Worldwidephone - Telecommunications for the 21st century
Worldwide Phone represents several different vendors. Each vendor has its advantages and disadvantages. Monthly fees, monthly minimums, call billing and set up times varies from vendor to vendor. The whole package has to be considered before choosing a service that fits you. The 2.9 program that first attracted your attention is BCN Long Distance, (formally called Norcom) But before you leap to sign up, you should read on. There are lots of things to consider.
If you are unsure about toll free and how it works you should read the basic information page. This is a good read for new people.
The cost to set up and obtain a specific toll free number, called vanity, varies from vendor to vendor. The BCN Program and Touchtone Program offers the fastest service (usually two days) and neither charges a set up fee. Most of my other vendors take 5-7 working days and charge between $5 and $20.
If you do not wish to choose a specific number, a random number is assigned. With most of my vendors you can ask for any "800" or any "888" or "877" or "866", and this will NOT be classified as a vanity request. Usual time to activate a random toll free number is less. The quickest is Toll Free Express. With a credit card, a NEW Toll Free number, non vanity request, can be obtained and activated in less than 30 minutes. Toll Free express also offers a free list to choose from as you are signing up. A nice feature.
This is sometimes referred to as a STAND ALONE. What this means is that you do not have to change your present long distance carrier to set up a toll free account. While all most of my vendors offer long distance at the same rate as the toll free quote, none of them require you change your long distance. They offer the STAND ALONE .This could be important in your decision process.
Where you want your toll free number to ring in on (or some people incorrectly use the term "forward" to) is the called the RING TO NUMBER or RTN. Who the local phone company that gives you that phone number determines which of my programs you could choose from. The BCN program requires the RTN be a former "baby bell" (RBOC). Otherwise the 2.9 rate is not valid.
You can have multiple toll free numbers with the same ring-to-number (RTN). Some businesses choose this to record activity from different marketing sources. Other choose this becuase they do not like their existing toll free number but do not want to give it up. They could get a new vanity number and begin using that in all their advertising while still having active the old toll free number. A best of both worlds.
Toll Free directly to Cell Phone is not available through BCN. This is common in the industry. However I have three vendors: TouchTone , Toll Free Express and NET, that will allow a cell phone as a RTN.
What everyone advertises is the state-to-state (called Interstate) rate. Few tell you, except in small print, that the In-State (called Intrastate) is different and almost always HIGHER. For every vendor the INTRASTATE is different for each state. Some states are high some are low. Therefore in choosing a program you should consider how much of you calls are going to be from within your state. If your state has a high rate and more than 50% of you calls will be coming from in-state then check out Toll Free Express. It has a program with a pre-paid rate of 4.2 cent program for instate calls for ANY state.
