844 area code
An ‘area code’ that has the identical second and third digits is known as an “Easily Recognizable Code” (ERC). The ERCs (e.g., 844 for toll-free service) denote unique services.
Toll-free area codes like 844 are often used for “customer service, sales, and support lines,” enabling businesses to provide cost-free communication for their customers. It is part of a group of toll-free area codes, including ‘800, 833, 855, 866, 877, and 888.’
Despite being toll-free codes, ‘800, 833, 855, 866, 877, and 888’ are not interchangeable. A different receiver would be reached if you dialed a number with a 1-800 prefix as opposed to a 1-833 prefix. Each toll-free number’s calls are ‘forwarded’ to a specific local phone number. The local number can be located within the same area as the toll-free number’s owner or anywhere else.
| ‘844 Area Code’ Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type of Code | Easily Recognizable Code (Non-Geographic) | |
| Location | NANP AREA | |
| Country | US | |
| Time Zone | E (Eastern Time Zone) | |
| Date of in-service | 12/07/2013 | |
| Parent NPA | 800 | |
| Is this an overlay*** code | No | |
| Overlay Complex | 800/833/844/855/866/877/888 | |
| Jeopardy | No | |
| Relief Planning in Progress | No | |
| Dialing Plan for this NPA | Standard** | Permissive** |
| Operator Assistance (Special handling calls) | NA | |
| Home NPA Local Calls | NA | NA |
| Foreign NPA Local Calls | NA | NA |
| Home NPA Toll Calls | NA | NA |
| Foreign NPA Toll Calls | NA | |
| **a NPA’s general dialing plan/pattern is referred to as “Standard.” Based on ‘particular’ local circumstances, there may be exceptions. “Permissive” describes the ‘temporary or transitory’ dialing plan/pattern that can be utilized | ||
| Special handling calls include ‘operator services, credit card, collect, third party, etc.’ | ||
| ***when multiple ‘area codes’ cover the same geographic area, it’s known as an area code “overlay.” Overlay complex refers to multiple “area codes,” delivering resources to a single geographic area | ||
| ‘Home NPA’ means within the same NPA (or ‘area code’). ‘Foreign NPA’ means NPA other than ‘Home NPA’ | ||
Telephone numbers that have unique three-digit codes and ‘may be called from landlines without charging the caller’ are known as toll-free numbers. The owner of the ‘toll-free number’ incurs the call charges, rather than the caller. Callers can reach “people and businesses” outside of their area using these numbers without incurring a long-distance fee.
In the US, ‘telephone number administration’ falls under the jurisdiction of the “Federal Communications Commission” (FCC). ‘First-come, first-served’ is how the FCC assigns the majority of toll-free numbers.
Toll-free numbers can typically be dialed from landlines, mobile phones, and even some “international locations” (international calls may incur charges depending on the provider).
While toll-free numbers are legitimate, scammers sometimes use “toll-free area codes” to mask their identity, so it’s important to verify the caller when receiving unexpected calls.
History -
NANPA was instructed by the ‘Industry Numbering Committee’ (INC) in February 2000 to allocate the NPA codes ‘844, 833, and 822’ for toll-free service (see planning letter PL-844 over ‘nanpa.com’). The Federal Communications Commission gave ‘SMS/800, Inc.’ permission on ‘July 31, 2013,’ to open the ‘844 toll-free area code’ on December 7, 2013, at noon Eastern Time.
The ‘SMS/800 Number Administration Committee’ (SNAC) of the Ordering and Billing Forum (OBF) had developed the implementation plans for 844 and related toll-free area codes. SNAC works closely with industry stakeholders, including “service providers, regulatory bodies (e.g., FCC), and numbering administrators (e.g., NANPA),” to align on timelines and technical requirements. SNAC “monitors usage trends” and provides recommendations for future toll-free area code openings based on demand projections.
^^^ the aforementioned data came from:
- nanpa.com/reports/npa-reports
- secure.nanpa.com/public-report/npa/search-area-codes
- etc.
The official source of ‘area code’ information is: https://www.nanpa.com/.
That’s all friends.
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