13 / 1300 / 1800

The types of numbers offered by Simply Free service are:

• 1800-xxx-xxx (10 digits) – Free to callers who dial 1800 number from a fixed line service. Business customer pays the total all cost based on inbound usage charges.
• 1300 xxx xxx (10 digits) – Callers to 1300 number from a fixed line service pay the standard local call charge. Business customer pays the toll charges for long distance calls and possibly.
• 13-xx-xx (6 digits) – Callers to 13 numbers from a fixed line service pay the standard local call charge. Business customer pays the toll charges for long distance calls.

If you already have a 13, 1300, 1800 number we realise that you plainly cant afford to loose it.

The answerer simple and easy – just port your current numbers to our Simply Free service.

Alternatively, if you wish, Voice Connect can arrange new numbers for your business.

If you are looking for a better then usual number then Voice Connect can help you acquire a Smartnumbers™.

Voice Connect can also help you acquire a 13, 1300 or an 1800 number through the Smartnumbers™ Auction (otherwise known as the Market-based Number Allocation Project (MNAP)), whereby the Australian Communications Authority is making more 13, 1300 and 1800 numbers available to Australian customers.

The Smartnumbers™ Auction enables customers to select a 13, 1300 or 1800 telephone number from a pool of available numbers for their business. The greatest advantage of this auction is that businesses can choose telephone numbers that best promote their businesses to their customers.

On 18 August 2004, the Australian Communications Authority (ACA) will begin its Public Auction of Smartnumbers™.

Smartnumbers™ are freephone (1800) and local rate (13/1300) numbers initially allocated via auction by the ACA. They are easy-to-remember six-digit 13 and 10-digit 1300 local rate numbers, and 10-digit 1800 freephone numbers.

Those wishing to participate in the auction must:

1. Register on the Smartnumbers™ website and pay the registration fee of $88 (including GST).
2. Indicate the number(s) or a range of numbers of interest and then bid for the numbers when the auction date arrives.
3. If you successfully win a number at auction and pay for it you will have Rights Of Use (ROU) over that number. This includes the rights to trade or on sell those numbers.

Numbers with little or no numeric or word value are available by paying an administration fee of $500. (These are not classified as Smartnumbers™).

Once you’ve purchased a number contact Voice Connect to finalise a Simply Free activation.

For more information on Smartnumbers™ call the ACA on 1300 79 39 19.

Selected Caller Access

Access to your 13/1300/1800 number may be restricted to selected callers.

For example, a number is set up explicitly for suppliers or distributors calling your business regularly.

Customised Call Baring

This feature allows calls from certain numbers to be blocked.

For example, calls from mobiles, selected callers or certain calling areas.

A business with an 1800 number in Sydney may elect to block calls to this number originating in the Sydney local calling zone and provide a local 02 number for Sydney callers to dial.

Flexible Call Distribution

This feature applies to businesses with more than one answering point.

It can be configured in the following components:

Australia Wide Routing

Australia is viewed as one geographic zone. All calls originating in Australia are routed to the same answering points.

State Based Routing (8 zones)

Where each state is viewed as separate geographic zone. Calls originating in each state can be treated differently to other states (i.e. calls originating in each state can be routed to different answering points in any state).

Charge District Routing (206 zones)

Calls originating in each Charge District are routed to particular answering points based on how calls originating from that zone wish to be treated.

Standard Zone Unit Routing (2,099 zones)

Calls originating in each Standard Zone Unit (i.e. Charge District and Charge Precinct) are routed to particular answering points based on how calls originating from that zone wish to be treated.

Exchange Service Area Routing (4,965 zones)

Calls originating in each Exchange Service Area (ESA) are routed to particular answering points based on how calls originating from that zone wish to be treated.

Postcode Routing (2,593 zones)

Calls originating in each postcode area are routed to particular answering points based on how calls originating from that zone wish to be treated.

Call Splaying

Calls are shared between answering points depending on resources available at each point.

For example, a company with 80 staff at one call centre and 20 staff at another may have 80% of calls directed to the larger centre and 20% of calls to the other.

Call Overflow

If all lines at an answering point are busy or there is no answer or if there is network congestion preventing calls being connected, calls are diverted to an alternate answering point. You can select the time-out period for overflow on busy, i.e. how long calls ring before overflowing to the overflow answering point.

Time of Day Routing

Calls can be routed to alternative destinations according to the time of day. For example, calls from Perth can be routed to Sydney in the morning hours before the Perth centre opens for business and calls from Sydney can be routed to Perth in the afternoon after the Sydney office closes.

Day of Week Routing

Calls can be routed to one set of answering points on Monday to Friday and another destination on weekends.

Day of Year Routing

Calls can be routed to a particular destination based upon specific dates that may be unique to your business or industry or for a public holiday set which defines all public holidays applicable to the state or territory.

Selected Caller Routing

Calls received from particular clients (VIPs) are directed to answering points where they are given top priority, similar to selected caller access above. The customer can use the ”Notes” section at the end of the application form to supply the selected caller list.

Web-based Reporting