Toll-free telephone number

A freephone number is a free phone number for the caller. This service is in some countries called green number, the English term international toll-free number is usually used. In addition, the abbreviations ITFS (International Freephone Service ) and UIFN ( Universal International Freephone Number) are often used; in Germany also Freecall in use - but this is a reserved by the Deutsche Telekom brand name for their own Freephone offer. Were introduced freephone numbers in the 1960s in the U.S. from AT & T.

The fee takes each of the callee. These numbers are usually used by companies as a customer- friendly service number and partly for Call Through / Calling Cards and dial-up Internet access if the services of any telephone connections should be used.

Free Phone / ITFS in Germany

In Germany Freephone services are offered under the code 0800. Until 31 December 2000, the code was 0130 used for freephone services. This prefix is also known by the acronym ITFS (International Freephone Service ) only nationally known and receive calls, but international routable.

0800 numbers are only partially accessible from mobile networks: here fall for the number holder to higher costs, so that he can have the numbers for calls from mobile phones and phone booths lock. If a connection fails, but it must be free. Example in the case of Telecom, as of November, 2013, the prices of the number holder ( in addition to the fixed costs): Landline 1.9 to 6.5 cents per 30 seconds, and from the mobile network from 11 to 21.9 cents per 30 seconds.

For the German ITFS the Federal Network Agency is responsible. The Federal Network Agency is obligated telephone companies to route 0800 numbers. That is why 0800 numbers for calling card access numbers provider ideal in order to enable cheaper calls abroad, for example, if the telephone connection used is not a call -by-call available or if the billing of calls through the use should take place telephone connection.

Free Phone / ITFS in other countries

  • Australia: 180x
  • Argentina: 0800
  • Egypt: 800
  • Belgium: 0800
  • Brazil: 0800
  • Bulgaria: 0800
  • Chile: 800
  • China: 800
  • Denmark: 80
  • Dominican Republic: 1200
  • Ecuador: 1800
  • France: 08001
  • Finland: 0800
  • Greece: 800
  • Hong Kong: 800
  • Iceland: 800
  • India: formerly 1600, now 1800
  • Indonesia: 0800
  • Ireland: 1800
  • Israel: 1800
  • Italy: 800, 803
  • Japan: 0120
  • Colombia: 018 000
  • Latvia: 800
  • Mexico: 01800
  • Norway: 80
  • New Zealand: 0800, 0508
  • Netherlands: 0800
  • North America: 1800, 1888, 1877, 1866, 1855
  • Austria: 0800
  • Pakistan: 0800
  • Philippines: 1800
  • Poland: 0800
  • Portugal: 800
  • Romania: 08008
  • Russia: 8800
  • Serbia: 800
  • Slovakia: 0800
  • Slovenia: 080
  • South Africa: 0800
  • Spain: 800, 900
  • Sweden: 020
  • Switzerland: 0800
  • Taiwan: 080
  • Czech Republic: 800
  • Hungary: 80
  • United Kingdom: 0500, 0800, 0808

Universal International Freephone Number ( UIFN )

Internationally, the area code 800 is used for freephone services. The subsequent number is always eight digits, so 800- xxxx xxxx. For the UIFN service, the ITU is responsible. The phone number is world free achievable, the owner of the number, the phone number but limited to certain countries from other countries, the number is not accessible then. However 800- numbers not necessarily from the networks of all international phone providers are available, or the call - especially from mobile networks and from telephone networks - is calculated as the charge for the caller is only recommended at the international level by the ITU.

00800 in Germany

In Germany the UIFN, area code is 00800 concrete (consisting of the access code 00 and the country code 800). Here are 800- numbers only with postpaid contracts from all mobile networks callable in prepaid contracts UIFN only from the T -Mobile network are reachable. From the network of E -Plus calls were chargeable to international 800- numbers. This went against the available 138/1997 of the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications: no connection costs may be billed for Free Phone connections in Germany. In mid-2005 an amendment to the Telecommunications Act ( TKG) of this practice to an end. Also from the wired landline convey some providers not to UIFN numbers: For example, not possible the selection of 00800 numbers on Kabel BW.

Call-through telecom Telephone card International Telecommunication Union Postpaid mobile phone
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