What is a 1300 number?
1300 numbers are ‘virtual’ telephone numbers used to receive incoming phone calls.
The numbers have an answer point determined by you. You can have a 1300 number answering a mobile number, your office number or any other number you have access to.
This gives you the ability to change answer points, providing you the flexibility to manage incoming calls differently based on multiple factors, including the time of day, the location of staff and whether a number is busy.
1300 numbers have 10 digits (e.g 1300 777 227 or 1300 323 832).
With a 1300 number your customers can contact you from a fixed line anywhere in Australia for a low untimed charge. Calls from mobile phones will be charged to the caller at a rate determined by their mobile phone carrier.
What is the difference between a 1300 number and a 13 number?
There are two main differences between a 1300 and 13 number.
- 1300 numbers have a 10 digits, whereas 13 numbers have four (e.g. 13 23 77).
- 13 numbers also incur a cost to owners of an additional $8,000 numbering charge. This is an annual fee imposed by the Australian government.
What are the different types of 1300 numbers?
There are two types of 1300 numbers, with their key differences being memorability and the type of business from which you can acquire them.
- Smartnumbers® are 1300 or 13 numbers that spell a word or contain a pattern of numbers that makes them easy to remember. These numbers are reserved by the Australian government and come with additional rights of use. The annual numbering charge for a 1300 number starts from as little as $0.80.
You can acquire a Smartnumber via auction through the Smartnumbers website at www.smartnumbers.com.au.
Once you have purchased a smart number, you can have the service activated by your phone provider.
How can a 1300 number benefit my business?
In addition to giving you the ability to change answer points as discussed above, 1300 numbers have multiple benefits for your business:
You can retain the same 1300 number for the life of your business, even if you move. A 1300 number has more flexibility than a normal land line.
They give you a single point of contact nationwide that can direct your customers to the appropriate office and after hours services.
They allow you to monitor and measure response to marketing campaigns and improve your return on investment.
There are no hardware or equipment requirements for getting a 1300 number, as the service answers on your existing services.
They give your business a professional image.
They allow you to expand the geographical coverage of your business with minimal extra costs, enhancing your brand image and giving your customers the impression that you are not just a local business.
They encourage customers to call with nationally recognised ‘local call’ numbers that can be dialed from any Australian landline for the cost of a local call.
You can save money with our range of low monthly plans and no fixed-term contracts.
1300 numbers are compatible with a range of services including phone answering services, message and call forwarding services, and cloud-based telephony solutions (Hosted PBX).
Having a 1300 number is a cost-effective option and more convenient than you think. At the end of the day, it’s just smart business.
