Reports of 800 Number Exhaustion Prove False; Shared Use is the Secret to Acquiring Quality 800 Numbers

    BURLINGTON, Vt.--March 20, 2001--When the toll-free prefix 866 was released last July, almost 130,000 numbers were reserved within the first 12 hours. And, at present, only about nineteen thousand 800 and 888 numbers, combined, exist in the "available pool." In short, the preferred toll-free number supply is drying up, while 877 and 866 numbers remain available.
    This is because, over the past few decades, toll-free numbers have become a compulsory marketing and customer service element for every successful business. However, with most of the popular numbers already taken, many companies have been left to squabble over the leftovers. Or so they thought.
    What many businesses don't realize is that quality vanity 800 numbers are still abundantly available through a little-known option called "shared use." Through the shared use option, telecommunications routing technology allows more than one business to share the same toll-free number.
    For example, if a customer dials 800-NEW-FLOOR in southern Florida, their call rings to Dolphin Carpet and Tile. If they are calling in New Jersey, however, Scandinavian Floor Works will answer the phone.
    "Response Marketing Group was a pioneer of shared use toll-free numbers 10 years ago," says president Sandra Murray, "and the concept still seems novel today."
    "With our shared use program, hundreds of 800 vanity numbers are available in over 250 active area codes. `Sharing' the number enables thousands of businesses nationwide to use a vanity number like 1-800-NEW-CARS affordably and only in the areas in which they advertise," Murray explains.
    The 800 number, thought to be near-extinction, has become a valuable commodity over the years. Its 30-year history has set the standard and has been a beacon for weary consumers in the sea of ever-changing technology.
    This shared use option has begun to draw more attention recently. Response Marketing Group's sales doubled between 1998 and 1999 and are almost 70% ahead of last year's sales in 2000. "More businesses are becoming aware of the power of this service," asserts Murray, "and more businesses are taking advantage of it."
    Kathryn Rossner, Director of Sales, attributes the significant increase in sales to Response's expansion into new industries. "At one time, our customers were primarily auto dealers. Over the past few years our clientele has expanded to include radio stations, advertising agencies, home-builders and roofers, financial services, and savvy entrepreneurs, among others. Every type of business can benefit from unforgettable 800 numbers, and the word is out."
    Response's program also includes access to comprehensive, online call-tracking reports that chart the who's, what's, and where's of every call that comes in. "The ability to see who is calling, where they are calling from, and what time of day they call is an invaluable method of assessing the effectiveness of an advertising campaign," says Sandra Murray. "This feature helps our customers stay a few steps ahead of their competition."
    Response Marketing Group (www.800response.com) has been providing interactive marketing and telecommunications services since 1990. The principals of Response have over 30 years experience in the industry and are continually developing innovative ways for businesses to market their products and services.