Got a vanity number? People pay attention. Vanity numbers can be toll free such as "800" NPA (News - Alert) or generic (not toll free.) They bring a picture to one's right brain via universally or niche-targeted understood words, and put symbols in the place of a traditional "phone number" of left-brained digits.
They are also the alphanumeric equivalents of a telephone number, according to the ITU E.161 standard. A business or individual who has one that relates to professional, social or personal services, goals or styles, will be called more often and definitely remembered as much.
Lurking in the background is a process called direct inward dialing (DID).
Even in 2013, and perhaps many more years to come, telephone and other mobile devices have and will have keypads that include letters with numbers such as "2ABC." Acronyms, abbreviations, events, names, pets, services, or other alphanumeric combinations can be used as quick, easy-to-remember phone number identification.
In the U.S. and internationally, some call them "phone words," which are easier to remember than a sequence of numbers, which can be difficult to even relate to via pneumonic device when dialing a DID.
"VoIP is dead" was declared by Skype's (News - Alert) GM of audio and video, Jonathan Christenson, in 2008 at TMC’s ITEXPO. Yet, Skype is alive and stronger than ever now in 2013, along with Vonage, 8x8, OnSIP, IPsmarx (News - Alert), and many more VoIP companies. Nikhyl Singhal, cofounder and CEO at voice-application startup SayNow, hinted in his TechCrunch article in 2010 the idea that phone numbers are destined to soon be dead. Between wholesale telecommunications phone number buy/sell platforms of Voxbone (News - Alert) and DIDX, they serve over 25,000 "voip telephone" companies who are alive and well in 2013, and who in turn serve millions of users around the world.
Direct Inward Dialing, whether a vanity number, toll-free number or other type of contact, is the technical process of reaching users of voice over Internet services. It is an important part of communications and relates directly to telephone numbers, which in turn are often the most important piece of identity for individuals and organizations. Vanity numbers, as well as virtual phone numbers (phone numbers that are local or international to the owner ... individual or organization) are available from thousands of providers such as Grasshopper, Virtual Phone (News - Alert) Line, AstraQom, MyDivert, Jet Numbers, Hottelecom.net, and GTalk2VoIP.
Businesses spend so much time and effort finding ways to become better known. One of the first things they consider is finding and owning a telephone number that is both catchy and memorable. The virtual and physical worlds spill over with symbolic marketing messages like brands, jingles, logos, videos, images, and the ones and zeros that are behind much of it all.
These compete practically 24/7 to be remembered by people who see them.
Organizations spend so much money trying to get potential and current customers to remember them. Having a phone number that is memorable will not only set the company apart from the rest, but can also reduce advertising costs.
Suzanne Bowen is the CEO and cofounder of Elegant Group, Inc. and writes for the Monetizing IP Communications blog.
Edited by Braden Becker