten up the way they deal with
their calls by using intelligent call management features. Popular systems include: online call statistics, call divert, call queuing and caller menus. These systems can all be controlled online or over the phone, without the need for costly, bulky and space consuming equipment.
- Enable companies to choose numbers which reflect the nature of their business and therefore make them more memorable to their customers. For example, a company that manufacturers fireworks could opt for 08000 321 321 (mimicking the countdown to the launch of a rocket).
- Can move with the business if it relocates. This means that a company can have a single number or set of numbers for life and they will not have to reprint stationery and business cards etc. when they change premises.
But which non-geographic numbers are best for businesses to use?
Well, each number range has its benefits and the answer to this question depends on how the number will be utilised and for what purpose.
0845 numbers are the UK’s most popular non-geographic number and therefore have a high public awareness.
When 0845 numbers were first introduced the cost to call them was the same as a local rate call. However, with the increased popularity of mobile phones and the varying tariffs that mobile phone networks offer, there is now a variety of call costs associated with them. From a standard BT landline, calls to an 0845 number currently cost 3.36p per minute (daytime) and 0.85p per minute
(evening and weekends). The cost for businesses to run 0845 numbers varies, although there is normally a connection fee and annual service charge.
0800 numbers (http://www.windsor-telecom.co.uk/0800-freephone-numbers.php) are powerful marketing tools. They are totally free for customers to dial from a landline, as the business that runs the number pays for the cost of the call. This displays to customers that the company values their custom. In fact, research by the Institute of Direct Marketing has revealed that businesses that use 0800 numbers can increase their response rates by 185%.
Although 0800 numbers are free to call from landlines, mobile phone companies charge their customers to call them. The cost for businesses to run 0800 numbers varies, although there is normally a connection fee, annual service charge and pence per minute charge on the
inbound calls received.
0808 numbers offer exactly the same benefits of 0800 numbers – the only difference is the prefix.
0333 numbers (http://www.windsor-telecom.co.uk/0330-numbers-0333-numbers.php) are often dubbed ‘caller-friendly’ numbers. This is because they cost the same to call as a standard landline 01 or 02 number – even from a mobile phone. This is important when you consider that in 2007, 40% of all calls made in the UK were from mobile phones (source: Ofcom 2008). 0333 numbers are also included in the free minute’s allocations of mobile and landline providers, which means that calls to these numbers are often free.
The cost for businesses to run 0333 numbers varies, although there is normally a connection fee, annual service charge and pence per minute charge on the inbound calls received. Although telecommunications company, Windsor Telecom gives its customers 10,000 free inbound minutes per month.
03 Blog (http://www.windsor-telecom.co.uk/03blog) is the only blog on the web dedicated to 03 numbers - with ongoing and up-to-date 03 news and regular updates on the organisations that are now using the numbers.
0844 numbers are different to 0845 numbers, in that the cost to call them is fixed at all times. From a standard BT landline, calls to an 0844 number will cost 4.25p per
minute. 0844 numbers also offer businesses the opportunity to make money on their calls, in what is known as ‘revenue sharing.’ The cost for businesses to run 0844 numbers
varies, although there is normally a connection fee and annual service charge.
0870 numbers have been the subject of a great deal of bad press and this is largely because of the cost to call them. The UK communications regulator, Ofcom, is currently in the process of making major changes to 0870 numbers which will mean that the cost to dial these
numbers will be reduced and any communications provider that wants to charge more for the call will have to inform customers on all advertising and promotional material that
displays their numbers. The cost for businesses to run 0870 numbers varies, although there is normally a connection fee and annual service charge.
0871 numbers are the most expensive non-geographic number for customers to call and communications watchdog, Ofcom has recommended that all 0871 numbers be regulated by
PhonePay Plus, the premium rate services supervisory body.
This looks set to happen by the end of 2008. The cost to dial these numbers must be displayed on all advertising and promotional material of businesses that use them. The cost for companies to run 0871 numbers varies, although there is normally a connection fee and annual service charge.
So, as this article demonstrates, the difference between each non-geographic number is much more than just a few digits. Each number range serves a specific purpose and it’s up to every individual business to decide which objective it wants to satisfy before deciding upon the
number to opt for.
Hopefully this summary offers a good starting point to that decision.
Mark Guy is Public Relations Officer at Windsor Telecom in Poole, Dorset. For more information call 0845 230 1660.
Are you in a place where you need to choose a good telephone system for your business? The truth of the matter is that this might be one of the most important decisions that you have to make. There are quite a few different options in front of you, and when you think about how the phone system can touch on every aspect of your business, it is easy to see how making the wrong choice can be disastrous. Before you go into making your choice, take some time and really consider what your options are going to be and think about a few of the following factors.
The first thing that you need to think about is what the basic small-business package looks like. For the most part, you are going to have some basic services like call forwarding and route to fax capability. On top of that, you will also have remote voicemail pickup as well as multiple extensions. In many cases, you will find that each employee does need their own individual extension with voice mail. In addition to this, do you ever send employees on the road? Will having something like a Blackberry or a mobile phone make this position much easier?
Before you make your decision, consider how much your business is going to be growing in the years to come. Chances are if you are a business that is ready to put in a phone system, you will find that you are a business that needs to think about where it is going to be in the next few years. How many employees do you have now and where do you expect to be next year? What about five years from now? What needs will a phone service need to cover at that point and what do you need to make sure that you have ready? Consider what your options are and what you can do to get the results that you need.
There are also quite a few optional features that can help give your business that extra edge that it needs. For instance, consider what an auto-attendant feature can do for you. You can put in messages for business hours, or you can use it to automatically route incoming calls to the right people. The computerized format puts you in the same place as the larger businesses and you will find that this can make a huge difference to your work.
Consider what kind of conferencing you need to take care of. There are a lot of phone conferences out there that you may need to take part in, and whether you are looking at working with employees that are away from the main office or with clients or prospective clients, this can help you out a great deal.
Take some time and consider what you are going to need from your telephone system. This is something that can make a huge difference, so consider what your options are going to be; this might be one of the most important decisions that you make all year.
There are various phones available in the marketplace but you have to make a choice while considering different aspects of your usage. But one thing which matter a lot is its effectiveness with cost flexibility. If this lacks then all the remaining factors lose their options of enjoying conversation. There is no doubt that an individual has various options before buying a web phone but he lacks at the complete knowledge about the web phone services. It is not necessary that one can buy his desired phone while acknowledging his needs and ignoring the expenses on that.
Though making a call from Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology is very economical but one has to understand the needs and other services the company is offering. If you like you can also visit business telephone exchange website and can find ample solutions within your budgets as we have different options depending upon your preferences.
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Cost Effective solution Whenever you select your web phone from market or internet you prefer to buy those phones that can offer unlimited flexibility like talking for longer time, spending less money, dynamic plans, equilibrium in long distance or international calling, etc. But a thing which most of the people ignore is to maintain the balance between phone bills and accurate phone connection through internet. So, make choice while evaluating your various options for outstanding result as only few organizations likebusiness telephone exchangecan understand the relevancy of price with calls.
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Have you ever had those times when you were spending some quality times with your family, but you cannot help to always follow your urge of checking your answering machine and voicemail to see if there was a customer or client waiting to be called? Of course those affairs could make your loved ones irritated.
Personal things aside, let's talk about technical things that could lead to your own series of unfortunate events, such as out of use answering machines, a broken telephone, or poor signal service coverage which will end up ruining your businesses unless you have someone who professionally handles all of your business calls while you are not around. If you look at that someone as your way out, you thought right. For business answering services provide the person who can handle your businesses' communication issues. Business answering service provider will automatically provide these services as soon as you are unable to take your business calls by forwarding your phone calls to their number, and they will help you in communicating with your client for the sake of your business.
This service works nothing other than your own secretary, as it handles most of your phone calls from business clients in an orderly fashion. Right from receiving messages given by your client and forwarding them for you, giving the clients all of the information they need about your business, to even arranging appointments between you and your clients.
This answering service could also be applied to any type of businesses, from home industry to a large scale of multinational corporation. For a home level industry, the answering services are simply providing the information needed for the buyer when you are not around. Meanwhile for a larger scale corporation, the answering services are more advanced, one of which is providing your client with schedule arrangements that help your corporation manage the time more efficient. This business answering service could add within the range of price from $30 to $50 up your monthly budget.
With the business answering service's versatility, you have the capacity to receive every business calls when you are not even around to answer them. Business answering services also eliminate the chances for your business to miss its opportunities with potential customers by having all the chances answered. Business answering services could also satisfy your clients by having their wants and needs fulfilled promptly in your schedule arrangement. All the services you can have without the hassles from recruiting new assistants.
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