Here on the blog we talk a lot about how to use your 800 number and the benefits of an 800 number…we thought we’d lighten it up this week. Here are some random 800 number facts that were in the news recently:

• People make money off of 800 number misdials. According to MSN, people are now buying toll free numbers just for this purpose.

• In Fayetteville, AR you can pay your parking meter by phone. Simply call 1-888-450-PARK, give them your space number and credit card info. Beats trying to find a quarter.

• You can find out the status of your tax return by calling the IRS’s toll free number.

• Massachusetts is offering a free two-week supply of nicotine patches to veterans through 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

What other interesting stories are we missing here?

There’s been a lot of talk about number porting the past two weeks with Google’s announcement that they will begin doing so for Google Voice users. This is exciting news for individuals using Google Voice and it’s great for us because it brings headlines to a feature that we often forget to talk about!

Most people know that Grasshopper has toll free and local numbers available to buy but they might not know we also have the ability to transfer numbers, also called number porting.

Why port your number?

For businesses that already have a phone number, it can be much easier to transfer it than to get a new one. You don’t have to change your contact info, create new marketing materials, print new business cards, modify your website, etc. Porting your number can save you time and money (two extremely valuable things).

Can I port toll free numbers?

You sure can. Port toll free numbers and the majority of local numbers (check here to see if you can port your local number). Plus, you have all rights to the number. Your phone number will always be yours, even if you decide to change providers.

How much does it cost?

Grasshopper charges a $30 one-time fee to port in your number. However, for those signed up on the Grow or Max plans, number porting is included.

Be sure to check out our FAQ page or Support section for more info on number porting.

Learn more about the differences between Grasshopper & Google Voice.

For customers that pre-ordered 855 numbers, we will use the same process to obtain your number this Saturday. For those who are waiting to purchase 855 numbers, they will be available on our site to purchase in roughly a week (pending any further delays).

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call support at 800-820-8210.

A few weeks ago we let you know that 855 numbers were set to be released in October. Today we can officially announce that we will begin taking 855 reservations.

How Can I Reserve a Number?

At midnight on October 2nd, the Grasshopper team will be working with our number carrier to reserve specific 855 numbers for our customers before they become available to the general public.

For $650, Grasshopper will make sure your number is included on our reservation list. If we are unable to obtain your specific number, you will be refunded $600.

We will notify you within 3 days (of October 2nd) as to the status of your reservation & if acquired, your number will be ready to go within 7 business days.

Grasshopper customers will have the option to pay via credit card while non-customers must pay by check. Payment must be received by September 16th in order to secure your reservation.

While there is no guarantee that we will get every number, this is the best opportunity for those looking to get high-demand vanity numbers.

If you don’t need to be first in line or are simply looking for a standard 855 number they will be available to the general public on Oct 15th.

Reserve Your 855 Number Now!

This is the first time in 10 years that a toll free prefix has been released (866 numbers debuted in 2000) and will result in around 7 million new numbers! This presents a rare and phenomenal opportunity to businesses looking to get a new or better vanity number.

New Vanity Numbers!

Vanity numbers (ex: 1-800-MATTRESS) are a great tool most often used for business. Mainly because a simple thing like a phone number can actually have a pretty significant impact:

• Improved brand recognition
• Increased call volume
• Increases sales & ROI

Think about it, we’re all familiar with numbers like 1-800-Contacts, 1-800-Flowers or 1-888-Best-Buy. These numbers are easy to remember and they describe the business. These are the types of numbers companies would love to have but are all taken…until now. 855 numbers present a whole new opportunity.

Getting an 855 Number

The current buzz around 855 numbers tells us that there’s probably going to be a pretty high demand for these numbers, especially companies looking to secure the 855 version of their current number.

While no one can actually take 855 number reservations yet, we are working toward a solution that will allow our customers to get the number they want. First though, we need to know how many people are interested.

If you are interested in reserving an 855 number, please go to our 855 Number Request page and provide us with your name & email address. We will be providing more information to those interested in the coming weeks.

I’m interested in 855 Numbers!