What Is 800 Area Code?

800 area code is a non-geographical telephone prefix that allows callers to communicate without incurring any charges. If a number starts with this area code, it is known as a toll-free number and denotes that the calling charges are borne by the recipient, not the caller.

Unlike other area codes, 800 is not bound to any specific city or state. Instead, it serves the countries that are under the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), including the US, Canada, Bermuda, and Grenada. Likewise, it is not restricted to a single time zone and varies depending on the country.

The 800 area code started service as the first toll-free area code on 1 January 1966 and was also the first non-geographic area code to be put into service.

Furthermore, its primary purpose was to allow businesses and organizations to establish phone numbers that consumers could call without incurring calling charges. Instead, the company receiving the call would bear the cost.

Due to its popularity, the demand for toll-free numbers increased over time. To accommodate this growing need, new toll-free area codes were introduced, including 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, 833, and more, to expand the availability of toll-free services.

When someone dials an 800 phone number, the call is transferred through a toll-free service provider’s network and is routed to its destination, which can be a landline, mobile, or VoIP system.

A phone number with the 800 area code works similarly to any other number. The only difference is that the caller doesn’t bear calling charges.

More importantly, the FCC (Federal Communication Commission) assigns the toll-free numbers to "Responsible Organizations" or "RespOrgs," entities responsible for managing and administrating the records for individual toll-free numbers within the NANP. Businesses then select one of the RespOrgs to reserve their desired toll-free number and provide routing details.

An 800 toll-free number can benefit your firm by making it easier for customers to reach you without spending a penny. Furthermore, it conveys professionalism, enhances the customer experience, and helps you expand your reach to a wider audience.

Easily Recognizable: 800 numbers are recognized as toll-free by almost everyone, making it easier for people to remember and trust your number. This improves the chances of consumers contacting your businesses.

Enhances Customer Experience: Clients are more likely to engage with your business if they can contact you easily and without cost, especially if they’re calling from outside your immediate geographic area.

Reflects Professionalism: Many think that only well-established firms have 800 phone numbers. With you having one, it projects your firm as a reliable and professional organization offering high-quality services.

Wider Audiences: It helps reach a broader audience by removing geographical barriers and allowing customers to contact a business without incurring long-distance charges.

Follow these few steps to get an 800 toll-free number.
 

1. Sign up with Calilio using your email address.
2. Review the service plans and subscribe to one that suits your firm’s needs.
3. Explore the list of available toll-free numbers and select one.
4. Purchase the chosen number.
5. Customize its settings and enjoy.
    

Calilio is one of the leading VoIP service providers, offering a wide range of toll-free numbers with affordable pricing, 24/7 live support, advanced features, and top-notch security.

First, Calilio offers cost-effective plans with affordable pricing for businesses of all sizes. Its Basic and Business plan starts at just $15 and $35 per user/month, respectively. Moreover, you can get a heavy discount of 20% on annual billing. Calilio also provides a customizable Enterprise plan. 

Calilio offers various advanced features, such as Interactive Voice Response (a virtual receptionist), ACD (Automatic Call Distribution), AI-powered sentiment analysis, call transcription, and reporting. These features ensure smooth communication and provide detailed insight into your firm's operations.

Security is a top priority for Calilio. Hence, it has robust encryption features and multi-factor authentication to ensure the security of all business calls and confidential data. Additionally, it has firewalls to aid in monitoring data transmission and anti-virus protection to safeguard users from viruses, malware, ransomware, and other malicious software.

Businesses with numbers falling under the NANP use 800 numbers. Many companies use these numbers for various purposes, including customer support lines, product orders, technical assistance, and even advertising campaigns.

The main difference between the 800 area code and other area codes is that the 800 area code is toll-free, which means callers do not need to pay for the call.

The 800 area code is not tied to a specific geographic region. It’s a toll-free code used across the United States, Canada, and several other countries in the NANP area.

To find out who calls from an 800 number, you can redial the number or look at the caller ID.

Yes, the 800 area code is legitimate. It is one of the original toll-free area codes, and it’s widely recognized for legitimate business communications.

If you receive a call from any number with an 800 phone area code, it’s likely a business-related call. Many enterprises use this number for customer support, telemarketing, or service reminders.

800 numbers are still in use because they provide a simple and effective way for customers to contact a business cost-free.

The cost varies depending on the service provider. Generally, an 800 toll-free number costs between $10 and $30.