ANT Forum

Hi everyone! I’m wondering: when your business has clients or partners in multiple regions or even countries, is it really worthwhile for you to obtain a toll-free number? What challenges did you face (for example, mobile carrier restrictions or cost of call routing)? And how did you decide if it was a viable option rather than sticking to standard local numbers?      

I’d say having a toll-free number really depends on your audience and how your business operates. If most of your customers are spread across different regions, it’s absolutely worth it. People are far more likely to call when they know it won’t cost them anything — it creates a sense of openness and trust.

When we launched our support line, I followed the tips from this article https://www.omnivoice.ai/blog/how-to-call-1-800-toll-free-numbers/ and learned a lot about routing and setup. The main challenge was making sure the number worked properly for mobile callers, especially those outside the U.S., but once configured, it really paid off. We started receiving more inbound calls, and customer communication became smoother. So yes, if your business relies on phone communication, a toll-free number is definitely a smart move.      

I’ve always assumed toll-free numbers were only for big corporations, but it sounds like they can work well for smaller teams too. Did you notice if customers actually prefer calling those numbers compared to local ones? I’m curious if it really affects engagement or if people just use email and chat more these days.      

Good question! I used to think the same — that people barely call anymore. But once we introduced the toll-free line, the number of incoming calls went up noticeably. Some clients said they just felt more comfortable calling a “real” business number instead of a personal one. Plus, having that official 1-800 line on our website added credibility. Even if most communication still happens online, having a proper phone channel really boosts trust and makes your company feel more established.