Free number search
Phone numbers are cheap to obtain these days, and finding a number you like can be done at no cost.
When I needed a toll-free number for my business, I turned to a service called Kall8. I was able to search a list of available numbers without even creating an account.
Kall8 it even has local numbers throughout the United States, which is useful when a business wants to provide local access to its out-of-town customers.
Kall8 it’s a hosted service. This means that the computer that manages call routing is running. You have control over the settings through a web portal, so you can customize the way your number handles calls. I’ll give you a quick review of the features in a moment, but it’s important to ask if there are any negatives first.
Before deciding to use a hosted number, you should be sure to consider anything that could negatively affect it.
Disadvantages of using a hosted number
You always have to consider the other side before making the decision to use a hosted phone number. Let’s review them.
- You must still have an active phone line from your local phone company if you want to receive incoming calls. Tea Kall8 The number can be forwarded to any other number and that is how you receive your calls.
- If you want to use your office number and transfer it to the hosted service agency, there will no longer be a way to receive the transferred calls. Unless one maintains a line with another number or uses a cell phone.
- Although monthly rates are very low for hosted services, ongoing usage charges can add up. If you run a large business and get calls from, say, television advertising, you could possibly generate a large bill.
- If you forward your office number to the hosted service, you cannot use that same line to receive calls that can be transferred. That would create an infinite loop.
If none of these problems is a problem for you, then Kall8 it could be a very useful service for your home or small business.
What kinds of phone numbers can you find?
Original 800 and custom numbers can be found at no cost to search. If you find one that you like, you can register an account to start using it right away.
Billing is $ 2 a month for area codes 888, 877, 866, and 855, while 800 and custom numbers are slightly higher.
Useful functions
There are advantages to having a phone number served by Kall8. With Online Administration, you can set up Custom Call Forwarding to other numbers or even to your cell phone. You can set up and maintain your voicemail. You can block unwanted numbers. You can even enable fax detection and direct incoming faxes to your email as a PDF file.
All of this is possible because the number is hosted by a service that runs on an automated system. Parameters can be changed as desired for many custom configurations.
Much more can be done, features that are not available with ordinary phone service. It is perfect for a small business that needs to control costs.