New Global Toll Free Service & Logistics — what does it mean?
Effective in February 1997 a new international agreement was signed providing for the first truly "global" toll free service. This was coordinated by the ITU in Switzerland (www.itu.ch) and the service is referred to as "universal international freephone numbers (UIFNs)". The service is available in the following countries and will be expanding constantly:
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Singapore, Slovak, Republic, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United, Kingdom, United States
| Make sure your international toll-free number is protected! Check with your toll-free provider |
What does this have to do with logistics? Well, think of the advantages for your customer who can now market direct to clients in all of these countries! Think about the convenience of your customers having a web site AND a toll free number available to consumers in these markets. This may well change the paradigm of companies selling in foreign markets, by being able to potentially reach the consumer directly rather than through a labyrinth of distributors and agents. To me, at least, it seems that this innovation will open up opportunities for sellers who want to offer their products direct to consumers, and for logistics companies who can help them speed their product swiftly to market.
If you have a "vanity number" make sure it’s protected. The new international format is an 8 digit format instead of our normal 800 + 7 digit format. You should contact your toll free provider and ask them about protecting your number for use internationally.
P.S. New Web Domain Names on the Way
Also available at the ITU's web site is info on the new "global top level domains" which will be going online soon to supplement the existing .com, .gov, .org, .edu system.
They have defined an additional seven top level domains:
.firm for businesses, or firms
.store for businesses offering goods to purchase
.web web related businesses
.arts cultural and entertainment related businesses
.rec recreation/entertainment activities
.info for entities providing information services
.nom personalized domains i.e. BillClinton.nom
There are a whole host of trademark and copyright issues to be untangled, but you may want to keep an eye on this issue to protect your company's domain name. Theoretically, a company that makes uninterruptable power supplies [UPS units] for the computer industry could try and register the name "UPS.firm" in, say, Korea which would obviously anger the folks at UPS.COM. Stay tuned, this should get interesting!
Transportation Development Group
Toll Free at: 800-949-4834Telephone 310-302-0808Fax 310-302-0809E-mail: Info@logisticstraining.com
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