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Somos Inc., which operates a neutral toll-free numbering and registry administration service, has introduced the first round of new features for the modern SMS/800 Toll-Free Number Registry.

The registry now includes a set of application programming interfaces and a new user interface, both of which address the needs of toll-free service providers, or so-called RespOrgs (which stands for Responsible Organizations). These new features allow users to access the status of a toll-free number, change user passwords, and reserve toll-free numbers.

RespOrgs can find the new user interface at https://tfnregistry.somos.com/.

Developers can locate resources to help with implementing the new API set att https://developer.somos.com.

“We're excited to share this first set of updates for the SMS/800 Toll-Free Number Registry," said William Carter, chief operating officer of Somos Inc. "It's going to allow our customers to streamline their business, and make managing toll-free numbers a lot easier. Our User Group Members have been crucial in providing us feedback about our platforms, and we're looking forward to seeing how our platform continues to support growth and innovation the industry."

These new capabilities are the first of three scheduled updates planned for the registry. In the fall a second set of APIs and UI updates will become available. That will include customer record admin and pointer record features. The third wave of the updates, to come later, will enable users to request toll-free numbers in bulk and will feature one-click activation.

Toll free numbers – which begin with 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, or 844 – enable callers to reach businesses and/or individuals without being charged for the call. Instead, the called party is charge for the call. And these numbers can now be used for both voice and text-based communications. There are 40 million toll-free numbers in the U.S. managed by more than 400 RespOrgs (the outfits that route toll-free calls across all of North America and use the Service Management System/800 database).