Overview
Phone number management is essential for setting up your voice AI operations. Tabbly provides comprehensive tools for purchasing, configuring, and managing phone numbers.How to Buy Phone Numbers
Purchasing Process
Step 1: Access Number Marketplace- Navigate to Settings > Phone Numbers
- Click Buy New Number
- Browse available numbers
- Local Numbers: Area code specific
- Toll-Free Numbers: 800, 888, 877, etc.
- International Numbers: Global coverage
- Select country
- Choose area code or city
- Search for specific number patterns
- Review pricing
- Confirm selection
- Complete purchase
- Number activated immediately
Number Types
Local Numbers- Area code specific
- Lower cost
- Local presence
- Best for regional operations
- 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844
- Free for callers
- Professional image
- Higher cost
- Global coverage
- Local presence in other countries
- Support for international calling
- Varies by country
Selecting Country and Area Codes
Country Selection
Supported Countries- United States
- Canada
- United Kingdom
- Australia
- And 100+ more countries
- Target market location
- Caller expectations
- Regulatory requirements
- Cost implications
Area Code Selection
Local Presence- Choose area codes matching your market
- Builds trust with local callers
- Improves answer rates
- Memorable number patterns
- Brand alignment
- Marketing value
Porting Existing Numbers to Tabbly
Porting Process
Step 1: Initiate Port Request- Navigate to Phone Numbers > Port Number
- Enter number to port
- Provide account information
- Letter of Authorization (LOA)
- Recent phone bill
- Account verification
- Tabbly reviews request
- Carrier processes port
- Typically 7-14 business days
- Number activated on Tabbly
- Test call to verify
- Update any external systems
Porting Requirements
Eligibility- Number must be active
- Account must be in good standing
- Must be portable (not all numbers are)
- Letter of Authorization
- Recent phone bill
- Account number and PIN
- Business verification (if applicable)
Managing Multiple Phone Numbers
Number Organization
Grouping Numbers- Create number groups
- Organize by department
- Tag by use case
- Label for easy identification
- Assign to specific agents
- Route by number
- Track usage per number
Bulk Management
Bulk Operations- Purchase multiple numbers
- Configure in bulk
- Update settings across numbers
- Export number lists
Number Forwarding Setup
Forwarding Options
Forward to Mobile- Route calls to mobile phones
- Backup for agent unavailability
- Emergency routing
- Secondary number routing
- Failover configuration
- Redundancy setup
- Route to different agent
- Escalation paths
- Department routing
Configuration
Setting Up Forwarding- Navigate to number settings
- Enable forwarding
- Enter destination number
- Set forwarding rules
- Test forwarding
Vanity Number Options
What are Vanity Numbers?
Vanity numbers are phone numbers that spell words or are easy to remember (e.g., 1-800-FLOWERS).Benefits
- Memorability: Easier for customers to remember
- Branding: Reinforces brand name
- Marketing: Better for advertising
- Professional: Enhances brand image
Availability
- Limited availability
- Higher cost
- Premium pricing
- May require waitlist
International Number Availability
Global Coverage
Tabbly supports phone numbers in 100+ countries, including:- North America (US, Canada, Mexico)
- Europe (UK, Germany, France, Spain, etc.)
- Asia Pacific (Australia, India, Singapore, etc.)
- Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, etc.)
Considerations
Regulatory Requirements- Country-specific regulations
- Business registration requirements
- Compliance obligations
- Varies significantly by country
- Monthly fees
- Per-minute charges
- Setup fees
Number Pricing and Billing
Pricing Structure
One-Time Fees- Number purchase/activation
- Porting fees
- Setup fees
- Number rental (varies by type)
- Local: $1-5/month
- Toll-free: $2-10/month
- International: Varies
- Per-minute charges
- Inbound call charges
- Outbound call charges
Billing
Billing Cycle- Monthly billing
- Prorated for partial months
- Included in main invoice
- Choose appropriate number types
- Consolidate numbers when possible
- Review usage regularly
Best Practices
Start with Local Numbers
Start with Local Numbers
Begin with local numbers for your primary market. Add toll-free or international as needed.
Plan for Growth
Plan for Growth
Consider future expansion when selecting area codes. Plan for multiple markets.
Test Before Porting
Test Before Porting
Test Tabbly with a new number before porting your main number. Ensure everything works as expected.
Document Everything
Document Everything
Keep records of all numbers, their purposes, and configurations. Makes management easier.
Next Steps
- Set up outbound calls: Outbound Calls
- Configure inbound calls: Inbound Calls