First introduced in the late 1960s by AT&T, toll free numbers have become a ubiquitous communication tool for almost every large company and for a growing number of small businesses. Originally, all toll free numbers used the 800 prefix. Yet, because of growing demand, 888, 877, 866, and 855 were added, and AT&T is no [...]

Today, we conclude our special Valentine’s RingCentral Voices by bringing you the story of Mary Jo Blohm and Matthew Boyd. They are the owners of The Quilt Bear, a growing online quilt supply business. Together, they manage their business’s operations while also finding time to enjoy their many hobbies and interests. Here’s what Mary Jo [...]

If you’re like many business owners you’ve made a new year’s resolution to grow your business. Yet, to see real results, you need implementable strategies that will actually bring in new customers, increase sales, and save you money. Yes, RingCentral can be a key component to business growth in 2011. Here’s how: Enabling Customers to [...]

Thanksgiving is nearly here. Time to relax with family and friends, watch some football, and, of course, eat, eat, eat! Whether or not you’ll be taking calls from customers over the long weekend, there are plenty of other businesses that will be busy offering culinary advice and tips with the help of their toll free [...]

At RingCentral, we would like to say thank you today to all those who have served in the armed forces. As part of our RingCentral Voices series and in honor of Veterans’ Day, we are sharing several stories of RingCentral customers who are proud to be both veterans and business owners. Here’s what they had [...]

The benefits of having a toll-free number for your business are obvious. Having an 800 number enables you to attract business from outside of your local calling area. It can also help build credibility, and it’s portable if your business should ever relocate. So, is there really a need to have a local number? The [...]

So you have the website with search engine optimized copy. You’re on Facebook, Twitter, and diligently update your business blog. You’ve even sent out a press release or two. Yet, you’re still not getting as many customers calling as you’d like. Now is the perfect time to consider getting a toll-free number. An 800 number [...]

Numbers like 1-800-FLOWERS or 1-800-CONTACTS probably ring a bell. They’re called vanity numbers. They can help make your number easy to remember and give your company a nationwide presence. If you’re already a RingCentral customer, it’s easy to add a vanity number to your account: Go to My Settings in your online account. Click Add [...]

When you decide to form a small- to medium-sized business, the first steps are obvious: think of something people want, get a DBA, hire employees, etc. After you have created the company, then it is time to get to work, right? Not necessarily. In today’s technology age, there are several steps that you should do [...]

Toll Free Numbers Can Be Valued Similarly to Domain Names In 1991, the FTC ordered that toll free numbers become ‘portable’; meaning owners of 1-800 numbers were no longer tethered to their telecom companies that owned the copper running into the buildings. It allowed for the rise of owning “Vanity Toll Free Numbers” such as [...]

Most people are familiar with vanity phone numbers; a number that spells out a certain phrase or even your company name. This is commonly called a “phoneword” and is the alphanumeric equivalent of a telephone number. Vanity phone numbers are more advantageous than standard numbers because they are more memorable and also give you another [...]

The toll free 800 number has come into its own as a recognized sign of a serious business. These numbers, however, are showing surprising strengths, even in markets where you wouldn’t expect them to make such a difference. For instance, you’d think that people doing business with local businesses would prefer to dial the local [...]

The 1800 number got its start in 1967, the same year Che Guevara was executed and Aretha Franklin recorded “Respect”. The idea was to cut down on collect calls, which could be labor-intensive since they often required a live operator. The early adopters were primarily hotels and car rental companies that took lots of reservations [...]