Published : March 8, 2023The 866 area code is a toll-free number that allows you to easily make toll free calls from your phone and reach brands or business customer service sections without having to go through a long phone line wait time. At the same time, brands would find it much easier to reach their business among the target audiences using the 866 Area code.
Let’s get started to know about the 866 area code and its benefits to businesses.
What Is an 866 Toll-Free Phone Number?
Before getting deeper into the core topic of discussion, what is the 866 number? Let’s discuss what Area Code is.
For those who don’t know, Area Code is a 3-digit prefix number used when making a long-distance call. Area code has been negated because the telecommunication industry is almost entirely occupied by cell phones. But back in the old days, when landline phones were operated, these area codes played a vital role in differentiating local or long-distance calls.
If you are searching for 866 area code location or where is area code 866? Well, you can’t find it, as area code 866 doesn’t have any specific geographic location. Instead, it is assigned as a prefix to the toll-free numbers that the companies use to provide excellent customer service to their potential customers.
Let’s Discuss About Area Code 866 In Detail
There is no official definition for what is 866 area code, but it generally refers to a telephone number that can be dialed without being charged for the call. This type of toll free phone numbers are most often used by businesses or organizations that want to provide customers convenient access to their services without worrying about additional charges.
An 866 area code is a toll-free number serving as a regional directory assistance (RDA) number in the USA. The area code is divided into seven regions, each of which has between two and five RDA numbers. These numbers are also known as alternate routing digits or transfer service codes.
The 866 area code number is a telephone numbering plan covering North America’s northwest portion. Created in 1997, it is currently used by over 30 million phone lines.
The 866 area code was initially allocated to protect newly-developed land in Oregon. The number was chosen because it had already been allocated to another region of the country, and there were no available numbers within its current range. In 1999, new areas within Oregon started receiving numbers in this range (as well as other special codes), so the original.
How Do You Get an Area Code 866 Toll-Free Phone Number?
To get your business phone toll-free, you must decide to take the leap and begin the process of setting up that number.
Many service providers offer 866 area codes that help you connect with the right customers. Virtual phone systems make signing on for an 866 or other toll-free area code easier and faster.
With just a few steps, you can secure a toll-free area code for your business online.
- Take a free trial of a virtual phone system.
- When registering, choose from a list of toll-free numbers, or enter a specific 844, 888, or 866 area code number of your preference.
- To proceed, you can enter your credit card details for billing purposes.
That’s it, you can start making calls now!
What Can You Do With the 866 Toll-Free Phone Number?
The 866 area code number provides toll-free access to customer service lines from multiple locations. It offers customers a suitable and convenient means of communication at zero cost.
Using toll-free area codes can be advantageous to businesses, enhancing customer service, facilitating technical assistance, and boosting sales.
It is significant for transnational enterprises that an 866 toll-free number can be dialed from the US and Canada, as it provides a fast and convenient means for customers to seek assistance with any inquiries they may have.
Sending text messages to 866 toll-free numbers often provides the convenience of receiving replies on the move.
How Is 866 Area Code Different From Other Toll-Free Numbers?
The response to this query is simple: There needs to be a distinction in terms of functionality between 866 area code numbers and other toll free area codes, such as 800 or 855. The only difference is that customers must dial the appropriate area code for their toll-free number.
Other toll-free area codes, such as 800 and 877 area code, are typically used for customer service or technical support. The 866 area code, on the other hand, is specifically designed for making regular telemarketing calls.
It may surprise some, but before 1996, there was only one toll-free area code in use: 800.
The Federal Communications Commission, the governing body responsible for allocating toll-free numbers, exhausted its supply of 800 numbers. To meet the growing demand for such numbers, they created the 888 area code to cater to overflow requests. This allowed the FCC to guarantee different numbers for all companies that need them. Your business could benefit from this service soon.
By simply dialing 866 area code number from your phone, you can easily connect to a local number in the US or Canada without waiting in long lines or dealing with confusing toll call routing systems.
Other toll-free numbers, like 1-800 and 888, are typically associated with telephone services or utilities that you may need help using (like ordering food or making reservations). Because the 866 area code is explicitly dedicated to calling from phones within the US and Canada, it provides a more seamless experience for users than other toll-free numbers.
Additionally, because most cellular providers use the 800 number range as their default prefix for toll-free numbers, using the 866 area code number will ensure that your call goes through.
Unlike other toll-free numbers, the 866 area code number is not associated with a specific company or organization. This means you can use it to make phone calls to any number in the US and international destinations without worrying about pesky surcharges.
866 numbers are often faster than other customer service lines because they’re connected directly with carriers rather than through third-party vendors. As a result, you can expect shorter wait times and better quality of service when calling from an 866 number.
Why Should You Get An 866 Area Code Phone Number?
Let’s assume you run a dental clinic or flower shop. Having a separate toll-free number with an 866 area code prefix will give your business a more professional look and gain more trust from the target audience.
A vanity number can be considered as a great asset to your business. These phone numbers create a memorable phrase, such as 1-866-DENTIST or 1-866-FLOWERS, that customers can easily recall. This way, customers don’t need to search for your phone number. Investing in a vanity number can significantly increase brand recognition and make your business stand out from the competition.
The utilization of an 866 vanity number for business can provide numerous advantages, including improved customer recall, increased professionalism, and simplified marketing efforts.
1. Increased brand recognition?
Through the use of a vanity number, businesses can gain a higher level of recognition. When the number appears in ads on the radio or on the side of a vehicle, customers are more likely to take notice and remember it.
2. Improved customer retention?
Having a fancy toll-free number will be helpful for consumers to recognize the brands easily and quickly. Utilizing the toll-free numbers with the prefix 866 area code will enhance customer loyalty by providing a unique telephone number, thus increasing the chances of repeat contact.
3. Increased sales?
Implementing a vanity number can be a great asset in boosting your sales. By making it simple for customers to contact your business, they are more likely to take advantage of your offerings. When they have an easy-to-remember number, they are more likely to reach out to you when they require your products or services.
6 Benefits of Having an 866 Toll-Free Phone Number
A different toll-free number will always benefit any business looking to grow its customer base and revenue through business calls. This section illustrates the key benefits a business can get by having an area code 866 prefix before their business phone number.
There are many benefits to having an 866 area code phone number, and you should consider getting one if you use it frequently. Here are just a few of the reasons why you should get an 866 toll free number:
1. Look more professional
Businesses utilizing 866 toll-free numbers make a strong, favorable impression on potential customers who seek reliable, trustworthy sources. This type of number conveys an air of size and stability, which can be beneficial in driving sales or strengthening one’s brand image.
Once your customers or target audience gets a strong impression of your business, they will automatically engage with your business. This will increase your business credibility, sales, and revenue.
2. Empowers businesses to reach out to worldwide customers easily
Having a toll-free number opens your business up to customers around the world. An 866 area code shows potential customers that your business can provide services to North America and beyond, thus widening your market reach.
Having an 866 toll free number allows for a much broader reach for your business. Customers across the country can be in contact without worrying about the call being flagged as spam. This enhances the credibility of your business and its ability to reach a larger audience.
3. Easy to use
Toll-free telephone numbers offer the same convenience and ease of use as local numbers, along with added features available with VoIP service providers like OpenPhone. Customers would find it much easier to get in touch with the brands.
Also, having such vanity numbers for customer services not only offers the ability to make and receive calls to the customer end, but they can also send and receive texts, images, videos, GIFs, files, documents, and more. This boosts customer loyalty and brand credibility among the consumer and paves a path for business growth at a rapid phase.
4. Improves customer engagement with the brand.
Let’s assume you are a customer. Will you pay to make a complaint or seek assistance from the brand’s professionals for purchasing their product or service?
Definitely, not isn’t it?
This is where having a toll-free vanity number will encourage consumers to engage with brands more often.
Potential customers will benefit greatly, especially from not having to pay long-distance calling fees. By obtaining a toll-free number, customers in the 20 countries and territories in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) can call you free of charge, regardless of whether the call is international. This includes the Caribbean, Jamaica, and additional areas.
5. Helps businesses to reach more audience with personalized number
For another excellent marketing tool, consider customizing your new toll-free business phone number with a vanity number. This type of number allows for a word or acronym to be spelled out.
For example, Zipcar, a car-sharing company, uses a toll-free vanity number with the prefix 866 area code 1-866-4ZIPCAR to make it easier for its consumers to engage with them. Similarly, the American-based multinational telecommunication company SBC Communications uses 1-866-SBC-DIAL specifically for their customers to provide better customer service.
Research shows that utilizing vanity toll-free numbers with the prefix 866 toll free number is easier to be remembered than randomly generated ones.
6. Brands no need to worry about engaging with customers during peak hours
Often businesses need to work on engaging with their consumers during the peak hours when consumers would be busy with their routine work schedules. However, with the specialized vanity number, consumers would easily remember the brand’s number and engage with brands whenever they like.
Moreover, specialized vanity numbers will create awareness among the consumers that a specific brand is trying to reach. They can easily decide whether they can attend or contact them later.
Furthermore, specific area codes of the US experience higher call volumes at certain times of day, and using an 866 area code will usually result in better service for those times.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a toll-free number that you can use for various purposes, 866 Area Code is the perfect option. This toll-free number is available in the US, Canada, and other parts of North America residents. And you can use it for a wide range of purposes, including making reservations, ordering products and services, and more.
This toll-free number is available 24/7, and you can use it for many purposes, including customer support, customer service, sales, and more. If you’re looking for a Toll-free number that you can call anywhere in the world, 866 is a great option to consider.
Using the 866 Area Code, you can easily access information and resources without worrying about long wait times or frustrating customer service experiences. If you’re interested in learning more about ‘what is 866 area code’ or any other toll-free number options, be sure to check out our blog for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Where is the 866 area code located?
Area code 866 is a toll-free number with no specific location or region. It is a North American toll-free set by the NANPA (North American Numbering Plan Administration) to represent the US, Canada, and other regions.
2. What is the difference between 855 numbers and 866 numbers?
Toll-free number starting with prefix 855 specifically assigned and paid for recipients to contact businesses for free. However, companies that intend to call recipients for customer service and sales use toll-free numbers starting with the prefix 855.
3. Why do 866 numbers keep calling me?
Area code 866 numbers are assigned by the government to firms of all sizes to do business. So, if you are receiving calls with the prefix 866, it would be for customer service, technical support for the products you recently purchased, and so. Frankly, you don’t need to be concerned about why 866 numbers keep calling me.
4. Is Area Code 866 Number a Scam?
Receiving unwanted calls from numbers starting with the prefix 866 doesn’t mean that a scammer is approaching you. Area code 866 phone numbers are assigned by governments to firms to do business. Often business firms use this area code 866 numbers for customer services, technical support for their products, and so. If you do not like to receive calls from 866 area code numbers, you can block them.
Updated : December 9, 2024
Supriya Bajaj is a senior content developer with immense experience in the VoIP telephony domain. With a deep knowledge of VoIP systems and emerging technologies in the field, she provides insightful and targeted content. Known for simplifying complex topics and her thought-leadership articles, Supriya delivers actionable content for both technical and non-technical audiences.
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